You need to see some of these delivery places! I have lived in a combat zone and have felt safer overseas where I knew they wanted to kill me then some of the places I have rolled freight into.

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My childhood dream of becoming a truck driver turned into a nightmare!

is it really that bad? crapola!! do i need like real audio and video to "protect me"?
like they say "an ounce of prevention = a pound of cure"

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tip for new truckers: to err is human, to forgive is not D.O.T. policy.
-ACT YOUR WAGE!!!- DAVE RAMSEY

Just depends. Don't want to alarm you. If you carry yourself well it goes a long ways, but there are rough areas. Some places are secure fenced in, but you can tell by the neighborhood that it is rough. Some places have a lot of security. Tells me something. Plus you can get lost easy and get in a wrong place. Remember Reginal Denney in L.A. during the riots? Some places they will break into your trailer while you are at a stoplight. I slept at a rest stop one night. Had to use the facilities. Went inside and had a eerie feeling. Several guys that looked out of place. As I went into the restroom I waited a few minutes before I went into the stall. Just did not feel right and did not want to get caught with my pants down. Nothing happened, but I sensed danger at the time. You just never know.

I always carried 2 wallets. My real one with my important items, CDL, Credit Cards, cash, etc. In the dummy one was a few bucks misc. stuff to look real. That way if I got robbed I would not give up my real one unless I had to. Never got robbed, just always had a plan. I know a lot of drivers that have been robbed, just never happened to me. Now go get you a job, don't live in fear, but be aware of your surroundings at all times. Good luck!

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My childhood dream of becoming a truck driver turned into a nightmare!

appreciate the "real world advice" notarps i will take it to heart with me once i get out there. i just hope i don't run into that type of situation described above by sports.

__________________
tip for new truckers: to err is human, to forgive is not D.O.T. policy.
-ACT YOUR WAGE!!!- DAVE RAMSEY

BTW good idea with the wallets. shhhh the crooks might read this!

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tip for new truckers: to err is human, to forgive is not D.O.T. policy.
-ACT YOUR WAGE!!!- DAVE RAMSEY

You never know what to expect. In the situation where the weapon was shown to me, those two guys didn't need a weapon. They both towered over me in size, and the dock was filled with their friends. There are few situations where I will be quiet and let things go, that was one of them.

I hate traveling to New York City, unless I know the place I am going to, and it was always understood that I was not going to someplace new there to reload. I made my delivery, and my next load would not be in another location. I have been there too many times and seen too many things. I have been parked in front of an impound yard waiting to get into Domino Sugar, and watched a couple thugs shoot the lock off the gate at the impound yard right behind my truck to steal a car. I have stopped a red light in Manhatten, only to have a thug jump on the side of the truck and stick a gun to my head ( I quickly gave up the $100 that was in my wallet). I didn't carry a weapon in my truck to defend myself because I traveled to Canada quite often.

Many companies advertise "No New York City" now for OTR drivers. Stories like this is exactly why.

Most of what I talked about happened 10-15 years ago. I can remember detailed directions to a receiver that would go something like this....
"Turn left. You will go to the third red light and make a right. DO NOT STOP at any of the lights, even if they are red, we will pay the ticket."

Hauling beef was an adventure then. It never happened to me, but people would come up behind trucks in the City and bust the meat locks off the back of the trailer, throw the plywood that was back there for extra protection on to the street, and start unloading the truck as you were driving.

OK, now I KNOW STEVENS is OUT "1st 6 mo consistantly NYC runs"

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tip for new truckers: to err is human, to forgive is not D.O.T. policy.
-ACT YOUR WAGE!!!- DAVE RAMSEY

Your welcome. Don't mean to alarm you or anyone else considering trucking. Just need to be aware of what's going on out there. Set some good habits and stick to them. Never tell anyone what you have in the box. Some guys will just be friendly and wanting to talk on the radio "hey what you hauling where you heading?" I always said hauling sailboat fuel. You will be surprised at the amount of thieves and rip off artist out there. My last OTR company had a warning on the drivers board. Said to be on the lookout for a green freightshaker in the Nashville area. There were a couple of hispanics (not profiling they had been reported) that was stealing trailers. I have had up to 3 million in the box before. Never give out info; lots of ears listening.

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My childhood dream of becoming a truck driver turned into a nightmare!

not trying to belittle ANYTHING you said but i am stubborn.
Y'all have shed a new light on this industry to me! and i thank you .
i will take ALL y'all said to heart.

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tip for new truckers: to err is human, to forgive is not D.O.T. policy.
-ACT YOUR WAGE!!!- DAVE RAMSEY