Truck Drivers and Guns...

[SavageEagle]

I've long been considering being a truck driver. I've also looked over DOT regulation and maybe I've missed it, but is it DOT regulation that you cannot carry while on the job, or is it company policy only? I know 90% of companies tell you you cannot carry, but what about O/O's? Are they allowed to carry while driving?

I ask because I would hate to drive into some cities and be unarmed. Now I know it would be dumb to drive into Chicago while carrying, but other cities that would be legal if I had both available non-Res. licenses also wouldn't matter so much. And being a Truck driver, you can plan to get gas before you come to a state or city that forbids it if you don't have to stop there.

I personally know many drivers who carry anyway, anywhere, and don't care one way or another, but for my own piece of mind I was just wondering.

[Bubbajms]

From what I know, there isn't any DOT regulation about it. The companies will try to tell you that it's regulations that you can't carry, but there's nothing in the law that says you can't..

You would have to watch what you do crossing state lines, though..

[SavageEagle]

Oh of course. I wouldn't carry anything that couldn't be stashed and hidden. I wouldn't want to drive to Chicago without one, but I'm not saying that I would or wouldn't either....

[repair]

I was thinking about this the other day and I think that their some rules about it, I have a CDL.

I know for a fact that you CAN NOT have one in your truck in Chicago.

I'll try and find my CDL book and look it up.

[SavageEagle]

LOL I know you can't have one in your truck in the Chi too, but that doesn't stop MANY guys I know from doing it anyway. It's a big risk, but so is driving into the part of the Chi they go to too.

Yea, let me know if you find something.

[singlestacksig]

Federal Gun Law for CDL Drivers | AskTheTrucker.com

interesting read on this subject...

[SavageEagle]

Sounds complicated.... Thanks!

[melensdad]

Originally Posted by SavageEagle

Sounds complicated.... Thanks!

NO it is not complicated. What is cited in the link is the federal safe transport law that applies to all people who want to drive from point A to point B with a gun in the vehicle. The law presumes that the driver is NOT a CCW/LTCH holder. Before I retired I owned a fleet of trucks that drove interstate routes.

GENERALLY SPEAKING:

If you are a truck driver and you are only driving WITHIN the state, you can carry a LOADED gun if and only if you have a LTCH.

If you are a truck driver and you have an Indiana LTCH, and you are CROSSING state lines, then you may carry a LOADED gun across any state line where your LTCH is honored.

If you are a truck driver and you are CROSSING state lines into a state that does not honor your LTCH then you must unload your weapon and keep both ammo and weapon out of your reach while driving.

• WHEN you reach your destination within a state that does not honor your LTCH, you may access the weapon and load it and keep the loaded weapon with you in the cab while you sleep, rest, do your paperwork, etc. You may also keep a loaded weapon in your hotel room when you travel, etc. There is no DOT provision for carrying a gun intrastate or interstate for the purpose of self-defense. The laws regulating transport of firearms apply to all people transporting them, not just truck drivers.

I am not a lawyer, you should confirm this information on your own.

[SavageEagle]

LOL Its only complicated when you are chasing 4 kids and feeding them while trying to read...

Thanks for the clarification, I'll deffly get that confirmed with some more research. Thanks.

[NEOCON]

Melensdad is correct. I have a CDL and carry all the time. However some insurance companies have a policy for those they insure that they cannot have a weapon.Some companies will state this in their company rules. But then again this is a rule and not a law.