Is there a way to make the bed lights have the ability to turn on when you are driving?

 

It's generally illegal to drive public roads with white lights turned on the back of your truck, as well as being a bad idea.

 

You would have to change the wiring of the circuit.

 

i dont want to drive around with them on, just power on to see if anything is blowing loose then back off.

 

Check your manual to see if there's a button next to the headlights switch. Mine has one to toggle the bed lights on and off.

 

Tap the brake pedal. The red light is going to be helpful enough to know if you've lost something in the dark, 9 miles earlier.
At dark, even with the high mount light illuminated, you'll be staring a long time at the rear view mirror anyway, so the red light will do just as well. You can press the brake for a few seconds before the vehicle will stop taking throttle input.

I've been using the brake light for a thousand years to make sure my dirt bike or mountain bike hasn't fallen over while transporting at dark.

 

On my truck, that switch doesn't work unless the truck is stopped.

 

That's how they're supposed to work.
Bed light only comes on if the truck is in park.

 

Yes, that is what I thought -- to keep you from beaming those driving behind you on the road.