Truck drivers face a myriad of laws and regulations on the topic of whether or not they are allowed to carry a firearm when driving over the road and crossing state lines.
Learn what it takes to ensure safety and legal compliance as a responsible gun owner and commercial truck driver.
CAN TRUCK DRIVERS CARRY GUNS?
Gun laws in the United States have long been a hotly debated topic. Attention to the issue has intensified recently after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, TX left 19 children and two teachers dead.
Truck drivers and the trucking industry at large are acutely aware of gun control controversy. While many truckers exercise and defend their Second Amendment right to bear arms for the safety of themselves and others, many drivers advocate for stricter regulations to combat America’s unparalleled gun violence. With various state and local laws, and new federal legislation reportedly imminent, it’s important to understand… can truck drivers carry guns?
DIFFERING GUN LAWS BY JURISDICTION
Are truckers allowed to carry guns? The answer isn’t always straightforward. One of the trickiest aspects truckers face is the countless gun laws that vary not only from state to state, but even within different cities of the same state. Although there is no national law that prevents truck drivers from carrying a properly permitted gun, they can run into issues driving through a state or city with strict gun laws.
For example, New Jersey has very tough laws on how gun owners can store their weapons for transporting. The law states guns must be unloaded and stored in a closed and fastened case or locked in the trunk while traveling. A trucker coming from a different state might not realize these laws and face penalties or fines for unknowingly breaking the law.
Truckers carrying a weapon should consult the state firearm laws database before they hit the road if they’re unsure of an area’s gun policy.
CONGRESSIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR NEW NATIONAL GUN LAWS
After gun control garnered national attention in the wake of another deadly mass shooting, a bipartisan group of Senators have agreed to a framework for new federal legislation. The measure is expected to receive near unanimous support among congressional Democrats and enough votes from Senate Republicans, the greatest impediment to new regulations, to overcome a filibuster. Notably, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced his approval of the proposed reform.
Once Congress passes a bill, it will likely be signed by President Joe Biden. The President urged Senators to pass this agreement. Biden called it a “step in the right direction” while simultaneously stating that it doesn’t go far enough to combat gun violence.
The handshake Senate deal, which is not yet an introduced bill, encourages states to implement red-flag laws. This allows authorities to keep guns out of the hands of people a judge has deemed a threat to themselves or others. Further, the agreement includes federal criminal background checks for gun buyers younger than 21 years old that consists of searching juvenile justice and mental health records. It also invests billions of federal dollars into new school security and mental health programs.
Until more details are shared when a bill is formalized, it is unclear how this will affect truckers.
INACTION ON MIKE'S LAW
For decades, gun control measures have failed in Congress. One example stems from a heartbreaking story in the trucking industry. The Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC) proposed a bill in 2014 called Mike's Law. It was named after Michael Boeglin, who was shot and killed inside his truck while he was parked in an abandoned lot waiting to pick up freight.
The proposed bill would have created a nationwide gun permit designed specially for truckers allowing concealed carry. However, the National Rifle Association (NRA) lobbied against the bill in favor of more universal gun accessibility proposals. Mike’s Law, and the subsequent Michael's Law Amendment, were both ultimately scrapped.
WHY DO TRUCKERS CARRY? SAFETY CONCERNS
The top reason truckers report why they carry a gun while driving is for their own safety. Sadly, slayings can occur while truckers are on the road. One such case, which remains unsolved, involves 52-year-old Piotr Pietrzykowski from Illinois, who was found stabbed to death in his truck on March 8, 2016. While truck driving often makes the news as one of the most deadly occupations because of highway accidents, it is stories like Pietrzykowski’s that prompt debate over whether truckers should carry guns for protection.
NOT ALL TRUCKERS THINK GUNS ARE NECESSARY
However, not all truck drivers think it's essential to carry a gun when on the road. Debra, a truck driver from Florida, believes carrying a gun is dangerous and unnecessary. While emphasizing that she doesn't blame the victims, she does point out that many of the incidents occurred because truck drivers stopped illegally in parking lots at abandoned buildings. She says she's very careful about planning where to park and rest and with all the apps available "there's no reason to park illegally or in an unsafe place.”
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