Questions about fictional criminality for trucking for a story.
Posted by Head_Ad_5130@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 27 comments
To be clear I am not a trucker and have no real experience with trucking so I am sorry if this sounds silly. I am writing a story about a trucker that does illegal smuggling between states for criminals. I of course want him to get into trouble with the law or maybe have things to sweat over from Law Enforcement. Would or even could DoT ever do random inspections of a load? Or would they need a warrant for that?
What is organized criminality like in the trucker industry if anything? Like is there like a Hells Angels for truckers?
Is criminal smuggling even a thing in the trucking industry?
What kind of hurdles would there be for criminal smuggling in trucking?
If this is all inappropriate for the Reddit, I apologize and won't blame mods for shutting it all down.
Hypno-Mark915@reddit
LEOs don't really "need" a reason. But, it depends on the driver. If they're nervous and jittery, it'll give more reason for an inspection.
With the advent of newer tech, smugglers have had to get better. Look at some videos of drug seizures and X-ray scans of trucks coming out of Mexico.
While it isn't a majority of truckers that do this... The ones getting caught tend to be blasted on the news, and account for a bigger share of bad press.
PollutionFinancial71@reddit
Yeah, it's mostly at those border patrol checkpoint, coming out of areas near the border (El Paso, San Diego, Laredo, etc.) where they have this equipment, and where they catch these smugglers.
Hypno-Mark915@reddit
I've see some of that same tech at some scale houses. I don't know how accurate the scans are... But, in 24 years I've never seen the need to try it out. It just isn't worth it.
KoalaTraditional7362@reddit
I know that DOT can do random inspections, most of the time it'll be at weigh stations but trucker can get pulled over for random inspections.
PollutionFinancial71@reddit
In Ohio, it's mostly the result of being pulled over. The DOT cops there will sit in the median about a mile from a rest area, and pull a random truck over into the rest area, in order to do an inspection. Happened to me once.
Practical_Prole@reddit
Routing to avoid scales is common, especially if you’re worried about possibly being overweight. I always run closer to empty than full (local LTL driver), so I don’t personally avoid scales (although I work at night so they’re usually closed), but yeah… Non smuggling truckers will avoid them if they can to avoid getting a roadside colonoscopy via State Trooper, smugglers damn well would too.
Falsified bills of lading, too.
SpaceAnabasis@reddit
In my country (Spain) the police carry portable scales so there’s no way to avoid them. Besides, it’s heavily fined and they print two tickets, one for the owner of the truck company and another for the client who hired the trip and loaded the truck.
PollutionFinancial71@reddit
They carry portable scales here in the US as well.
tvieno@reddit
Make the driver have something minor wrong with his trailer, a light out or a missing mudflap, it doesn't matter, anything to get him pulled over or require him to have a more thorough inspection. Generally DOT aren't interested in what is in the trailer, so they aren't going to look in the trailer unless they have suspicion, like Bills of Lading that don't look correct, or not having bills at all but the trailer seems heavily loaded, or the driver is acting suspiciously.
Filamcouple@reddit
You're correct. And an error on the hazmat paperwork or placards could escalate into a physical inspection if it's egregious.
Head_Ad_5130@reddit (OP)
That is a good scene for some tension. Thanks, I like that.
Filamcouple@reddit
I noticed that nobody said anything about the produce check stations or the migration checkpoints like the one coming out of El Paso on US 54. And if your fictional Driver is going to be smuggling drugs. you need to do some research on how the dog smells things after a period of time. The longer time that a load of contraband sits in a container, the more likely it is for the smell to permeate the container enough so that the canine can score a hit. If it was me, I would do some research about a sealed container shipped inside a liquid container, full of chemicals. But you will have to hide it behind a baffle away from the dome.
OilOk3463@reddit
You’ve clearly thought about this before. You wouldn’t, perchance, belong to the Hells Angels of trucking would you?
Filamcouple@reddit
Of course not.
Head_Ad_5130@reddit (OP)
Thank you. I hadn't considered alot of that.
gunsndonuts@reddit
A common item truckers used to smuggle between states was Coors beer. There's a famous trucker that once made a record run smuggling beer from Texarkana to Atlanta in under 28 hours dodging scales and cops all along the way.
Head_Ad_5130@reddit (OP)
god damn it that almost got me. I was ready to ask for clarification since this is what I was looking for. Good one though. Made me laugh for real.
karrimycele@reddit
The places a truck is most likely to be searched, aside from actual border crossings, are immigration and agricultural stops. You see these on I-10 in the southwest. Florida has one on the inbound side.
I’ve been driving for 20 years, and I’ve only had one cop want to look inside my trailer. I have no idea why, but I was pulling a container and I think those get more attention, being from overseas. I’ve never had anyone want to search my tractor, except the American border guards, coming back from Canada.
Er1cDravn@reddit
Sci Fi....have goods smuggled with an Automated Truck. The smugglers put an air-tag on the trailer to track it then find an area not too busy and stop the truck and collect the goods
Head_Ad_5130@reddit (OP)
Ooo. That would be fun to do scene around. Thanks.
mike-2129@reddit
DOT definitely does random Inspections of load or even inside truck whenever they please. Not often but it's definitely seen. Organized crime. I'm sure it happens. It's seen on the news all the time. About illegals beings transported in semis. Drugs. Or money. Probably not as much as we would think though. The hells angels of truckers. Those damn fireball drinking, I ain't got no panties on sumbitches. That's who. I believe there is smuggling. Biggest hurdle would be those random Inspections. Product doesn't seem normal. Weights don't match the paperwork to the scale. You're out of a direct route. Anything can cause suspicion and earn a inspection. Not appropriate. Just makes me wonder what kind of school is having students write about truckers. Just random.
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CleanSeaPancake@reddit
They can pull over and inspect us anytime anywhere, doesn't even need to be a state patrol officer, I've been inspected by a KC cop. Usually done at weight stations, but can be done on the side of the road randomly, which is where my first inspection was done.
You won't get me that easy FBI (I don't know lol)
Definitely
frenchtickler1@reddit
Can confirm.
Abucfan21@reddit
The easiest way to get in trouble with the law out here is to drive an Amazon truck and OBEY ALL THE TRAFFIC LAWS.
Cops know that is 100% suss.
Knarknarknarknar@reddit
Criminals use fedex and ups.
Truckers pulling those trailers aren't complicit due to the trailers being sealed.
Just easier that way.
B_drgnthrn@reddit
DOT frequently does random inspections.
Weigh stations on the highway have DOT offices on them, and whenever the lights are on, drivers are legally required to pull in for inspection. The level of inspection differs depending on different factors, but what you're asking for would likely happen during a level 1 DOT inspection, where the driver, truck, and trailer are inspected.
This inspection includes all the mechanical systems on the equipment, load, and the drivers credentials.