Truck driver gets fined $2500 after ignoring fellow driver's warnings about "improper" display violations: 'Maybe you ought to listen to people, especially when they are trying to save you money!'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Mar 1, 2026 8:00 AM EST

Stubborn folks who refuse to listen to the advice of others do so at their own peril.

This truck driver was relatively new to the job when the author of this story noticed that he had a series of placards on his vehicle that were improperly displayed. The author assumed that perhaps he was new to the area and didn't exactly know the ins and outs of the Department of Transportation's strict rules about placard placement. 

When the author decided to be a "Good Samaritan" and went over to let the other driver know about his violations, the driver told him off and ignored his guidance. He ended up paying a high price for these violations as a result of his actions.

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  • An experienced truck driver folds his arms in front of his blue truck.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    An experienced truck driver folds his arms in front of his blue truck.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • While we understand the other driver's initial reaction and desire for the author to mind his own business, it should have been clear based on his demeanor and advice that he was just trying to help.

    Unfortunately, for this guy, pride got in the way of his ability to even listen to sound guidance, and that ended up backfiring.

  • Won’t let me help you with complying with DOT regulations? Have fun with that Out of Service ticket and fees, buddy!

    This happened about 6 hours ago, and the fallout resolved roughly 3 hours ago. I, a 38 year old male over the road trucker, was at a truck stop about 150 miles from my destination, and about 30 miles from a DOT weigh station.
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • This other driver was getting fuel, and as he was, I noticed he had hazmat on his trailer, as evidenced by the placards he was displayed on said trailer.
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • Upon further look, however, I noticed that he had one placard displayed sideways, 2 others upside down, and 4 others mounted with duct tape.
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • As someone who has been in the industry for over a decade, I knew the above was not correct, and I wanted to help him out, to make sure he didn't get dinged by the DOT(Department of Transportation), for incorrect display.
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • I approached him, was friendly about it, and said that his placards were mounted wrong, and (us being in my home state, I knew how DOT operated around there), told him he might want to fix it before he left.
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  • He asked me how long I had been driving, and I told him I had a decade.
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  • He scoffed and said that he had been driving for only 2 years, but "knew better than me", and said while he appreciated my advice, told me to run my own truck the way I see fit, and "let me do my job my way." So, I complied.
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • Wished him well, and went inside to grab something to eat. Fast forward a couple of hours later, when I go to take off.
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  • I head south, and right before I get to the state border, there's a truck weigh station.
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  • As I'm approaching, my stomach starts turning cartwheels, forcing me to exit to use the restroom.
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  • There, in the parking lot, is the guy I spoke to at the truck stop, ripping his placards off his truck, with a DOT officer standing beside him with new ones, and a roll of clear tape.
    via Lucario_Stormblade

  • As luck would have it, the author ended up stumbling upon the other driver, only this time, he was being questioned by, you guessed it, officers from the Department of Transportation.

    Of course, it's unfair that this guy has to be personally fined along with his company's fine. We can't imagine his boss will be happy with his work when the driver informs him of what happened. It's embarrassing enough to have to be confronted by an office and proven wrong by the author. Now, this guy probably has to tell his boss why both he and the company at large received violation notices. 

    On the one hand, yes, he should have listened to the author instead of assuming that he was speaking out of turn. On the other hand, shouldn't the fine be punishment enough for the guy? It's just a placard placement, after all!

    The moral of the story here, though, is simple. If someone approaches you with kind, sound advice and doesn't seem to be coming from a malicious place, you might as well hear them out, at the very least. It could save you some money!

  • I asked him what happened. He scowls at me and said "I got an improper display out of service ticket." I asked him how much that was.
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • He said it was $2500, 15 points to his CSA score(The scorecard used for truck driver evaluations, along with company evaluations), and 15 points to his company's CSA score.
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • Officer approached me, and asked me how I knew the guy. I told the DOT officer that I tried to help him to avoid that situation, but he said he knew more than I did, despite me having 8 years more experience than he did.
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • Officer laughed and told the guy, "maybe you ought to listen to people, especially when they are trying to save you money."
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • One truck driver attempts to give advice to another.
    via Mitchell Luo

    One truck driver attempts to give advice to another.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Dragonrose Lol, let me guess, he was wearing flip flops too? >my stomach starts turning cartwheels, forcing me to exit to use the restroom It was the roller dogs wasn't it? After a decade, you should know better, lol
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • Lucario_Stormblade Original Poster's Reply I will note he had on proper shoes. As far as the stomach thing; my stomach just felt like rebelling today. Fortunately, it has settled.
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • BlitzAceSamy Please tell me you went to the toilet first lol, instead of just parking, seeing them when you hop out, and going to talk to them hahaha
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • Lucario_Stormblade Original Poster's Reply Of course. My stomach did finally settle afterwards.
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  • RandomAverages Im a firm believer in answering Mother Nature's call, as the message is urgent.
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  • Lucario_Stormblade Original Poster's Reply Right?!
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  • Equivalent_Law_6311 DOT doesn't play with hazmat. I drove for years and had a pile of spare placards in my truck so I knew I was covered, helped a few others along the way.
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • Lucario_Stormblade Original Poster's Reply I don't even haul hazmat, nor does my carrier; but I have spare placards in my truck, and at least 2 rolls of clear tape. It was part of a "Truck Essentials Toolbox" I was handed when I started with my previous company. Inside are the aforementioned spare placards and tape, WD 40, A compact Pin Puller, Glad Hand seals, a tire pressure gauge, a rechargeable flashlight, a tread depth gauge, a pair of gloves, spare fuses of every size, and spare headlight
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • tomhalejr What's the limit on points on a CDL, and how long does an infraction last? Like, if I have 3 moving violations or at fault accidents within 3 years, the shop can't insure me to drive customer cars... What is the comp for this infraction, and against the company, for a CDL?
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • Lucario_Stormblade Original Poster's Reply I know it stays on his CSA score for at least 3 years. It will also stay on his company's CSA score for 3 years. With a higher CSA score, his company will be more likely to be pulled into weigh stations and inspected. If it's high enough, DOT steps in and does a full audit.
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • Illuminatus-Prime Yup. I rode with my brother as a "trainee" a couple of times when he drove (no hazmat). We saw this scene play out more than once. DOT don't mess with "bumpkins" who don't know or follow the Rules of The Road. Well played!
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • Lucario_Stormblade Original Poster's Reply Thank you. I feel like stuff like this happening hammers more into the "dumb truck driver" narrative; which s ks, because some of us out here actually are intelligent, and know what the heck we are doing. I, personally, have a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, with a concentration in Forensics. Unfortunately, I can't do squat with that degree, because everyone wants a Master's degree before I can even step foot in a lab.
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • SilentRaindrops Great story. Did you eat the gas station sushi?
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  • Lucario_Stormblade Original Poster's Reply Haha, no. Stomach this morning decided that it was gonna rebel, no matter what I did.
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  • nightfire51272 Yes and Yes 7 placards? Just happened to personally communicate with this driver 2 hours later at the scale WHILE the DOT Officer is with him?
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • Lucario_Stormblade Original Poster's Reply Actually, 8; 2 on each side. Of the 8; 4 were of the peel and stick (his Flammable ones), the other 4 were stuck on with duct tape. Also, I didn't want to actually talk to the guy; I had planned to just leave him to his devices when I saw him at the Weigh Station. However, whatever minor stomach bug I caught earlier today had other plans. I knew, once he saw me exiting my truck, he recognized me. Also, since when is against the law to talk to another dr
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  • _BrokenButterfly Do you know what you're saying? Placards go on every side of the vehicle. Every placard goes on every side. So how many placards did he have? Are you trying to describe 8 placards or 2 placards?
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • Lucario_Stormblade Original Poster's Reply 2 on each side, 8 total. How hard is that to follow? He had 4 that were of the peel and stick, and 4 you had to tape down. Of the 4 you had to tape down; he had all 4 of those mounted with duct tape, a DOT violation, and 2 of them were mounted upside down. Of the peel and stick; he had 1 that was sideways.
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • Lucario_Stormblade Original Poster's Reply It would help to mention that the signage on the weigh station did say it was a Truckers rest haven as well, meaning yes, I could pop in at any time as a truck driver and use the facilities. And no, the DOT officers didn't give me any issue. I pulled in, parked, one DOT officer saw me do a hurried walk, almost a run, and yelled, "Bathrooms, to the right." Came out, saw the guy from the truck stop, saw him yank a placard off, and I went over to talk to h
    via Lucario_Stormblade
  • Illuminatus-Prime Even if your interpretation of what he said is correct, your claim is not. Even while driving a four-wheeler, I have stopped at weigh stations to answer nature's call. Not often, but enough times to know it can be done.
    via Lucario_Stormblade

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transportation malicious compliance fine entitled people karma ticket money truck driver
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