Right off the bat I must tell you I have never even seen the inside of a truck, but I have been doing allot of research on possibly making it a career. I like what I have read thus far, of the freedom, not having a boss breathing down your neck. Stopping when you want, sleeping when you want and of course being able to travel the country at the company's expense!

However, after reading a few posts on the best and worst truck stops, and reading post after post of these bad truck stops. People getting stabbed, assaulted, robbed, no police patrols, and bad employees at these establishments. It makes me feel I was safer to stay in Iraq.

If it is this unsafe, what are you the truckers of this country supposed to do for protection. I assume carrying a weapon of any sort is probably strictly prohibited. Are you allowed to carry mace, or pepper spray, or maybe a tazer gun? (The tazer gun is very effective I know for a fact, we had to have the Army tazer us at camp bucca, Iraq, so that we would know how it feels in case we had to use it on a prisoner. Which also was strictly prohibited.)

After reading these posts it makes me wonder why you would even want to get out of your truck at all. Why is this not being taken care of the company's that own the truck stops. It might be a little better for business if you did not have to walk through a war zone to get a shower and some food. I am just curious to see if the drivers feel that they are unsafe using these establishments. Be safe and careful when you must stop, and I will pray for your safety.

Why do think there so many trucks parked along the side of a highway or on an off-ramp LOL. I think many of the posts focus on some the seedier places, but I think they are in the minority. People just don't tend to talk about a normal night somewhere.

I think you just have to follow general safety precautions that you would anywhere else. Park in well-lit areas, pay attention to your surroundings. If you don't feel safe getting out of the truck, don't, or move on to another location. Or try to set yourself up so that you are driving alot at night, and stopping in the daytime.

Or invest in a truck with a built-in shower/toilet. Throw some food in the fridge, and you'll only have to get out to fuel LOL.

IT all depends on the area. There are hundreds of decent truckstops, but those aren't the one's you'll hear about because nothing happens out of the ordinary there, either good or bad. You just have to be alert.

Also consider that a truckstop will reflect the surrounding neighborhood. Gary, IN is an example. Gary is a cesspool, always has been, always will be. On another forum, a poster relayed a story about how when he worked for a cable company in Indiana, they had to have Indiana State Police escorts to disconnect illegal cable hookups in Gary because the residents there would, not could, get violent. Consequently the two truckstops at the Burr St. exit are dumps. OTOH, just up the road in Lake Station there are better truckstops.

Gary might be one case of Iraq being safer, lol.

Sometimes you'll have no choice but to park in a dump truckstop, like those in Ontario, CA or in New Jersey outside of NYC because there are no other choices. In those instances, you just have to be careful and aware of your surroundings. I always kept my wallet separate from my company fuel card and drivers license, so if, God forbid, I ever got mugged, they'd just get my credit cards and cash and I could just call my bank and gas company and have them cancelled. Play it smart and you'll be fine.

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The wallet Idea is wonderful, your absolutely right . Who cares if they got your company fuel card and a credit card that you can call into and cancel. It is a very good idea to have two separate wallets on the road. That way you will always be a little safer!

I also read somewhere in this forum of a trucker that actually straps his door's together with a tie-down. I assume this will keep someone from breaking into your truck quietly. I would also guess that the only way for someone to get in then would be to break the window, which would also give you a heads up from the sound. Hopefully your not one of the hardcore sleepers who could sleep through a hurricane. Any ways thanks for the delightful information, and I will be petter prepared for these situations. Thanks a heap to all.

yes, i do also agree on Gary, In. i once was there at the Union 76 (now a T/A i would imagine), and a co-driver came into the bathroom all bloody, but in this particular instance, it was his co-driver that took a knife to him. so, what would anyone say about a truckstop then.......watch out for co-driver fights....?? that particular truckstop was the absolute pits, how it is today, i'll never know as i don't run the roads (much at least) anymore.

you need to be carefull where you park, and if you're in an area where you have a choice or two about where to park for the night, ask questions of other truck drivers as to which would be safer.

location...........location........location....... .....

as far as gary, I've only ever parked at the Schneider terminal, as thats who i work for obviously. Its not bad there at all. i feel safe. but no matter where i am, if I'm in or out of the truck, driving or not, the doors are ALWAYS locked.

I've been out here for about 4 months now, and i have YET to see a lot lizzard or any other type of devious behavior, with the exception of clean, honest appearing people asking for a few bucks for gas or something (of which i say no of course)

I park mostly at Pilots if i can, because they are usually approved fuel stops for me anyways. (although they can be SERIOUS mad houses some times) My next choice is usually a Petro, because there are some HUGE ones out there that are well lit and their restaurants "the iron skillet" is actually not too bad. Flying J's have been ok too, but i don't really seem to see too many decent sized ones. I only stop at t/a's if theres nothing else around... seems like they are usually pretty active.

You probably want to stay away from some of the smaller chains or independent places, using judgment accordingly of course. Also, i believe the reason i don't see much happening in the lots is because as soon as i park, if i don't go get something to eat, i climb in the sleeper and pull the curtains right away. maybe someone has pounded at my door before, but i haven't noticed. i'm a pretty heavy sleeper. also, i like to get up at 5-6 am and start my day so i'm parked and well asleep by 10 pm or so when your most likely to have a visitor. I bought a big ole truckstop directory book, and if i suspect they will be busy, i dont even waste my time with places with less than 100 parking spots. The bigger places usually have a better staff, which means cleaner bathrooms and better food, regardless of the increase in busy-ness.

keeping the doors locked at all times is the right thing to do, even as you're rolling down the highway.

always look into your mirrors if you're parked before you open up any door, or even roll the window down, as you'll never know if anyone is on your catwalk hiding, as the other person was knocking on your door.........(maybe even turn on the "porch light" first, to scare them away).........

I can't say that I have ever seen any real problems at any truckstop I have been to or parked at. Once in a very rare while, I may get an uneasy feeling about a place, and before getting out I open my pocket knife (large!) and put it within easy reach in my pocket. But not once has it ever needed to leave my pocket, so that isn't a really big issue. I lock the doors on the truck when i leave it, and once in a while i lock the doors at night. Biggest problem I have ever encountered has been overly persistent lot lizards that don't seem to understand the word "NO!".

Even the worst place I have ever parked at (TA Youngstown OH) I had no problems and spent a good 30 minutes outslde chatting with another driver.

At any truckstop, park in the middle of the pack, avoid the very back row which is where shenanigans happen, and mind your own business and you'll have no trouble.

Burky, you have brought up a good point, your personal protection is this allowed and if it is to what extent. It seems like some of the responses in this post are allot better, but just in case you do run into problems what LEGAL protection are you allowed to posses in a commercial vehicle? Are devices like mace, pepper spray, tazers, and knives allowed?

I am glad there are truckers that don't have much trouble in these stops.
I have learned a vast amount of knowledge already from this forum and still have never stepped into a tractor. This is a real great site for newbies and interested persons looking for a career as a truck. I have gotten great information that I would not have known, but now I do. For this I thank all! This is truly a splendid place for the trucking veterans to pass over the wealth of knowledge to the younger generation to help this valuable business succeed. Thanks again to all and be careful of where you park.

Depends on the jurisdiction, but mace, pepper spray, and knifes are allowable assuming that you comply with the applicable laws. Most pepper sprays I know of require a class to certify prior to use or purchase. Mace may have restrictions. A pocket knife is always legal, (not Crocodile Dundee size though!) and if it isn't a handy dandy box cutter type of tile cutting razor blade knife slips easily into a pocket. I carry one in the truck, and it's simply treated as a tool.

I drive into Canada occasionally, and they always ask about weapons at the border, and i mention that I have 2-3 pocket knives in the truck and they are unconcerned.

As for a tazer, there are a lot of still developing legal issues concerning them, and some police using them have had fatal results. I donl;t know enough about them to give an opinion, but i don;t think that would be needed. Remember, any bad guy is only coming up because he thinks you won't fight. If you are willing not to be a victim, they will move on pretty quickly.

By the way, walking down the middle of the row is always better than slipping in between dark trucks and trailers.