Do Truckers Know What They Are Hauling?


Truckers transport everything from groceries, equipment, hazardous chemicals to sensitive national security assets. If you asked a truck driver what is in the truck, you won’t get an answer. Many would-be truckers are confused about the whole process. They don’t know if truckers know of their cargo or only haul it blindly from point A to point B. But is it safe to carry a precious cargo and not know what it is? What if things go wrong?

So do truckers know what they are hauling? In most cases, yes. If you are hauling consumer goods such as clothes, food, electronics and others, the shipper will list your cargo in the paperwork. It is important to know what you are transporting so you can take measures in case of high-value cargo. However, freight meant for the military and Treasury Department is often out of bounds for drivers because of the sensitive nature of the cargo.

In most cases, drivers get a description of the cargo on the consignment note. Sometimes the note comes with a detailed manifest that gives the trucker a clear picture of what he/she is pulling. Another way for drivers to know what they are hauling is during the loading and unloading process. The driver may even be the one loading the truck, giving him/her the opportunity to know the cargo.

When It Is Important for the Trucker to Know What Is in the Truck

It is vital for the truck driver to know what their cargo is in the following cases:

High Value Cargo: If you are hauling expensive freight such as electronics, designer clothing or shoes, vintage wine, and other high-value cargo, the driver must know what is in the container. This is essential to allow the trucker prepare for security contingencies. While drivers may tell nobody what they are hauling, it is difficult to stay proactive when you don’t know the worth of your cargo.

Hazardous Material: Hazmat drivers earn higher pay because their job requires expert skills. One reason for the higher remuneration is that the driver knows what to do in case of a leak, spill or accident.

Also, the load affects the behavior of the truck. Some materials will rise and shift when the truck stops and starts. Without knowing what’s in the tanker, the trucker may not prepare adequately for potential accidents.

Perishable Items: In trucking parlance, perishable items are called hot loads as they require speedy delivery. If you are hauling fresh produce, there is a sense of urgency to deliver on schedule to prevent losses to the consignee and your company. This may not be possible if you don’t know the cargo in your truck.

When Truckers May not Know what they Are Hauling

Some cargo requires a strict level of secrecy because they are critical to national security. If you do runs for the Department of Defense, Treasury Department, research institutions, and other high-level technological establishments, you may not always know what you are hauling.

Military hardware, bullion, nuclear fuel and nuclear waste, defense research equipment and other clandestine equipment requires discretion. Companies that haul this freight undergo intensive vetting exercises and you may even require armed escorts. In such runs, truckers need to exercise utmost professionalism to make sure they get their cargo safely to the consignees.

Truckers may also not know the goods they are carrying if it belongs to multiple customers. Rather than get a detailed cargo manifest, the paperwork may only provide a short description of the load without providing further information on what make up the freight.

Dryvan drivers rarely know what they are hauling because they drop and hook. Apart from the paperwork to show law enforcement, sealed containers may not offer any details about the package inside the box. The trucker’s job is to deliver on schedule to the consignee who knows what they are expecting. If you wish to know what’s in the container, you can ask at the customer’s place and most will oblige you because people take pride in what they do.

Should Truckers Know what they Are Transporting?

Yes, and for many reasons. The driver is responsible for the safety of his freight. If things go wrong, the driver is in trouble. Drivers who pull flatbed trailers my not have this problem because they haul their cargo on open platforms. But this can be dangerous for dryvan truckers.

It is dangerous because dryvan truckers drop and hook their cargo. They hook up a sealed container at point A and drop it at point B. They are not involved in the loading or unloading of the freight and the law prohibits them from breaking the seal on the box. 

A dryvan trucker might haul contraband while the bill of laden describes the cargo as military boots. If law enforcement get a tip and find out you are carrying weapons, illegal immigrants, drugs, or endangered wildlife, you may go to prison. Unfortunately, drivers are exposed to these problems, and the law does not provide enough protection for them.

Do Drivers Tell People About Their Cargo?

Unless law enforcement asks for details, truckers are tight-lipped about their cargo. Even if they are hauling common goods, truck drivers never discuss what’s in their truck with anyone even if they know each other well. This is because others might overhear the conversation, leading to potentially dangerous situations for the driver, trucking company and consignee.

There are cases of trucks stolen before their drivers came out of the truck stop. If bad actors know you are carrying alcohol, cigarettes or any merchandise they can sell on the black market, you may be in serious trouble. So even if you know what is in your trailer, tell no one. Whether you are with friends or just stopping to refuel, be vigilant of your surroundings and keep your mouth shut.

Is Truck Driver a Good Career?

Truck driving is one of the easiest ways to make upwards of $50,000 a year in the United States. Truckers only need a high school certificate and qualify for a commercial driver’s license to get work. And there is a serious shortage of drivers in the trucking industry, so you won’t be sitting idle. Plus, the truck drivers get to see the country in all its glory while getting paid. But it is a solitary life.

If you want to experience the American road trip at its best, and even see parts of Canada and Mexico, your best bet is to become a truck driver. Truckers are the lifeblood of the multi-trillion-dollar U.S. economy. They are the reason you can open your fridge and always find milk and every other supplies that help you maintain a sane existence.

While truckers get paid, the consensus is that the compensation is not commensurate with the sacrifice that comes with the job. Long-haul drivers, especially OTR or over the road truckers spend 11 hours of their working hours driving. On average, an OTR driver covers 600 to 650 miles a day. And they cover the long distances alone most of the time. Even driving teams do their runs alone as one driver sleeps while the other takes the wheels.

Trucking takes a huge toll on family and social relationships and can affect your mental health. Whether you choose local, regional or OTR driving, you will spend most of your time away from your loved ones. The loneliness of the job also gets to most people. If you are not a solitary type who enjoys adventure, trucking might hit you hard. While there are few professions that allow you make such amounts of money within such a short time, trucking is also one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.

Consider the pros and cons, home time, potential for growth and your health before choosing a career in the trucking industry. You might find it’s the perfect job for you after getting to know the environment. However, you may exit faster than you could imagine if the adverse effects of the industry are too extreme for your liking.

What Do Truckers Do for Fun on the Road?

Trucking can be a boring and lonely job. But truckers can have as much fun as they like on the road. Here are few ways truckers ignite their lives while on the long haul.

Hobbies

More truckers are taking up hobbies they can carry along with them. Activities such as crocheting, knitting, sewing, writing, and photography are hobbies many truck drivers are using to pass time and increase fulfillment while away from their families.

Entertainment Apps

The internet has made truckers’ lives less lonely with social media and entertainment apps. You can connect with your family and friends through social media, WhatsApp, Skype and more. There is Spotify, Netflix, Pandora, and YouTube for unlimited entertainment with the latest movies and music on the planet. You can also play video games and audio books and many other sources of mental stimulation to make your days fun.

Exercise

Truckers need to stay fit. While this can be difficult in the confines of a truck, people still get their daily workouts anyhow. Exercise time is fun time for many truckers as it keeps the blood pumping and feel-good chemicals bursting into their bodies.

Me-Time

Some drivers love their quiet. During those long drives, many drivers are deep in thought about their lives and future. Life-changing insights and ideas come from these introspections.

Are you a trucker? How do you have fun on the road? Let us know in the comment section.

Dane Eyerly

Dane is a lifelong lover of semi-trucks and the trucking industry. He loves learning about semi-trucks, careers in the trucking industry, and the lifestyle of truckers. Dane also enjoys attending the Mid-America Trucking Show and Great American Trucking Show in Louisville, KY and his home town Dallas, TX. Click here to learn more about Dane.

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