When the term outlaw trucking gets mentioned, it simply implies driving a truck with total disregard of the law, out of the regular operating hours, overloading or overweighing the truck, and without any regard to authority.
In the olden days, outlaw truckers were referred to as Gypsy Truckers.
Outlaw truckers usually haul predominantly agricultural produce on their reefer. They used to sell their hauling by negotiating with sellers and other buyers, all to make some profit.
Here is the rundown on what is Outlaw Trucking:
Outlaw trucking gets run by drivers who usually do not follow any rules on the road. Outlaw truckers usually operate outside the recommended hours of operation. Their trucks may be overweight, speeding, and in most cases, these truckers have no regard for the proper use of brakes.
Table of Contents
What is Outlaw Trucking?
Outlaw trucking is driving a truck in a manner that does not conform to the law and authority.
Outlaw trucking, in most cases, usually operates overweight trucks, and they do not have any operating hours for their haul.
It’s not a surprise to come across an outlaw trucking driver hauling on the wrong side of the road with total disregard of the law.
Outlaw trucking was sometimes considered an art and a lifestyle, and the majority of these drivers used to command some respect from their fans.
A majority of outlaw truckers usually haul agricultural commodities, and they used to sell their produce for profit.
Do Outlaw Truckers always Break the Rules and Road Regulations?
Well, it’s not right to throw out a blanket and assume that all outlaw truckers break the rules and regulations, but the majority of outlaw truckers operate with disregard to the road rules and regulations.
If you consider principles such as speeding, outlaw trucking is best known for disregarding this directive.
Most outlaw truckers do not have logs for their deliveries, and they usually pass various loads against the rules.
Dropping and picking up even in areas not designated for such is a norm with this kind of trucking. Sometimes truck drivers may become outlaws without even realizing they have become outlaws.
What do Outlaw Truckers Haul?
Outlaw truckers usually haul almost anything that their truck can haul, but in most cases, outlaw trucking involves hauling agricultural commodities.
Similarly, livestock hauling is another venture that outlaw truckers specialize in, and they even made a name for themselves. Bull hauling came as a result of these activities.
There is another minor outlaw hauling that takes place that includes car hauling for profit.
Are Bull Haulers Outlaws?
Bull hauling cannot get considered outlaw unless it meets specific criteria to get classified as an outlaw. If bull hauling exceeds the recommended truck weight, it can get classified as an outlaw.
Consequently, the truck driver hauling bulls disregards the rules and road regulation, and they over speed and operate without authority; bull hauling then falls in the category of outlaw hauling.
On the other hand, if a truck hauling bull follows all the recommended livestock transportation rules and does not break any road regulation, such cannot get classified as outlaw hauling.
Do Outlaw Truckers Sell Goods that they Haul?
Outlaw truckers usually carry a lot of commodities, and they get hired to transport various entities.
A typical outlaw trucker usually hauls perishable items that include farm goods, and in most instances, they typically sell them for profit.
A quick answer to this question can be affirmative or not, depending on what a specific outlaw truck driver is hauling.
Outlaw truck drivers specialize in hauling retail goods that are mainly not short in shelf life.
Such commodities include items such as clothes, non-perishable goods, toiletries, and a whole list of consumables. Such outlaw haulers usually sell their hauling.
Outlaw truckers who transport products such as raw materials or get contracted to haul livestock do not directly sell their hauling but execute a job for their employers.
Are there Specific Trucks that Outlaw Truckers Drive?
There is no specific truck that can get identified as an outlaw truck. But when that is said, specific trucks can get classified as outlaw trucks depending on the type of job the truck driver is executing.
One common type of commodity that most outlaw truck drivers usually transport is perishable items.
Hauling this kind of product doesn’t use a standard truck; there are specifically modified trucks for carrying items and commodities such as meat, flowers, and, let’s say, medication.
When such a truck gets driven with disregard to the law, such a truck can get termed as an outlaw.
Consequently, trucks specifically designed to transport animals and livestock can at times fall under this category, particularly bull hauling trucks.
Among the reasons why most of these trucks get classified as outlaws is that they exceed the recommended weight for hauling livestock and operate outside the recommended hours.
Trucks that primarily transport liquid fall victim to being classified as an outlaw. Food trucks such as those transporting milk, liquid petroleum, oil, and probably cement trucks are a darling to outlaw drivers.
It’s important to note that the truck itself gets not referred to as outlaw but the driver who operates it without following the laid out due process. There are other industries where hauling and trucking are rampant, and drivers can become outlaws without knowing they are breaking road rules and regulations.
Do Outlaw Truckers still Exist?
Yes, outlaw truckers exist even to date but not as rampant as they were a few decades ago. The mojo that they carried has since been overtaken with time and events.
Some trucks still run and identify themselves as outlaws. In certain instances, a truck driver can become an outlaw without knowing they are operating against the regulations.
Some truck drivers usually pick up and drop their packages at sleep berth, and they do not even log that time in their freight manifest. Such a driver gets classified as an outlaw.
It’s also a behavior that depicts outlaw when a truck driver operates without a valid Commercial Driver’s License, CDL, and they are fully aware it against road usage regulations.
Such cases get expected today, and when the law catches on you, you might get classified as an outlaw.
It is typical to come across cases where a truck driver violated red lights traffic, had their medical certificate expired and operated a truck without a valid logbook in their possession.
Consequently, it’s also a standard behavior or disregard of authority when a truck driver uses his cellphone driving around the facility.
Similarly, a truck driver operating a motor vehicle without a valid carrier permit culminates in one offense. Such a truck driver will get classified as an outlaw by today’s standards.
Are there any Benefits to being an Outlaw Trucker?
Well, there are a few benefits associated with outlaw trucking, particularly when it comes to outlaw hauling.
Truck drivers who engage in several services that demand outlaw hauling earn a good salary compared to their counterparts in the regular trucking business.
A truck driver who gets hired to transport, let’s say, cattle usually earn approximately $4 to $5 per mile.
On average, outlaw truckers might earn approximately $35,000 to over $135,000 as wages out of offering outlaw’s cattle hauling.
Hauling cars is yet another lucrative venture that outlaw truck drivers make a killing—an average wage for a car hauler averages between $80,000 to $90,000 per annum.
Considering how vast the trucking industry is and how competitive the trucking sector can be, this is quite a substantial amount.
However, truck drivers should err on the side of caution as breaking road regulations is a felony and, and you may find yourself in a sticky situation with the law officials.