My first D.O.T. Inspection....not good

[highway star]

Doowop, I appreciate your service to our country. But, with all due respect, how does being a vet qualify you to criticize the way someone else chooses to serve the public? Do you have some sort of training that helps you determine that someone is a coward that would fold under pressure?

As Lisa went into more detail about the inspection, it sounds like he could have been more patient with her. She was understandably nervous about going through it for the first time. But the guy may have just been having a bad day. I think most of us have been there from time to time.

Rather than look at them as the enemy, I accept that they have a job to do. Having been in trucking since the mid-70's, I can say they have been effective. Back then, there were a lot of people whacked out on pills, weed and such, driving trucks in very deplorable condition. This has improved markedly.

Instead of the enemy, it's better to just look at them as a necessary evil. They probably make fun of the Barney Fife uniforms as much as everyone else.

 

[cheri1122]

Highway Star: I've never thought of the DOT officers as the enemy, or even a necessary evil. As you said, they have made the roads safer for all, by removing the bad apples. But we know, and they know, that they have the upper hand in any encounter, and when they are rude to drivers without provocation, that's bullying, plain & simple. It certainly isn't necessary to perform the job, as demonstrated by the many courteous officers. For some, though, it's a "perk" , a little power thrill at our expense, and we are all made smaller when it goes unquestioned.

 

[DooWop]

Highway Star: Thanks for the "props". Sure didn't get them back in the day. I stand by my statements. No, I don't have "some special training" only years of experience and observation of human behavior (some of it under the most difficult of circumstances). What I have seen is that weaklings who are in positions of power abuse those under them, whether they be military officers, NCOs, police officers, or DOT inspectors. Lisa's DOT officer was (is) a weakling. He had absolutely no right to abuse her verbally. Whether he was having a "bad hair day" is immaterial. When one dons a uniform of service, whether military, or in this case law enforcement, an unwritten contract is entered into with the public. And that contract is "to serve and protect" not to use and abuse. I did make a generalization that the vast majority of these men are cowards. I stand behind that statement also. Men who are insecure in their manhood gravitate to these kinds of jobs, and this has been well documented in medical and behavioral journals. They hope that somehow the job and its image will give them the self respect that they crave. You've seen the type: The loud mouth, the put down artist, the hard #####, the braggart, the bully, the toady who uses his proximity to the group leader to enhance his own self esteem. These are not the kind of people that you can rely on when the chips are down. They will disappear, only to magically reappear later. They will use any and every excuse to get out of difficult situations. These are the guys who talk a hell of a game back on the block. In a position of leadership, or authority, they misuse that which has been entrusted to them. This often is manifested in verbal or physical abuse and violence towards those who are powerless. In Lisa's case the officer in question abused his authority. He allowed himself to be overcome by circumstances, and thus folded under pressure.

Regards

DooWop

 

[Broompilot]

I am gona completely stand up for Police and Law Enforcement Officers. Yes they can be rude and they are entitled to be, until we as professionals learn to understand the jobs they go through.

Look on many Highways, this highway is dedicated to Officer Ron Mellon or State Patrolman Bobby Harris. They do not know what we go through and and we do not know what they go through, with that said who is to say that, your officer did not have a co-worker shot at or killed yesterday?

Now if your Is are dotted and Ts are crossed one would not face over questioning or as so many have said rudeness. We as drivers have the same problem, accident, tolls, and than almost a road rage incident when we pull up to the dock after rushing our buts off, not stopping to eat, fuel, relieve ourselves etc... To be told, WE WILL BE BACK AFTER LUNCH. You driver can sit here until we come back, and to top that off all doors are locked so your bathroom break you think will have to wait even longer.....Now we are in a position to almost explode, now think this is not endangering our lives, police officers put there lives on the line everyday when they put that uniform on, weather it be a DOT officer, State Trooper, or Park Ranger.

Think twice about the attitude, it may not be justified but what happened yesterday might make one understand, one last comment how many drivers have good attitudes when exiting the truck knowing one is in violation? Lies, excuses etc.. its almost an argument waiting to happen, how many drivers explode at these people? Now look at it from the DOT Officers Position We Are Suppost To Know Better.

I have had my bad expierence also, OK writing me a ticket for one paper that VA forgot to give me back so he wrote me up for $115 cash payable NOW, no fax was available so I had to pay it on the spot. Think I was not P.O. at both VA and OK this paper had no bearing on my driving ability, or to the certification of the truck since the computer said the bill was paid for, the US DOT cert but since that paper was in my possesion I had to pay $115 right then and there..

We have all been trough it, if not your time is comming. Now comming back into that States from Canada thats another story, you give up all rights and freedoms you are at the very mercy of Customs.

 

[silverdollar]

I am not trying to slam anyone, but maybe the officer got a little annoyed at a truckdriver who didn`t know too much about their job. in my opinion out of the thousands of drivers out there only a few hundred are professional truck drivers. I also believe that most of the poor drivers are the same as the people we see trying to handle the large RVs, retired from one career and looking for what they thought was a little extra easy money.

 

[highway star]

I agree that there are some officers that get off on the power a bit too much. But, to say these people are the vast majority is just wrong. To say that anyone that inspects trucks instead of fighting in Iraq is a coward is just wrong. No matter the mindset of the officer, if all your ducks are in a row for an inspection you will have no problem. By Lisa's own admission, this was the problem to begin with.

 

[wallytrucker1]

As a retired police officer and disabled viet vet, I at first was really iritated at "doowops" comments. Then I remembered "walk a mile in my moccasains". Unclear of his background, but very proud of mine.
Several dot types out west are non law enforcement, simply inspectors. If they find a violation, they take you inside where a sworne officer cites.
Every occupation has a bad apple or even a person having a bad day. I know I wouldn't want to be judged by others if their only insight was how I may have been acting on one of my bad days.
I have only been a professional driver for 15 years,however, I have never had a bad DOT, even those where I was cited. I have met those I wouldn't care to have a beer with, But always professional.
A good practice to follow; when you truck is clean and every thing is in order and you have time, pull in to an open scale and ask for an inspection. Then you have that fresh sticker(hopefully)and then you are LESS likely to be pulled in randomly see ya out there.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Broom, I beg to differ. There isn't always a reason on our part a cop or DOT is a jerk, sometimes they grow into it. And, NO, there's no excuse they should act cruelly if unprovoked. Aren't they professionals themselves? Even moreso, they're supposed to protect and SERVE.


"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas

 

[LDB]

>I am gona completely stand up for Police and Law Enforcement
>Officers. Yes they can be rude and they are entitled to be,
>until we as professionals learn to understand the jobs they
>go through.
>
>Look on many Highways, this highway is dedicated to Officer
>Ron Mellon or State Patrolman Bobby Harris. They do not
>know what we go through and and we do not know what they go
>through, with that said who is to say that, your officer did
>not have a co-worker shot at or killed yesterday?
>

I have to take a 180 position. Nobody is 'entitled' to be rude from the get go. Rudeness is not part of the demeanor of a professional.
What happened yesterday has no bearing on today, unless the person being inspected is the same person who shot at him yesterday. If s/he can't separate events and activities then s/he isn't a professional and isn't doing the job correctly and shouldn't be in the job. Nobody should be insulted or demeaned or belittled or denigrated as this example portrays. If the driver gets out of the cab cursing and flipping off the inspector that's a different inspection. That isn't the inspection described here so the officer is absolutely in the wrong in this example.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5507, 5508, 5509
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[Broompilot]

Being the son of a Police Officer and seeing how people lie made my decision long ago that it was not a profession for me. My Dad was spit on, punched, beat up by groups of thugs, swore at and shot at. We all have bad days, I do not know how he had the restraint to always be polite. It would be GREAT if we all lived in Disneyland where Lions sleep next to Deer and we all get along.