Regardless of what you may have heard, truck drivers do carry guns and there is no law that prevents truck drivers from carrying guns in their trucks. There are state and local laws that truck drivers must pay attention to, but generally speaking there is no federal law preventing truck drivers from carrying guns in their trucks.
Truckers driving routes like Chicago and Detroit face serious risks because of the high crime rates in those places. Whether on the road at uncomfortable hours or parking at odd places, many truckers feel they need to carry owned firearms as a means of protection. However, local and state laws make it difficult for truck drivers to carry firearms across states due to lack of reciprocity.
Besides legal constraints, most trucking companies do not allow their drivers to carry guns in their truck. But do you need a gun to protect yourself as a trucker? Some commercial drivers carry baseball bats and tasers. But if a gun-toting criminal crosses your path and all you have is a tire iron, how do you protect yourself?
So, do truck drivers carry guns? Many truck drivers carry concealed weapons in their truck. There are reports of drivers who travel with more than one gun concealed in their sleeper cab. Trucking is a dangerous business, and many truckers find themselves alone in desolate places at dangerous hours. So many truckers travel with a firearm.
Trucking is one of the most dangerous occupations. Drivers have a higher risk of chronic health problems and also face multiple dangers while on the road. In cities like Chicago and Detroit where gangs kill with impunity, drivers risk getting shot for no reason other than being at the wrong place while doing their job.
The case of Mike, who inspired the Mike’s Law comes to mind. Trucker Mike parked at an abandoned place at night and was shot dead in his truck. While we can argue that the driver made a wrong decision by parking illegally, sometimes it is almost impossible to find a safe parking space.
The drudgery of the work can force a fatigued driver to park and get some sleep before heading to their destination. To prevent stories like that of Mike, many drivers want to have the means to defend themselves in a shootout.
Most drivers who carry guns in their truck have concealed permits for their home states. But many of them don’t mind carrying their firearms across states where they don’t have a permit to bear guns. They take every necessary precaution to put themselves out of trouble though.
In most cases, truckers carrying concealed firearms keep them locked up with the firearm and ammunition in separate compartments. Federal law does not prohibit truck drivers from carrying firearms in their trucks, but they have to follow local and state gun laws.
Carriers may also restrict their drivers from traveling with guns but owner-operators don’t have this problem. Not all truckers favor guns though. A lot of truck drivers carry baseball bats, Tasers, heavy flashlights and tire irons for self-defense.
Considering that 27 truckers were killed between 2010 and 2015 as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many truckers feel safer with their personal firearm., company directives, and local, city, and state laws make it almost impossible for truck drivers to carry guns in their vehicles.
Why It Is Difficult for Truckers to Carry Firearms in Their Truck
Federal law does not prevent truckers from having guns in their truck. But the labyrinthine nature of local and state gun laws complicates the matter. Most trucking fleets also have a no-gun policy that prohibits truckers from carrying firearms in company trucks. But many drivers believe they need access to their weapons while working.
Safe parking spaces are far between and even truck stops offer no protection. Some cities like New York City and the State of New Jersey have harsh gun laws that could see a driver serve 3 1/2 years in prison or more for carrying a gun. Most truckers have permits from their state but their permits may not extend to other states on their route, creating problems for the driver. Troopers can stop and search any vehicle at will, and you may be charged for breaking gun laws if found with one in a state where your permit does not offer reciprocity.
Besides state and local laws, company policy may limit or prohibit truckers from carrying personal firearms. Insurance coverage may be higher for firearm damage and potential accidents and claims which may occur when a truck driver discharges his weapon. This is a major reason many trucking fleets have no-gun policies.
There is also the concern of safety training. While you need some level of training before you can get a permit, many trucking companies think that firearms training of many drivers may be inadequate. This poses danger to the driver and other people as a firearm in the hands of an untrained user is a disaster in waiting.
Things to Know When Carrying a Firearm in Your Truck
While carrying a gun offers more protection in the murky waters of the trucking world, it might also cost you your job. It is important to navigate gun laws and company policy in a way that does not jeopardize your safety or livelihood. If you are an owner-operator, carrying a firearm is easier as no company is breathing down your neck not to keep one in your truck.
You don’t have to carry a firearm though. Many drivers carry Tasers which are permitted in 45 states. Tire irons, bars, and baseball bats are also favorite self-defense weapons for many truckers. To make sure you don’t run afoul of the law when carrying a gun in your truck, the following are essential.
- Consider the guns laws of the states on your route. Some state gun permits will cover you in other states while some are unacceptable. States like Alabama, Arkansas and Illinois issue gun permits to residents and nonresidents while some only issue permits to their residents.
- Understand and know that you cannot carry a firearm if the law prohibits you from owning a gun. That means truckers with a felony record cannot transport a gun even if local laws or company policy permit it.
- Know of the penalties for violating gun laws in certain states. For example, the state of New Jersey stipulates 3.5-10 years jail time for drivers caught with firearms without a permit from the state.
- If you are carrying a firearm through a no-carry zone, unload the gun, and lock the firearm and ammunition in different boxes. Also, federal law does not allow storing a concealed weapon or ammunition on the console or glove box. Your firearm must not be within reach from the truck’s passenger cabin.
- You risk a felony case if you carry a firearm onto a military base or correctional facility. So make sure you know the policy of your consignees regarding firearms if guns are your weapon of choice.
- Check the states that honor your permits. The site usacarry.com has a user-friendly map for this function.
How to Stay Safe as a Trucker
Truckers are most vulnerable when they are not driving. Truck stops are full of different people with varying motives. However, you can’t be too careful. Many drivers stop driving when they clock their hours of service (HOS). But this can mean spending the night at an isolated or unsafe location. Most of these problems are avoidable though.
With careful planning, it is possible to reduce the danger of trucking to the barest minimum. It starts from investigating your environment and parking spot. Allocate enough time to find a safe parking space. If you can’t get a safe spot at truck stops, consider paying extra for reserved parking. It all boils down to being cautious of your surroundings. But it helps to have something to defend you and it doesn’t have to be a gun.
Can You Carry a Gun in a Commercial Motor Vehicle?
It’s complicated. Federal law allows you to carry a gun in a commercial vehicle such as trucks but states, cities, and counties have more stringent requirements. If you want to carry firearms in a CMV, it is important to know the requirements of states and counties along your route. Even if you have a permit and legally own your firearm, some states do not honor permits from other sites. There are maps online to show reciprocity from states to state. To avoid felony charges, it is important to know what the law stipulates in different states and cities where your trucking business takes you.
Your company may not allow guns in their vehicles. In that case, don’t carry firearms. Get a Taser or other permissible self-defense weapon such as a baseball bat or tire iron.
What Is Mike’s Law?
Mike’s Law was proposed in 2015 after the murder of Michael Bogling in 2014. Mike parked his truck next to an abandoned building but was killed before morning. James Lamb, the chairman of the Small Business and Transportation Coalition authored the bill to allow truckers have the legal backing to carry firearms all over the country. Senator Marco Rubio supported the bill in Congress but it did not receive enough backing to reach the first reading.
The advocates of the bill contacted the National Rifle Association for support. However, the NRA declined to promote the bill. The NRA’s position was that it was fighting for everybody in the USA to have the right to carry their guns anywhere in the country. Selecting a group, i.e. truck drivers defeat the whole purpose of its campaign. With the failure of the bill, states still hold the monopoly over gun rights and truckers will have to adhere to these rules or find alternative means of self-protection.