Panhandlers hitting truck stops is an annoying thing to deal with. But doesnt it seem like lately they have gotten worse and worse?

Guys giving away free bibles...and asking for a donation after you take the bible. People actually paying a driver to let them use his/her CB for a bit to beg for "help". How about the guy sitting on the bench at the door coming from the fuel island begging for bus ticket money.....who has done this every day for months at the same truck stop!??

Do you think truck stops should get a little more involved in clearing their parking lots of some of this? I dont mean the truly needy who usually wont even approach you. They usually stand outside with a simple cardboard sign. You can always tell by the look in their eyes who is in need and who is scamming you. I mean the seemingly endless parade of scams out there. Like the drivers who complain about being hungry over the CB but will never take the food offered because it isnt good enough? What the ____???? If you were hungry and a generous person offered you a bologna sandwich I would think most of us would happily take it and thank them for their kind act. You even see them refusing meals inside the truck stop 'whatever you want off the menu'.

How do we get rid of them? They knock on our doors in the middle of the night to sell whatever they have stolen today. To beg for money to take to the crack mans house. Of course to offer their company. What makes these people think our trucks are their personal banking instutions?

Ok rant over

Preach on, brother. That stuff gets under my skin in a second. I don't mind it so much if they're actually needy, but the cons are the ones who set my blood to boiling. I've worked since I was 14 years old, which seems like a LOOOONG time ago by the way.....but it just burns me that people can grab the old boot-straps and pull themselves up outta the gutter.
And, yes, I think the truck stops should be out there doing a lot more to deter the panhandling. I mean, we work on a schedule, so I don't have time to hear someone's sob story every time I fuel or eat.

I can see them turning down your bologna sandwiches. What I can't understand is when they turn down my roast beef sandwich with horseradish, mustard, and mayonnaise if they want it. My wifes home made cake and yogurt is also turned down. This is the same food I eat to keep me going so I can work. It's only a matter of time until they walk in front of a truck to get a lawsuit going. I give substantial amount of money to the Salvation Army every year. They are far better equipped to determine those who are truly in need, much better than I am.

Best way to get rid of them is to quit giving them money. You hear the same sad stories all the time. I'm not a church or outreach, get to stepping.

I tend to agree,but I still have to stop and think"Ther but for the grace of god ,go I"

I was actually greatful for one of these guys one night.

About 2am, tight ##### parking spot. The guy come by, helped me back in the hole.

Then he hit me up to polish my tanks and wheels. I gave him a 10 spot, for helping me out. It was worth it.

Otherwise...I usually ignore them or tell them no.

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Team Players.....
It's hard for me to play professional team sports. On a minor league salary.

I've heard every story in the book and learned long ago to ignore them, and when that doesn't work... "Do I look like the friggin Bank of America to you? I didn't think so. Get the #$%& outta my face!"

I'm not financing anyone's crack habit.

Edit:
About the guys who stand there holding the signs: I sat at the TA in Ontario, CA one time watching one of those "homeless vets" hold a sign begging for "work". Over the span of a day, if everyone that I saw give the guy money, only gave a dollar, he made a pretty good haul that day. More than enough to make the payment on his Mercede's.

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This is NOT the Daytona 500... you don't win a prize for being first.

When I have a run in with these cretins, I take it to the fuel desk. I tell them that if they don't keep the bums out of the truck stop, I'm heading somewhere else. This usually gets their attention, but if not, I ask for the manager and bark at him/her about their responsibilities to keep the non-paying customers from annoying the paying customers. People who DON'T want to work at all, begging from people who DO want to work, and work hard...sorry, this just gets under my skin!

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Neal


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Wind it up! Accelerate it!
'nother hundred miles in a dead man's shoes,
Diesel fuel, I smell burnin'
White line fever and the interstate blues.

I still get a kick out of the guy who expected me to give a damn that he was from Australia. He tried an accent, but it just wasn't working. I asked him how he got there and he kept acting like he didn't understand. Get this: He had two of the little Dinty Moore beef stews and he "likes to eat it with a coke".

damn aussie wannabes.....

I live there and its getting to be a game of spot the aussie among all our "imports".... Damn govt giving up our country to "refugees" who bludge of our govt and claim cultural insensitivity when we try to go about our lives..

this xmas just gone, santa wasnt alowed to ho ho ho.. aparantly its a derogitory saying... santa saying happy holiday isnt the same