Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/31373
FEEDBACK Thanks For a Job Well Done I would like to thank Carolyn Mag- ner for her excellent and unbiased article “Risky Business” in the April Truckers News. Very often articles about the topic of self-defense with a gun are done without facts and are very distasteful. Her article was done in a truthful, factual manner, and she deserves a pat on the back. Thank you. If I may respectfully make one correction: with regard to military bases I have been on — Ft. Polk in Louisiana, the SAC Air Force base outside Omaha, Neb., and an army base in Wisconsin as well as Fort Smith, Ark., I have carried my firearms in all. You have to declare them before you enter, because if they find them during a search and you told them you didn’t have one, you’re in big trouble. Usually what I get is “leave the ammo in the cab and put the empty gun in the sleeper,” or vice versa. Only one time have I had to report to the Armorer and have my guns locked up while I took care of unloading at the base. Brian Engles Pryor, Okla. HOW STRICT SHOULD THE DOT BE ON DRIVER MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION? Via Facebook: If they took all of us off the road who are not “healthy,” who would drive the trucks? It depends on the definition of healthy. Because I’m over- weight, should I not be able to drive? Let’s take the unhealthy car drivers off the road, too, and see what people have to say then. — Thomas Ward, Witte Bros. driver, Troy, Mo. I am not only a trucker’s wife but I do DOT physicals as part of my job. They’re strict in some areas but lack in others. I just wish the drivers wouldn’t get so mad when I tell them that something is wrong and they need further testing and clearance. It’s for your own safety — don’t kill the messenger. — Krystal H. Very. If you’re not healthy, you could put the public at risk. — Scott H. 8 TRUCKERS NEWS JUNE 2011 I think as long as you’re able to do the job — like do a proper pretrip if you need to get under the truck, or be able to get in and out of a trailer — then as long as your blood pressure and most things are in line you should be able to drive. On a lighter note, just think if you had to be medically qualified to drive a car. Whoo… — Mike S. Pretty strict! Especially because truck drivers haul 80,000 lbs. or more, at 65 mph or better, in some states with a 75mph speed limit! — Robin D. Doctors don’t know what we do or even how healthy we should be for the days that we put in. I had a coworker who started losing feeling in his right hand and it started I’m OK with setting stan- dards, but DOT officers are not doctors. Also, have you ever been told by your over- weight doctor that you need to lose weight? — Franklin B. crippling him. He even lost a $50 bill because of it. The DOT Doctor still passed him. Lucky for everyone else, my ex-coworker retired six months later. If the doc likes you, he’s gonna pass you anyway. — Amanda G. Who defines healthy? Those big drug company doctors who get the backroom handouts from other people besides the ones they are supposed to care for? We are supposed to be the same size and shape? Yeah, right. — Shaun C. Strict enough to keep unsafe drivers off the road. — Steven J. Blood Pressure should not be a serious issue. Just being around four-wheelers raises your BP anyhow. Let us drive! Drivers with minor health issues are still better than the newbies they keep pushing out on the roads. — Leonard G Via Twitter: Drivers handle an 80,000-lb. missle every day. They either need to be fit to do the job or get out of the profession. — @80Jeffcj5 As long as the driver is being treated for a condition by his/ her doctor, then I think the DOT needs to back off! — @BDamm2048