Truckers Doubt Effectiveness of Rules

Even as law enforcement agencies from around the country take a longer look at the way trucks -- especially those carrying hazardous materials -- operate in the United States, many truckers say they support the enforcement, but if they wanted to break the rules, they probably could get away with it.

A report in the Express-Times of Pennsylvania said that many drivers and company representatives have little faith in the government’s ability to police the long-haul trucking industry.

Drivers say that no matter how strict laws and enforcement get, there will always be some drivers who try to find a way around the law, the paper said.

One driver, who spoke to the paper without revealing his name, said his supervisors regularly look the other way on safety regulations, especially hours of service rules. The driver went on to call trucking a crooked business and said that if companies followed the law, they could not make money, the paper said.

In states across the country, rules are being enforced with greater zeal – despite the beliefs of dubious truckers that they will not work.

In Florida, some trucks are being stopped three or four times a day, with little complaint from truckers, the Associated Press reported.

Many law enforcement and trucking associations are offering tips to truckers to avoid possible security breaches or unnecessary delays. Among them are to avoid bridges, tunnels and highly populated areas; don’t stop when delivering a load, go directly to the destination, vary routes, lock doors and don’t talk about destinations of cargoes on CB radio, the AP reported.

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