Question:
I am curious about the term "chicken truck" and why it applies to trucks with lots of lights (or possibly big heavy tractors). Does anyone know the history of this term?
Also, is there a connection with the term "chicken coop"? It has been my observation at pre-pass sites that alot of "chicken trucks" get pulled in. If a chicken truck is constantly running heavy (maybe due to tractor weight), then I guess it would spend alot of time "cooped" up.

Answer:
'Chicken trucks' that you see pulled into the coops most likely do not have pre-pass. I don't, so I have to pull into every scale that's open.
Whether or not I get pulled 'around back' is purely luck of the draw. The scale master may be checking every 10th truck that rolls across........or whatever.
As far as how 'chicken trucks' got the name, someone posted that here last year, but I can't remember the reason for the name.

Answer:

For whatever reason, back when gazillions of chickens used to be hauled live...are you old enough to have seen that? Hundreds of individual cages with live chickens in each one, feathers blowing around inside them as the truck hammered down the road?
At any rate, for whatever reason, these haulers were prone to add extra lights to their cabs and trailers and it became a "thing", as guys began to try to "outlight" each other.
I've heard it said that it started by adding lights here and there among the actual chicken cages as it calmed the birds at night...but this part may be total urban trucking legend.
Now, how weight stations became "chicken coops", not sure. Perhaps because chicken haulers were also prone to running junk equip, too..and more likely to be in violation of safety regs? Dunno. Not even sure if those two slang "chicken" terms ever had anything to do with each other?
We've got (a few) folks on here older than even me at 56. Any of y'all driving then and know more about this history? I was, but only for a little over a year, and really didn't get a lot of the "lore" then they way I did it.
Mac

Answer:
There are many terms, phrases or names that are unique to trucking. Seems to be more here than any other line of work.
Ever think about the origins Lot Lizard ? Hunt, Fish, Shoot

Answer:

Well, that one is pretty easy, since there was already the term "Lounge Lizard" before that. Now, where exactly THAT came from not sure...
Mac

Answer:
Also known as BUNK BUNNIES and SLEEPER LEAPERS
Answer:
my understanding of the term "chicken coop" came from the use of a certain type of glass in the widows of weigh stations,i don't know if the newer coops use it or not,but i have seen some of the old coops using the glass that has wire crisscross between 2 planes of glass,which is similar to chicken wire used in chicken coops on farms,but i may be wrong,that is what i've been told

Answer:

Well, if that ain't true, sounds like it certainly SHOULD be!
Mac

Answer:
It seems the cattle haulers always have more lights than the chicken haulers around here. Almost every cattle wagon is lit like a christmas tree and, there are a few chicken haulers around here, they don't have any lights, and they have junky old trucks.

Answer:
Not exactly, it's also depends on your company safety rating.
Answer:
"Chicken truck" was pinned on those big shiney reefers. They got their load of chickens late as usual (I think it is standard practice in the meat industry not to even start production of the chicken or beef till the driver shows up with his truck!)
They were always late with the load even before they left the packing house.. (You've been sitting at the XYZ Plant in Kansas for 18 hrs waiting for your load to be ready and now in 24 hrs they want you to be 1200mi away! sound familiar??)
SO these "chicken trucks developed a reputation for "burning the midnight oil" using dope, 2,3,4, logbooks, and not to mention heavy)
More recently though a chicken hauler is usually a "large Car" (Pete 379, KW w900, Western Star, Freightliner XL.. Big Hood, Big Eng., tripple digit running truck +100 mph.) more chrome and light than the XMass tree at the white house..
Chicken houses: were coined to match the chicken trucks.. they were usually looking for just such a truck as described above cause they knew that that truck had to be busting his azz all the time?? The CB started it .. Just CB Slang is all it is now.. It seems chicken coops are for everyone, and a chicken truck is anyone with a truck faster than the one you are driving..
Answer:

True. They'll run your MC or USDOT #. If their system says that your company has had recent problems....ie; caught w/ logbook violations, unsafe equipment, been involved in accidents, etc.......they'll pull you around back and check you out.
One thing about Colorado. The first time each year that you roll across one of their scales, they'll pull you in, check your paperwork and update their files accordingly. I don't know if there are any other states that do this or not.

Answer:
John Anderson
Chicken Truck
Written by - John Anderson
Well, it was mornin' when I left Alabama
It must have been 'round in mid July
I got behind a chicken truck from Georgia
And the feathers was a flyin' like snow out of the sky
I couldn't get the speed enough to pass him
And the smell was aw...getting close to me
And something keeps on messin' up my windshield
And the farther I go the harder it gets to see
Chorus:
Chicken truck chicken truck
Behind it I'm stuck
And chicken truck chicken truck
Was just my luck
Chicken truck on highway 65
Well, the hens are cluckin' and the roosters are a crowin'
He is slowin' me down when I need to keep goin'
Chicken truck on highway 65
When he slowed down and I then I got around him
On a big long hill just south of Tennessee
He had a box of of KFC on the dashboard
He was eatin' fried chicken and a throwin' the bones on me
Chorus
Chicken truck
Behind it I'm stuck
On highway 65
Chicken truck
On highway 65
It's just my luck
Chicken truck

Answer:
[quote="Hoss"][quote="Norush"]
If the tags on your truck are about to expire, or after you get new ones, they will also pull you in to update there computers.

Answer:
I'd say the highest concentration of chicken trucks/rooster cruisers left is the I-95 and I-75 corridors from GA to FL.
I left rooster cruising about 3 years ago when my truck and trailer got stolen. Didn't miss the reefer at all, so I made a change.
Late loads are definately the name of the game. Used to spend up to 18 hours at the dock, reefer screaming, waiting for iced fresh kill. Up at 6 am, back to the dock, close the doors at midnight in N. GA and have a 7 am appt in Pompano Beach. Can you say southbound in the left lane.
As if running at or above gross running greasy chicken water isn't obvious enough, I also had lights everywhere, including glow lights underneath and a SS reefer. Don't know why, but after growing up in "Chicken City" that's just the way it was done.
Never had much trouble at the coops and knew all the FL ag inspectors, I guess they know how the game is played as well.