2 Questions, Take My son? My gun?

Bambuild · May 1, 2011

I've been talking to a few of you about buying a truck and puting a team in it, as another business venture. Many of you are saying that I should get in the truck myself and see what this is all about. So my question is, do any carriers allow me to take my 8yr old son with me?
For the past few years I have been required to carry a gun 24/7 for my current career. Do any carriers allow me to carry? If I am going to get into a truck at all, these are 2 things that will help make or break my decision.
Oh, my son would only be in the summer months if allowed.

King780 · May 1, 2011

I would check to see if current laws permit carrying in a Commercial Motor Vehicle. Also check the carrier you plan on leasing onto. Best of luck.

KH

xiggi · May 1, 2011

Legally you can carry in the states allowed there is no restrictions as far as the commercial carriers laws are concerned., most companies will not allow it but you might find a smaller one that does. It would be a major hassle to make sure you are doing the right thing with it each time you enter a new state.

Moot · May 1, 2011

Bambuild said:
i
For the past few years I have been required to carry a gun 24/7 for my current career.

The picture in your sig line shows 3 pickups with snowplows and two lawnmowers. Are things that bad in Michigan? I can understand the gun thing in Detroit, but the thumb?

Ragman · May 1, 2011

Moot said:
I can understand the gun thing in Detroit, but the thumb?

Ever been told to stick a thumb up your butt? A thumb can be dangerous.

cheri1122 · May 1, 2011

Bambuild said:
I've been talking to a few of you about buying a truck and puting a team in it, as another business venture. Many of you are saying that I should get in the truck myself and see what this is all about. So my question is, do any carriers allow me to take my 8yr old son with me?
Most carriers who permit riders are constrained by the requirements of the insurance policies, which most often prohibit anyone under the age of 16. Additionally, some shippers and receivers will not allow children on their property.
For the past few years I have been required to carry a gun 24/7 for my current career. Do any carriers allow me to carry? If I am going to get into a truck at all, these are 2 things that will help make or break my decision.
Oh, my son would only be in the summer months if allowed.

Even if you found a carrier that would permit you to carry a weapon, you'd have to abide by the rules of reciprocity [which states will honor your permit], and that's nearly impossible when you don't know which states you will be traveling through in any given day. And again, many shippers and receivers prohibit weapons on their property.

chefdennis · May 2, 2011

Get your own insurance and add a "rider" to the policy that you can have your minor child in the truck...yes you will have to pay extra....as to the gun, thats a personal issue for you to make the decision on, no one elses....I can tell you that I know of one person out here that drives for the "Big" carrier, and that carrier forbids firearms in the truck, he is works for the Fed Gov on a consultant basis and is required to have a firearm on his person 24/7 and that overides any company rule...but then again, most don't know he carries...

bikerpaul · May 2, 2011

You say that you are required by your employer to carry 24/7. Are you a law enforcement officer? If so, you should know if you can or can't. If you just have a CCW permit, you might have some trouble in certain jurisdictions. I can carry nationwide, but if somebody tries to hijack my van, they can have it, that is what insurance is for.

cheri1122 · May 2, 2011

chefdennis said:
Get your own insurance and add a "rider" to the policy that you can have your minor child in the truck...yes you will have to pay extra....
You will also have to decide what to do if you find yourself trying to enter a customer's gate past the security guard and sign saying "No children permitted on premises." If it's a military or nuclear location, be prepared to have your vehicle thoroughly searched, as well.
as to the gun, thats a personal issue for you to make the decision on, no one elses....I can tell you that I know of one person out here that drives for the "Big" carrier, and that carrier forbids firearms in the truck, he is works for the Fed Gov on a consultant basis and is required to have a firearm on his person 24/7 and that overides any company rule...
"Required to have a firearm on his person 24/7 while engaged as a consultant", but not otherwise, correct? Because while driving for an expedited carrier would be 'otherwise', and the requirement would not apply.
but then again, most don't know he carries...
Normally, that's maybe for the best - but when leased to a carrier, it's pretty risky, IMO. You never know when your next destination is a military base, and the soldiers search incoming trucks as if their lives depend on it, as well they might. If they found a weapon, it could get really ugly, really fast.
To each his own - is the risk [losing your contact] worth it?

Bambuild · May 2, 2011

Moot said:
The picture in your sig line shows 3 pickups with snowplows and two lawnmowers. Are things that bad in Michigan? I can understand the gun thing in Detroit, but the thumb?

I own my own businesses and I have multiple investments, and yes the plows and trucks are one. Some of the work that we do is that dangerous, one of my businesses is in the forclosed home industry, this is one that we are currently looking into replacing.
Being a law enforcement officer or not, does not give me special priveledges with a carrier, if it says in their contract "no firearms" that means no firearms, also everybody knows that the military trumps all law enforcement. I was asking a general question if ANY carrier allows firearms, or my son.

FYI: My Avatar is a pic that was taken by a newspaper for one of the write ups on one of our companies.

Thanks for all of the feedback on this subject, sarcasm too (I have tough skin)

chefdennis · May 2, 2011

Cheri wrote:

"Required to have a firearm on his person 24/7 while engaged as a consultant", but not otherwise, correct?

No not just while he is "Engaged as a Consultant"...as BikePaul pointed out, some people can and or are required to have a firearm on their person at all times no matter when or where or what they are doing for other employment when they are not engaged in their position that requires them to carry...The Fed Gov while a pita in alot of situations does trump local, state, county law...and his person makes regular deliveries to Military installations for his carrier and his clearences are higher then what we as Expediters have to have to enter those place...As for his carrier knowing, I am not sure they do, but it wouldn't surprise me either way...

cheri1122 · May 2, 2011

chefdennis said:
Cheri wrote:

No not just while he is "Engaged as a Consultant"...as BikePaul pointed out, some people can and or are required to have a firearm on their person at all times no matter when or where or what they are doing for other employment when they are not engaged in their position that requires them to carry...

That's not exactly what BikerPaul said...
[and if it's true, it sure screws up a day of waterskiing, lol]
Seriously: anyone who is required to carry a weapon should not consider signing a contract that forbids them to carry a weapon - simple, IMO. Find another 'opportunity', cause this one is asking for trouble.

The Fed Gov while a pita in alot of situations does trump local, state, county law...and his person makes regular deliveries to Military installations for his carrier and his clearences are higher then what we as Expediters have to have to enter those place...
I am aware that Federal law takes precedence - but I still can't believe anyone would be permitted to enter a military facility [driving a delivery truck] with a weapon.
As for his carrier knowing, I am not sure they do, but it wouldn't surprise me either way..
We're talking hearsay, none of which surprises me.

chefdennis · May 2, 2011

Cheri, you are aware that some military people never retire, but leave daily service and do other types of work...as for hearsay as to his carrier knowing or not, its not hearsay at all, as I have never asked because I know his Gov position..and yes he has to inform those at a Military installation that he is armed and provide the needed documentation that would prove out his position. I also have no idea if he has to surrender his weapon at the gate, again because it was never asked or brought up..he very well may have to...I would assume not, because of his clearances, but we do know about one "assuming"....

I can also tell you that there are people right here on this forum that carry daily in their trucks that drive for the same major carrier that when they have to go to a military or nuclear installation will remove their firearm from the truck and place it in a safe place to be picked back up after the delivery....

cheri1122 · May 2, 2011

Bikerpaul referred to LEOs, you're talking about 'former military personnel' - I don't know the rules for either, but I presume they know, and wouldn't need to ask about whether they can carry while leased to a carrier - which was the OPs question, remember?
And it's all hearsay, because there is no proof of what you contend - it may be true, but it may be no more than a kind of bragging about being 'special'.
Bottom line is that nearly all carriers prohibit contractors from carrying weapons, as do many shippers and receivers. Anyone exempt from those rules would already know that they are, [whether LEO or ex military/government agent] without needing to ask on this forum.

chefdennis · May 2, 2011

Yes the OP if a LEO or Military he would know, but neither BikerPaul nor I were refering to the OP. BikerPaul simply spoke of his personal experience and I spoke of the gentleman i know and several here on EO....

As to what is in "Most" carrier contracts, I can tell you it is NOT in all contracts.....

PS: I hope you are not taking this as me being arguementative. LOL, while we all know i can be that in alot of cases, this isn't one of them...

cheri1122 · May 3, 2011

chefdennis said:
Yes the OP if a LEO or Military he would know, but neither BikerPaul nor I were refering to the OP. BikerPaul simply spoke of his personal experience and I spoke of the gentleman i know and several here on EO....
BP questioned whether the OP was/is a LEO, in an attempt to clarify the situation, in order to give more accurate info - your reply just muddied the situation further, is all I'm sayin.

As to what is in "Most" carrier contracts, I can tell you it is NOT in all contracts.....
Granted. When responding to wannabees, though, 'most' is used because that's what they're usually looking at: the major and commonly known carriers, and most of them prohibit weapons, as do many customers. The usual wannabe/newbie doesn't know how the CCW laws work for interstate driving, either, for the most part.
Best we can do is provide accurate info, which is what I was aiming for.

PS: I hope you are not taking this as me being arguementative.
You say that like it's a bad thing
LOL, while we all know i can be that in alot of cases, this isn't one of them...

Hey - if I didn't wanna, I'd keep my mouf shut - sometimes, I like argument.

Bambuild · May 3, 2011

Hey, I just wanted to know if any carriers allowed either. I wasn't trying to start problems, thanks for the help.

BigBusBob · May 12, 2011

taking a gun is up to you- if you are allowed and want to do it- do it. even if you are not allowed and want to do it- some still do it. However, taking an 8 y.o. child onto a truck for any length of time is not recommended due to the CB and sights of the road. Not to mention the truck stop conditions is some area's and other locations. I would wait until he's over ten or 12 at the very earliest. the environment you would be exposing them to would not be clean and might even be a bit "too educational" if you know what I'm saying.
BigBusBob.
BTW... not prying, but many were guessing- I was going to say a repo-man, because there's a good bit of them along with tow truck operators that carry some form of "protection" besides a tire thumper.

Jack_Berry · May 17, 2011

anything a person posts here is always available for debate. its what we do when we are not loaded. nbd.

now as for a 8 yo son.....are you the sole parent? poor kid is gonna get bored being in the truck all day. no kids at ts to play with. videos and games only go so far. i would guess after the first week or two it would be time to go home for him.
i would say no don't take him.