These trucks rarely bob tail Sean and that isn't really considered an otr rig cause a lot of local guys use sleepers as well if they run an over night trip which isn't otr. Like in the case of a container hauler, most of them only do short hauls but need a sleeper incase they need to lay over and run out of hours.
Okay whatever - some run sleepers locally - fine - I know that. So what are you telling me? Just because a company does a certain type of operation, they don't have to follow the same regulations as any one else? Not even on the highways at normal highway speeds?!?! I can't believe what I read here at times. So let me get this straight, I guess that just because these trucks you mention RARELY run bobtail, they don't have to have safety items others have to have. I guess if this type truck were on the highway bobtailing, and someone who runs O.T.R. were bobtailing without mud flaps along with the other; a D.O.T. officer can distinguish between the two and cite the person who is O.T.R., and not the local or any other whatevers he is, who you say is exempt from having to have any whatevers to keep people safe on the roads. It really seems companies make up their own rules, because some of the things I have read here go contrary to what is supposed to apply to EVERYONE. For the most REGULATED industry, it sure has a lot to be disered where regulation goes.
NO MUD FLAPS IS A SAFTY HAZARD WHEN THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE WHEEL WELLS OR OTHER FEATURE TO PREVENT OBJECTS FROM BEING THROWN UP IN THE AIR. What's so hard about that concept to understand?!?!?! GEEEZUS!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone running the PUBLIC highways should have to adhere to the same safety regulations as any one else. Not that I buy into what you say here, but If you don't have to have mud flaps because you RARELY bobtail, don't bobtail at all. I guess if someone in a 4 wheeler gets a windshield broken (or worse), they have no case against an operator of a rig running bobtail without mud flaps who is local this or that because they are exempt. Yet if you are driving O.T.R. and you run bobtail without mud flaps and cause damage to something because of the lack of mud flaps, you could get sued, and get a ticket from a D.O.T. officer who is waiting for something like that at a weigh station.
What a joke. Different rules for this type of operation as opposed to that type of operation. I think the motoring public should be made aware of what rigs to really stay away from.