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So I went through my chl class and am waiting for my plastic now, my instructor couldn't really answer my question and said there would be a lot of people here who know the answer...

I do hotshot loads in my personal truck and personal trailer, now with my chl am I allowed to keep carrying my gun with me, or am I not allowed to because technically when loaded I'm considered a commercial vehicle, but after I drop the load off, I am un armed, what do I do, carry or not carry?

enforcerjwd wrote:So I went through my chl class and am waiting for my plastic now, my instructor couldn't really answer my question and said there would be a lot of people here who know the answer...

I do hotshot loads in my personal truck and personal trailer, now with my chl am I allowed to keep carrying my gun with me, or am I not allowed to because technically when loaded I'm considered a commercial vehicle, but after I drop the load off, I am un armed, what do I do, carry or not carry?

No. Until you get your CHL can not do anything that you could not do before you took the class.

WildBill wrote:

enforcerjwd wrote:So I went through my chl class and am waiting for my plastic now, my instructor couldn't really answer my question and said there would be a lot of people here who know the answer...

I do hotshot loads in my personal truck and personal trailer, now with my chl am I allowed to keep carrying my gun with me, or am I not allowed to because technically when loaded I'm considered a commercial vehicle, but after I drop the load off, I am un armed, what do I do, carry or not carry?

No. Until you get your CHL can not do anything that you could not do before you took the class.

I took it that he was asking if he could carry after he got his CHL during the times his vehicle was classified as commercial.

now with my chl

I'm not aware of laws that would prohibit you from carrying. However, I'm no expert. There will be more knowledgeable and other folks asking that can answer the question you asked.

jmra wrote:

WildBill wrote:

enforcerjwd wrote:So I went through my chl class and am waiting for my plastic now, my instructor couldn't really answer my question and said there would be a lot of people here who know the answer...

I do hotshot loads in my personal truck and personal trailer, now with my chl am I allowed to keep carrying my gun with me, or am I not allowed to because technically when loaded I'm considered a commercial vehicle, but after I drop the load off, I am un armed, what do I do, carry or not carry?

No. Until you get your CHL can not do anything that you could not do before you took the class.

I took it that he was asking if he could carry after he got his CHL during the times his vehicle was classified as commercial.

What are "hotshot loads"?

Quick trip deliveries to worksites. Used in the oilfield extensively.

You can still carry in your vehicle, even if commercial vehicle just have to have permission of owner. Or at least that's what we were told, cause someone asked cause they carried in their wrecker, and being your the owner you give yourself permission. Just cannot carry on yourself till CHL arrives.

PBR wrote:You can still carry in your vehicle, even if commercial vehicle just have to have permission of owner. Or at least that's what we were told, cause someone asked cause they carried in their wrecker, and being your the owner you give yourself permission. Just cannot carry on yourself till CHL arrives.

You can carry in your vehicle while on the road. The problem revolves around your loading point and your destination facility. I.E.. If you picked up at Raytheon and were delivering to a military installation then you have restrictions at both ends. FEMA sites are another "no-go". Other than that as long as you are not delivering in DC, Ca, Md, NJ, NY, Il, or Ma then you just need to abide by the laws of the states you are traveling through.

I really appreciate the feedback, I just wanted to make sure so that I don't get in trouble... my instructor told me to find a guy on here under the user name 18wheelsandagun, because he is a commercial driver with a chl and he knows the real rules about chl in commercial vehicles... how can I find him?

enforcerjwd wrote:I really appreciate the feedback, I just wanted to make sure so that I don't get in trouble... my instructor told me to find a guy on here under the user name 18wheelsandagun, because he is a commercial driver with a chl and he knows the real rules about chl in commercial vehicles... how can I find him?

There is no member on the forum with that exact username. Possibly a variant of that, but if so they are not a regular poster. You can search for a member by clicking on the 'Members' link at the top of the page and then click 'Find a member' and put in the name you are looking for. You can also use a partial user name put a * as a wildcard on it to search.

There are also some regular posters who are involved in commercial transportation on the forum. One of them may comment here.

Why are there two threads on the same topic?

2farnorth wrote:You can carry in your vehicle while on the road. The problem revolves around your loading point and your destination facility. I.E.. If you picked up at Raytheon and were delivering to a military installation then you have restrictions at both ends. FEMA sites are another "no-go". Other than that as long as you are not delivering in DC, Ca, Md, NJ, NY, Il, or Ma then you just need to abide by the laws of the states you are traveling through.

^^^^^^^^^ THIS.

If our drivers ask me, I will tell them the complete picture. Here are a few points to ponder:

• There is no Federal DOT or TXDPS regulation prohibiting firearms in a commercial motor vehicle. That is an old wives tale. Anyone who asserts otherwise, I always challenge them to show me the regulation. They cannot do so (I know the regs very well.)
• If you arrive at a shipper or consignee that is legitimately restricted from firearms, you have no safe options. A couple examples would be secured areas of oil refineries, secured areas of airports, or federal military bases. Years ago, I had a driver arrested and charged with firearm possession at the Red River Army Depot in Texarkana. His truck was searched and the firearm found. So make sure if you are an independent contractor that has the right to accept or reject loads that you do not accept a load that places you in danger by requiring you to commit armed trespass.
• Note that you will not be protected by the parking lot law in Texas because you would not be an employee of the shipper or consignee. If the facility is properly posted, it would apply.
• Texas Hotshot drivers typically would not be going to DC, Ca, Md, NJ, NY, or Ma. Note that any truck driver that has a stop in those states is not protected by the federal "Firearm Owners Protection Act" (FOPA) provisions. If you have a CHL, you can now have a loaded firearm in Illinois.

PM me with any further questions.

You could carry with you, BUT remember that your delivery sites may forbid handguns. Especially oilfield locations, as refineries and locations for which oil is being drilled or processed may be off limits depending on a few variables as described in the Labor code chapter 52 if I'm not mistaken.

Whose DOT are you operating under? Your own? Being a commercial drivers can really be restrictive because your pickup and drop of locations can technically be off limits for you to drive into/onto because of your handgun. It's legally safest to leave it at home, but I personally do not agree that it should have to be so.

You're likely not going to hear anything close to what you'd like to hear. Sorry.

I have my own authority and my own dot numbers, but at the moment work is slow so I am operating under my friends authority and his insurance