I think that's a just like everywhere thing.
There are a depressing number of people in the world who will not only take anything that's not bolted down, but who are not above carrying wrenches and undoing the bolts to get something.
It wasn't me!
Always lock every trailer empty or not, sealed or not. And don't use a Dime Store lock. Locked doors keep people honest.
I've had both a def cap and a fuel cap stolen...while I was in the truck. Never heard or felt a thing.
PackRat, my lock is a high quality one, made in Finland. The boss said it was $75 :-) I used it before for load consisting of boxes, but since paper rolls were 4,000 lbs each, I thought the load was safe enough. I could not imagine that the trailer itself was a source of free parts...
You also don’t want anyone getting inside either. Espically these days. Traffickers are using very creative ways to move people about in the U.S.
You also don’t want anyone getting inside either. Espically these days. Traffickers are using very creative ways to move people about in the U.S.
BINGO!
I didn't used to secure empty trailers, or large paper rolls. One morning at a truck stop lot during a pre trip, one trailer door was closed, but not latched as it had been on that empty trailer. There was a drugged up homeless guy sleeping it off inside. Startled me pretty bad, but I startled him worse when I woke him up with the Baretta barrel behind his ear. Five years have passed and every trailer gets locked.
I had fuel stolen twice. Both at the same truck stop outside of Buffalo,Ny. Prob 45 days apart. Second time I was parked right next to building. If a cashier couldn't see someone in the act well..... You can finish that sentence. B
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
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I picked up a load of giant paper rolls at a Sappi mill in Minnesota, heading to Maine. The door was not sealed, and I didn't put a lock either. The last night was spent at a Chelmsford rest area in the cursed state of Massachusetts. In the morning, when I was walking around doing pretrip, I saw that a hook on a trailer door was missing. Someone opened the door, took off two bolts and removed the hook. The door was closed and I found one bolt, a nut, and two washers inside. What an ugly creature! Well, and I learned a new lesson - the doors must be always locked. Just like in Russia...
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.