How is it like being weighed or checked by DOT?

The DOT is nothing to be scared of as long as your running legit and have things in order. It's no big deal dude.

Prepass is a program that places a transponder on your rig's windshield and communicates with scale houses - if your carrier has a satisfactory inspection rating it tells the scale who you are and 95% of the time your given a green light to bypass the scale. It costs a few dollars/month to the carrier and the newer units also incorporate an iPass type device to pay tolls on the EZ Pass system. (all in one instead of dual transponders).

I have PrePass and iPass, since the PrePass Plus is only available for 5 or more unit trucking companies...

http://www.prepass.com/services/prepass/Pages/WhatIsPrepass.aspx

 

In the days of old, sometime truckdrivers would go out too the farm and pickup produce, or what there is too pickup, then he notice the chicken coup, so everytime he would go in it reminded him of that little chicken coup , so then its just became slang for the cb radio, thats the close i came up too figure it out why it called a chicken coop.

 

Sometimes they call you inside and ask what you weigh.

I always tell them "207lbs.- Do these jeans make my A&& look FAT?"

 

Well dave you can say you wore your skinny jeans inside and the excess is just that hangen over the sides

 

Lol. I'll remember that, and tell them "You're not supposed to ask that of a lady."

 

The school I went to also said trucking companies were just looking to get rid of drivers, so step out of line the least little bit and you would be out the door, never to work as a driver again. This fear followed me until I screwed up at the first real company I worked at. I said something about being afraid of being fired and at that point the dispatcher looked at me and asked why would I do that? I have loads that need to be delivered so why would I fire drivers every time they do something stupid? What I have learned is that there are things that will get you fired and good companies will tell you what those things are right up front in orientation. For instance putting a trailer on the ground and rear-ending someone will usually get you your walking papers. Trucking companies make money by moving loads, that requires trucks and trucks require drivers. Since 90% of those who begin the process to become drivers are gone from the industry within two years trucking companies can't afford to get rid of drivers at a whim.

As for DOT officers, put yourself in their shoes. Let's say you have to do ten inspections a day. Your pay is the same no matter how many violations you find or don't find. How are you going to go about your day? Are you going give everyone a hard time, or find a bunch of easy inspections and then look for trucks with issues to finish your day. In the mean time you get to drink coffee and read the sports page. I'm not saying they aren't doing a good job, I'm saying they want to enjoy what they do just like the rest of us.

 

I would like to believe, after they have seen the carnage of highway crashes, that they truly want to get substandard vehicles off the road.

Mikeeee

 

NewNashGuy I would not worry about "The Man" hassling you. If you follow what every one has posted you will think you are driving a Stealth (DOT invisible) Semi. And even if I'm DOT Vader, If you do your job going after you will be too much work. DOT Vader can see Lazy/Sloppy drivers from miles away. Every one of them is a guaranteed ticket. Why Bust your chops?

 

That's kinda been my plan. I've always had great relations with highway cops: be polite and friendly, and remember it's just a job they're doing, and they have rules to follow, too. The "friendly" was the BIG part. I useta have a huge problem with a lead foot, and got stopped a LOT. (Used to drive over 200 miles every day back and forth to work. Not much to truckers, but 4 wheelers go "OMG!" every time. ) I *rarely* got a ticket, and many of the cops either knew me, or knew OF me. I had a GOOD reputation, even though I was a chronic speeder.

I really really really hope to apply that same logic to DOT inspections, since I'm no longer the speed demon I used to be, thank the gods. I believe with some friendly understanding, the witch hunt for trouble will be almost non-existent.

I am hopeful, anyway.

 

Like these guys said it's not a big deal. The biggest problem I can think of is the lack of consistency between weigh stations across the country. Sometimes it can get confusing when pulling up to a scale. You have places like Wyoming which you must walk in and show them registration and such if a certain sign doesn't have flashing lights. Or stations that never use the green light even though it's there, only the red when you must stop. When I was first starting it was confusing at times.

The only time you really have to fear is when the DOT officer asks to check for hernias on the spot.