An unnamed trucker was taken to the hospital in critical condition last week after being shot in the chest by a security guard at a TA truck stop in Oklahoma City. According to police, the shooting occurred during an argument over a reserved parking space.
It was just after 4:30 am when police got a call about a shooting at the TA near I-40 and Council Road in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. When they arrived, they found that a trucker had been shot in the chest by a third-party security guard.
While the driver was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, police interviewed the security guard. According to Sgt. Brad Gilmore of the Oklahoma City Police Department, the security guard confronted the driver about being parked in a spot that was not reserved for him.
It’s not clear what exactly happened then. Some sources say the two men fought; other sources claim that there was a struggle for the firearm. According to News9, police say that “the guard discharged his firearm because he felt like he had to defend himself.”
“TA is aware of last week’s distressing incident involving a truck driver and a security guard at TA’s travel center on South Council Road in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,” reads a statement put out by TA. “TA is cooperating fully with the Oklahoma City Police, as is the third-party security company, and we await the conclusion of (the investigation by law enforcement). Our thoughts are with the truck driver and we wish him a quick and full recovery.”
After interviewing the guard, detectives elected not to arrest him. No charges have been filed.
The driver is now in stable condition.
Source: overdrive, freightwaves, freightwaves, freightwaves, koco, news9, kfor
Over a parking spot. Just pay for parking or go find a side street. To fight over a parking spot is ridiculous to say the least but on the same note it shows how desperate drivers are in need of parking. Wish both well to them. Sad
I hope he logged off duty after getting shot. If not the ELD will probably have in violation of HOS.
That’s your comment about a shooting? Sad! You make light of a serious event. Shame on TA or any other truckstop that charges for parking. Don’t you rip us off enough?
Not a “pay-to-Park” truck stop. This was reserved parking available to any driver who calls ahead early enough to reserve; and pay for; a parking spot.
If this driver didn’t reserve the spot, then he was stealing a spot already paid for by another driver. If that is the case, as it appears, then the driver was in the wrong. And the driver certainly would have no excuse to fight over it with the guard.
Call ahead to reserve a parking space. It’s called planning. Professional drivers do it all the time.
You should not have to pay for a parking spot anywhere… This is absolutely ridiculous…
That’s a good one, ridiculous true and really funny. Thx for that
Good one…
You hit the nail right on the head with this very clever response. The greatest stressor for professional drivers has changed. from weather and other drivers, Distill making a decent Buck while catering to the Draconian regulations in the ELD Watchdogs that monitor your every move.
The paid parking spots and Truck Stop disputes are just a symptom of a greater “Safety Culture” problem.
👍 NAILED IT ALL THIS STEMS FROM THE FORCED BIG GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY
Let’s not blow this all out of proportion.
Strict regulations were most likely a motivator for the driver, but this just boils down to someone trying to take something without paying for it to the extent of a fight and then a shooting.
Basically, the guard confronted a shoplifter and shot him when attacked.
Does being shot count as on or off duty? Cant find anything about it in the green book.
Off duty with an asterek
Is an ambulance considered “personal conveyanace”?
Only if u r not driving on a public roadway
you can stay on line 4 as long as you want and not be in violation but you cannot drive
Wow that explains the 14 the clock
As long as he stays on the bottom line he’s ok, BUT must take a 10 break before he can drive again.
TA should get sued because them truck stops make enough money with out having to have drivers pay for parking spots they just want to squeeze more money out of the truck driver and that’s like companies that charge a driver to pay for unloading there own product.
TA and any other truck stop that charges for parking have the right to run their business how they see fit! TA paid parking is merely an option, not and end-all be-all! If you park in a reserved spot without paying, you already know they’re gonna ask you to move!!
If people are willing to pay then they will have them and there is nothing wrong with that. I dont like paying for parking but they are nice to have when I cant find anything else. I say this to all you liberals that complain about “big corporations”. If you dont like it, start your own business and run it the way YOU want.
wow apparently you have never looked at the overhead of operating any commercial property that has a large amount of commercial designated parking. the reason this security detail is even on the parking lot is because it lowers their liability for insurance purposes. A basic unarmed security detail will cost you $32,500 a month. And that is for one officer 24/7. Multiply that by however many officers you need. And double that if they’re armed. You also have environmental impact fees. For every gallon of fuel that you store in your tanks. Every gallon of oil you store in your garage. Every tire you keep on hand. And of course you have overhead of buying your products and merchandise paying your employees offering them insurance dental medical vision. After you add up 1 month worth of overhead. You will completely understand why they charge so much for everything. If they didn’t they would not be in business. We do need a smaller government. I agree. Remember no one’s forcing you to be in the transportation industry.
Damn, i’ve got the wrong job. $32,500 a month? Really… I wonder what they pay the guy that actually does the work……Really, $32,500 each. $73,000 if armed. Where, by the way did you get this figure? Sources please…
There is all kinds of B.S. floating on the web….
In 2019 I Barely made it to the flying j truckstop in salt lake city utah. I wasnt aware of how sick I was my Doctors never told me and they for sure didnt tell me not to drive anything let alone a semi OTR. I had only been back to work 6 weeks before my liver started to fail. I was suffering from hepatic encephalopathy. My liver was no longer clearing the toxins out of my blood. I had completed my drop early that morning and I hurried to flying j what I thought was a safe spot for me. I pulled in to the first spot I could easily get into. I crawled in the back and thats all I remember. Late that night someone was banging on my door so now im really confused. Nobody wakes a driver at a truck stop. He was saying I had to leave so now I just went back to sleep. Next thing I know some city police officer was there. I told them I was ill and I was out of hours and there is no way I can drive right now. I asked them to call the Dot. I new they would help me I also new I couldnt even move my truck safely let alone put my truck on the road. The next thing I new the cop was breaking my window beating me up arresting me for trespass. Then for fun handcuffing me as tight as possible and leaving me like that for hours. After being released I took a cab to hospital and after 3 days they told me how sick I was and I needed to get home and see my liver dr. This is when I found out I was in stage 4 liver disease and had been for 2 years. That was the first time I had issues like that and as soon as I found out how sick I was I gave up driving. I used to work for flying j and I always stayed there. I wasnt aware there was new owners. There was no reason for flying j to do that I had several hundred dollars in rewards plus I was due for a wash and I needed work done on truck and trailer. Im just know getting well and alot of folks did me dirty when I was sick and now Im gonna make them pay
I guessing driver was unarmed. With that shooting over a parking spot?. Guard should have had police come if driver was irate. Sounds like armed robbery to me.
Damn TA shouldn’t be charging for parking it’s a damb truckstop. It should be against the law.
It’s PRIVATE PROPERTY! TA owns it and allows free parking and charges for reserved spots as well. If you don’t have a problem paying for a spot what’s the issue? But you can’t park in a reserved spot then get upset because you didn’t pay to park there when asked to park elsewhere as you knew it was reserved parking but chose not pay.
If you know you don’t have enough time to make your destination or running low on time shut down early along the route where there IS available parking. Some drivers complicate this job for no reason.
Many private truck stops charge for parking or require you to make a purchase. SMH
Private property is fine except when I have to pay to park at TA because the six counties around my house will not approve more truck parking. They won’t let anyone park a truck on private property. They must park at the truck stop for home time. I have 5 acres in the country 40 miles from the nearest place I won’t get a fine.
Still didn’t have to shoot him
Well seems like a small thing to get upset about however when your over worked under paid and sleepy as hell and the Government gives you a ticket when sleeping on the get on ramp and all a drivers crime is he need some freaking sleep and he gets shot… sumthing wong.
I agree If truck stops need money charge more for fuel.
they need to pay
I get the conversation got heated. Security should have called police department before anything escalated. I worked security in Afghanistan and the last tool you should ever consider using is your gun.
You know these security folks over here and how much they wanna be something.
And you’re right
It all boils down to proper training.
Maybe the driver was getting the upper hand? Who knows
But they should implement more training to security personnel other than basic fundamentals.
The police would have said it’s a private dispute on private property
It would be a completely different story if the truck driver had the gun . No one has all the information on this story. I am not going to condemn either one of them for what happened as NO ONE not involved know anything for sure.
Some truckers are just getting really tired of having to pick up the tab for a delusion of increased Public Safety.
And have you ever tried parking on a side street only to have the police knock on your cab in the middle of the night and tell you to move?
And sometimes the tech won’t recognize that that is personal conveyance in you blow your reset? And are fined for a late load. And then miss your reload?
These pressures and stresses add up when no voice is given to Truckers . . . and great voice is given to those who use purely emotional appeals to campaign for the meta-class of all victims
And. . . the fact that the police didn’t arrest the guard, tells us a lot too.
The story left out anything the driver may have said, IF he said anything.
Amen
Why you dumping on the driver, the story ssid nothing about not paying?
Read it again. “Reserved parking”.
Many newer drivers are ignorant foreign idiots that park anywhere they want. Just like many ignorant drivers that park @ or in line at the pumps who go in, eat, or shower & take their time. They just don’t care.
I totally agree I am sick and tired of drivers using the fuel lines for their 30-minute break I was in New Jersey that dude parked in the fuel line and refuse to move he sat there for a 10-hour break
Right on
Well, it’s so very important to make a few bucks off of truck parking that we’re paying armed guards to protect that revenue stream.
This would never have happened if there were adequate parking to start with… Or if the parking shortage hadn’t inevitably led to opportunistic greed from truck stops, over parking.
Thanks, Travel Centers of America! We feel safer already!
Agreed
It’s bad enough that we have to pay double the price for everything and these truck stops are so greedy they charge us to go to sleep. And the rest of America wonders why we drive tired. Limited parking means limited sleep
I agree. When I pick up a load or unload at the end of the day l am at the end of my hrs. I sometimes have to park illeagally. We need more parking spaces and not reserved.
You are exactly right MrYowler. At times I have gone out OTR with my husband, and the parking spaces for truck driver’s is ridiculous! It goes to show that the trucking industry is just like a scam. Poor truck driver’s struggle and drive hard to get loads to and from on time, long driving distances. And this is the thanks truck driver’s get having to pay reserve parking, it’s not right at all. My husband is on his way toward a new career…….my advice for all truck driver’s is to start training for a new career. The majority of trucking companies are thieves anyway.
Amen!
You nailed it, the shortage of parking, the pressure of ELD regulation, the ignorance and lack of respect for what truck drivers do for this country, the long time away from home, not actually living life as a human being, harassment from law enforcement and disrespect they give while they themselves are useless for what they do.
Perhaps if we shut the country down for a week and watch the insanity that would ensue, people would wake up, but we would probably be targeted by the Police and murdered, saying we were out of hand.
Saying I don’t know, because I was not there is an idiotic response, the guard had to have escalated the situation, so a man gets shot over $19. I hope the guy sues TA and the security (wannabe cop) for everything they have.
Rent a cop. Give em a gun and call them Barney Fife…
the rent a cop should be charged severely
Wow what’s this world coming to get shot over parking space
This trucker was shot because of his actions .
You know as well as I know. When you have had enough and its time for rest. There is never a reason to shoot someone cause he needs a break
You my buddy Mark Stout from Lorain ?
Lorain, Ohio?
The better question is why have we let the world come to this state?
Most truckers recognize that the “Safety Culture” crap is responsible for the increased pressures on truckers that leads such events.
As well as the fact that such regulations in monitoring systems have not made the roads any safer.
To pay for a parking spot is a rip off and those who pay are fools and lazy as hell.
what’s laziness have to do with it?
It is what it is. If you don’t like they way they do business then park elsewhere but I see your point. Let’s face it there is a parking shortage.
Seriously? You buy $500 of fuel, spend $20 at the over priced restaurant, you are tired as a dog and probably nowhere else to park and get woke up by a rent a cop and damn near die over a $18 parking spot? The security guard needs arrested and the TA needs sued and boycotted by all drivers as a sighn of unity. I am a 30 year driving veteran and 10 year Army veteran. We had stricter rules of engagement in Iraq. I would have been brought up on charges for killing someone for BS like that.Driver shortage? I wonder why.
Damn right the guard should be arrested. I guess they don’t value a truckers life
The guard is just doing his job just like you guys. I don’t know if Runner and Billy Basenberg can read. “Some sources say the two men fought; other sources claim that there was a struggle for the firearm.” Billy if you were in the army you know for a fact if someone tries to take your gun you are putting that man down. If the guard felt threatened he had every right to shoot. That being said I feel like drivers in the past 20 years have become more irritable. Quicker to becoming aggressive and until we get the whole story. I cant blame the guard.
I am so with the TA is in a Petros are getting so ridiculous more than half their parking lot is reserved now and then sometimes you have to pay at a gate just to park in the lot much less get a reserved spot. Really needs to look at the fact that we don’t have enough parking. But they all want us to stop for 10 hours nobody wants to stop on the side of a road or rest area for that matter likes a wake up get coffee get dressed start your day in a positive manner not pissed off at the world I’m an agreement the TA should be sued in the security officer should be arrested
We dont actually know what happened, the guard may have just told him to move and the driver may have jumped out and attacked wit h a tire tool. I would need more info to go that far. As a 10 yr driver, I can tell you there are some nuts behind the wheel out there, more than there used to be.
There have been at least 2 occasions I wish I had a gun to defend myself from other drivers, over less shit than this.
No, really don’t know what happened, I sincerely doubt that the guy shot in the chest got to tell his side of the story… What do you think…
I agree 100%
What an exaggeration! I park in that lot all the time. If they run out I pay them $12 and get a good nights rest. Always leave yourself enough time to find parking or be prepared to call ahead and reserve. Nothing worse than to have called ahead, paid for a spot, only to arrive and find the entitled jerks who have parked in a reserved spots without a permit. Typically it’s some cranky old driver type who has been driving forever and pisses on the pavement beside his truck.
Mike…
Would you shoot them over it? Is it so very important that it should require armed security guards, instead of tiw trucks or parking citations?
How would it be if you got called out for being where you shouldn’t be, because of a computer or clerical error, and the requirement to move were to be enforced with deadly force? How would it be if this argument were to happen, the guard were to miss, and accidentally kill some driver in his bunk, who paid for his parking spot?
It’s a stupid thing to shoot someone over, and the idea that you can get shot over it is reason enough not to go to TA or Petro. Assuming that there is some good reason that the guard needs to be armed in the first place (it’s possible, but that alone might be reason enough to avoid the place), they need to employ better judgement than this.
As another driver stated, as much fuel we buy and eat in those over priced restaurants, why should we have to pay for parking. It is just another way is as drivers are getting ripped off. And drivers do get held up loading or unloading, so it’s not always the case of getting somewhere early enough.
Don’t forget the same jerks that block you from getting out in the morning…..
nailed it driver driver,s that run till the last dam min are fool,s PLAN AHEAD if you park in a spot that a pay spot and a guard tell,s you butt to move MOVE
You sound like you’re still wet behind your ears. You can say you never pissed in a parking lot before. ?
Come on driver, you are talking as though the industry is predictable and runs smoothly. None of us ever can predict what happens in the beginning, middle and end of our run. Planning ahead only goes so far.
I reserved a spot at a TA because I knew it would be very late by the time I got there. When I arrived there were no spots and I was not the only driver that reserved a spot. The TA had to go out and check if drivers paid. I was close to out of time. If it happened now I could of got a violation (ELD) even though I did plan ahead. I don’t agree with having to pay for parking as truckers pay for about 90% of all revenue the truck stop makes. Now they want more. A lot of Truck stops have mostly pay spots. So wrong
EXACTLY! It’s PRIVATE PROPERTY. TA or any truck stop can charge whatever they want. They do have free parking but if you get there and free parking is full then pay to park If spots are available and you have no time to drive.
Parking for free on their property is a PRIVILEGE not a right as many tend to believe.
That security guard probably should have been charged. Why not call the police from the start. Thats his job, he does not have any arrest authority. If you heard the other side of the story you’d probably think he was eager to shoot.
Agreed
Correct
Over a paid security guard shooting one of our brothers
Regardless of reason
You got me
And I got you
Let’s do this!!!
At 3am I’m sure the space was empty for a reason , either the truck in the spot had already started its day or it never showed up . I’ve seen in first hand how the rent o cops have taken advantage of their authority and always come to you in a aggressive manner and pushing intimidation towards the drivers . He shouldn’t had taken action to his own hands. He lost the battle then shoots the driver who he’d had already pissed off, I’ve wonder how many other drivers had fallen victim to this person in the past we are drivers not criminals why the guns really . do the same as anyone else would do call the local police let them handle it if he really is possessing a problem. I’m sure the driver was tired and only trying to get some rest, I’m sure he wasn’t trying to hurt anyone he’s not the one looking for the problem . The security could’ve left it alone at that time of the day . in a couple of hours that place was going to be empty either way . We do need to do something about this issue boycott T/A and we’ll see how fast they’ll solve the reserved parking issue. We are alone out here every man for himself it feels like
AMEN 🙏🏻 So true . 😔
The only reason you would get woke up is if you parked where someone already paid and reserved that parking spot. When I know I’m going to be getting somewhere late I call ahead and reserve a parking spot. Better safe than sorry.
There wasn’t such a parking shortage when we ran paper logs and ran how how our body felt, or when we wanted to, less accidents and less if us big trucks adding to the rush hour traffic jams 32 years if things don’t change for the better even a tiny bit I’m looking for an alternate career to finish my life out no reason to put extra burden on an already stressful lifestyle
You got that right
We’re not lazy! Sometimes you get caught out on the road at a late time you know there’s not gonna be any parking so you reserve a spot. They don’t have to provide you free parking just because you ate there or got fuel there. You paid for what you got so why shouldn’t they charge you for a spot to park! They had to pay for the parking lot you didn’t!.
I disagree it’s not always the case your lazy if you pay to park. I get what your saying though. I’ve had to pay to park for the simple fact I didn’t have enough hours to go to another truck stop or anywhere else for that matter. But I do agree with most of your statement
What is more foolish, paying for a guaranteed spot and not having to worry about it, especially in places where parking is nonexistent by the time you get there OR violating logging regulations, putting oneself at risk for litigation by driving around over hours, or possibly parking somewhere questionable and bring murdered for $20?
Really? I pay, and my company reimburse’s me. I am smart enough to know when I get to my destination at midnight… I better have a spot reserved!
Please explain, if a driver has trip planned and recognized they will be best served to reserve a spot rather than chance parking on the shoulder how is that bring a fool?
Ive got no problem if folks want to pay for a spot up front. If a spot is reserved the mark it reserved and dont let no one park there. Drivers get woke up all the time and it gets old. Ive never heard of anyone waking up a driver at a truck stop. The drivers job is to get rest. If a spot is not roped of or clearly marked or someone is watching making sure no parks there. Instead after 4 hrs you get woke told you have to move and you know now there are no spots nowhere to be found. If its a reserved spot make it so no one can park there
Let’s wait until we hear from the driver, assuming he survives, before we assume the guard’s story is the Truth. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, the hard way in our society, it’s people (especially those with suspect character) will embellish to justify their actions. Without the driver’s statement, nor any credible witnesses to corroborate the guard’s, the guard’s statement is assumed to be true.
Let’s hear what the driver has to say, and let’s hope that TA has video surveillance of the incident…
What kind of training that criminal security guard had? He doesn’t want to move or pay, give your warning then call the cops. Truck drivers aleays grumpy and tired. That guard should face jail time, not defending the trucker here but cmon. He shot someone, and he shouldve leave him alone and call the cops. Trucker should sue the both ta and the guard company…
So glad I run a home-daily route and no longer have to F with this nonsense. Don’t miss truck stops one iota
I agree with Billy Jones. I have never in 40 years paid for a parking spot. Only paid at truck stops where everyone is forced to pay, which is greed and robbery. All Drivers should be able to park free, and there shouldn’t be any reserved or handicapped parking.
I like reserved parking.
I need to know fo sho that my spot will be waiting me and not occupied by some old cranky yanky blue belly like you.
A handicap capped trucker, go figure
I have seen truckers who are amputees including a couple in wheel chairs still driving. These are the ones I really admire and respect. The one I saw in a wheelchair was actually flatbedding and he strapped the load by himself. So yes there are physically limited drivers but I wouldn’t call them handicapped
I’m a handicapped truck driver. Came back from Iraq in 2010 with three blown discs in my lower back and I keep going. I suppose you would prefer me on welfare instead of parking in a handicapped spot at a truck stop? Shove it.
I’ve even seen handicap flatbed haulers….now cmon!!!???
I work with a guy in the flatbed industry has a handicap sign on his truck but rides a motorcycle to work everyday really
There are more and more truckstops with reserved parking for handicapped drivers. Sorta throws that “equal protection” stuff under the truck.
I totally agree with you about paying to park. That is total BS. But don’t be a dick about the handicapped parking. There are truckers who can drive and still be handicapped or maybe their spouse is that rides with them. 1 or 2 spots isnt gonna kill you and yes i have seen people actually use them.
Its,because of those elds,everyone,starts and stops,at same time,its,causing parking issues
ELDs don’t cause people to start and stop at same time. Don’t be ridiculous.
Don’t you know? Everyone has to start exactly at 8 AM with ELDs? lol
I start at 2200 and work anywhere up until 1200 noon the next day, but I unload and pick up backhauls at night or early morning drop n hook
Your right eld’s don’t cause it shippers and receiver’s do they keep regular hours truckers don’t. So who is really to blame when you get 5 to 20 trucks show up at the same time wanting to get loaded or unloaded before closing time and they won’t let you park on there lot.
👍🏻
It actually does. Back when we could split sleeer time and didn’t have the 14 crap to deal with, there were more trucks on the road at any given time throughout the night. Now everybody has to stop for 10 hours straight so nobody is leaving. I never had any trouble finding a spot under the old rules.
And yes, Marion, I plan. Most of us plan. Trouble with your rationale is there are more people planning than spaces available. Coming up on the short end doesn’t mean you had a bad plan. What would happen if an airline planned a flight for 350 people then found out the plane only holds 298?
I agree 100%!!! At some point, the BS HAS to stop or it’s time to move on.
Yes they do ,blame them on parking shortages
Anyone that can’t drive at night most drivers are shutting down at dark parking spots are opening up at 3 AM I have no problem finding a place to park driving till 3 AM.
The handicap is a law.. and yes there’s is handicap driver do your search..
what do you got against us handicapped truckers. if it wasn’t for trucking i would not be able to work. just because i can’t walk a quarter mile to use the bathroom or go in to a store.
Fully agree.👍👍
Agreed
You are right about that
Excuse me but paying is paying reserved or forced for general parking.
I believe there should be handicap spots. When I was on chemo ( got a note from Dr. I could still drive) it would of been very hard on me. I have seen drivers missing a leg and other reasons. So yes there should be handicap spots.
The Fed’s are quick to add new rules and regulations to the transportation business but never address needs such as parking and operator safety and well being but as always we ate looked upon as sub-human society
Truck stops are a private businesses. The govt can’t tell them how to run it or what to charge, but can tell a trucker when to work, when to stop and penalize the crap out of them if they fail to obey like good little puppets.How does this happen. that damned ELD that drivers are forced to use . Could it be the new drivers can’t fill out a paper log book? Maybe but they no longer have to think for themselves as the ELD does it for them. Think I am wrong ?. How many times have you seen or heard of a driver that puts themselves in a dangerous situation or failed to use even the slightest bit of commonsense when the GPS says to turn here and it’s is a dirt road?Take the 30 min break at the fuel island. run out of hrs and bitch about no parking. Can’t think for one minute they can stop early but DON’T. Far too often this happens in the last 15 or so years.Far too often.Professionalism is soon to be a thing of the past. History we will read about but not see.
TA been going downhill for along time.They overpriced rip off drivers and charge for parking to squeeze every dollar out of the drivers.The security guard is a fool to use his gun and no matter hope he loses his job and the employer get sued
I wonder if at some point during this altercation the security guard thought that maybe he should step back from the situation and make a call to the Oklahoma City PD. The use of deadly force in our country has gotten completely out of hand. If the driver threatened the security guard to the point of using deadly force, shame on him. As the investigation comes along I’d like to know exactly what happened. Deadly force over a parking spot?? C’mon now! Sounds ridiculous!
I totally agree! Everyone is so quick to escalate to this degree! Back off and call the authorities!
I’ve been there, not good neighborhood,
I agree, call the cops and let them take care of it. That’s a life someone love one, father, husband, brother, friend. It’s so sad. They regulate truckers to death always taking every dime from us and our time. Th e government don’t give a flip. I still say if we ALL would go home for just two days that what get their attention. If we ALL stand together we could get something good done for us. But until that happens they will just running us like they are. And all we are trying to do is make a good living for our families.
I totally agree
$18.00 or risk your life? Hmm, It’s a dam tax write off. Sometimes I’m glad I have the opportunity to reserve a spot. Thanks to D.O.T. for controlling how much revenue I make. We don’t tell you how long you can work. Some other armed security truck stops that you need to make sure you pay reserve at Petro & T/A Gary, Indiana. Never had a problem with security though at any reserved parking facility. Security is also there to make sure nobody is trying to rob you. Also, on that note. Minooka, Illinois rest areas I 80 East & West. Reports of break ins & cargo theft while sleeping. Be packing!
I don’t care if ya pay for a parking spot or not (I never do ) thanks loves ! But that parking on the side of the highway for a half mile before and after the pickle parks is ridiculous. 20 years and I’ve never had to do either and I run the north east so don’t even say that it’s more crowded with less parking where you are . Your just lazy and don’t know what you are doing
I don’t agree: it’s gotten really bad. I refuse to park in the highway; but, I don’t run my HOS out; I try to break up my days so I’m stopped early enough to park at a rest area; truckstop; shipper or consignee if allowed; or maybe someplace i know…
Exactly, and I never just create my own spot at truck stops where it say NO PARKING. Poor plan on your part, does not constitute an emergency on my part. Still doesn’t mean a security guard should become physical or violent with a driver and shoot him. Procedurally he was supposed to walk away and call the pd and a tow truck if he refused to move. Absolutely no need at all for violence. As soon as he tells driver he’s calling cops, driver would’ve probably left ASAP
But you’re not running to your fullest potential means that you are picking up the tab for Draconian regulations and monitoring That is having little effect on road safety.
The only thing it services are the emotions of those who need to feel like they are making a difference even if they have to fudge the data.
If u work 9 to 5 like the rest of the crowd ,u will fi nd parking issues
Agreed, some guys prefer a drive through. I say park away and walk a bit, it’s healthy for you
Jesus Christ, where do I even start.
Okay, if the guard had truly shot the driver over the parking space, the report would read like this:
“The guard walked up and noticed the driver had parked in a reserved space, so the guard produced his firearm and shot the driver. The guard was arrested and has been charged with murder”
But it doesn’t read like that. It reads like this, “Blah blah blah, argument over a space, IT’S NOT CLEAR WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED THEN, and the driver was shot…” Don’t you think that this incomplete report leaves a lot of room to speculate as to the cause of the shooting? Either the guard just got angry and shot him without legal justification, OR maybe the driver attempted to grab the weapon, or the driver produced his own weapon…the point is the article leaves out basically EVERY detail of the MOST IMPORTANT part of the story, and then it runs with the BS headline saying the guard shot the poor (unarmed even!) driver over a reserved space, and it looks like every single commenter above me falls for it.
Idiots.
Stay away from TA truck stops. Now their employees can just randomly shoot people. Police refuse to make arrests. Hopefully the prosecutor sees differently. I’m sure that the driver didn’t have a weapon. The security company will see that this specific guard is a liability. I see a civil suit coming. Good….
this should bring g a stop to reserve parking ,the truck stops need to to provide parking for trucks ,they need to park somewhere for their break time and drivers bring enough revenue to them without charging for parking .Needs to be stopped before more drivers are hurt or killed over parking spots
So said prayers for all
I feel we get raped enough by truckstops. I for one won’t pay to park. I pass a few that are all spots are pay to park, i don’t do any business there. If we all refused, they would change that. But to shoot a man over a 15 dollar parking spot. Shame on both men for letting this get so far out of hand.
Good do as your told right ?
I have used the reserved parking spots and love them. I like to run hard and get the miles. I have reserved a head of time knowing that I would be there at or around the need to shut down. I have had to have other trucks moved out of reserved spot do to the shortage standard spots. I have seen trucks parked H.C. spots with out a H.C. plate or window placker card. See the drives that park in the areas that are reserve spots only without paying hate to walk. They see the signs but they think it’s a joke and park in them thinking that they wouldn’t be asked to moved. Driver’s think about it, you don’t own the property and it is a privilege to be able to park there. TA, Flying J, and others pay the insurance and taxes on that property. So stop and think about what your doing the next time you go to park at a truck stop. Learn how to read and follow the rules remember that you don’t own the property.
Why anyone gives this scumbag company business is beyond me. Pilot as well, lowlife trash companies try to squeeze drivers for every dime. You have these newbie drivers who think these companies are doing them a favor charging 20$ to save them a spot, it’s a joke. Are real trucker would never pay to park, only a sucker would.
Its,b.s. But then I saw this coming with the eld crap
ELDs didn’t cause this, give it up. This was happening long before ELDs.
Are you been paid by any ELD company ? Lol every time someone says something against the ELD you are there lol 😂
How do ELD’s make for a lack of parking? What a bunch of nonsense. Grow a pair and drive with your headlights on. Or go back to local.
Maybe you should do a better job planning your trip so you can find a spot with enough parking at a decent hour
Sorry Mary but u wrong, its,getting worse, back in day easy to find parking, now too many trucks not enough parking ,ok Mary
The ELD crap is a result of the draconian HOS crap which rests at the doorstep of the “Safety Culture” bleeding hearts like MADD.
They need their emotion placated, and we take the pay cut and unnecessary added stress to make it feel like they’ve advocated for the delusion of a safer world.
(Unbiased stats don’t report an increase in road safety)
Why is a security guard at a truck stop armed in the first place? Isn’t a security guard supposed to call real police if something occurs? We’re talking about a truck stop here, not a bank; not a border; not a government agency.
Guard: This is a reserved parking space. You will need to move, please.
Driver: No.
Guard: Please move. If you refuse, I will have to contact local law enforcement.
Driver: Okay (driver moves) or I’m not moving (driver has to deal with real police).
That is the beginning to end for which a security guard is employed. Where TF does a gun come into this? They are there to do rounds and observe, not to protect and serve. They are not police officers. If anything requires an escalated level of enforcement, that is what police are for.
Instead, you have this stupid rent-a-cop with a gun they shouldn’t have in the first place who could have easily killed someone over such a trivial event. If real police discharged their firearm, there would already be an investigation, for whatever that’s worth. Public-area security guards should not be armed with anything more than a cell phone.
I sincerely hope that truck driver – even if they happen to be an ignorant jerk – sues the daylights out of TA and that security company. I’ve been to TA stops many times and there’s no reason whatsoever for someone to need a gun, much less attempt to kill someone over a parking spot.
Its,okc ,u ever been there ,go to petro three, or loves
EXACTLY!!!
Been there. Rough area. OKC ghetto in those parts
Freymiller right around the corner.
I agree with you 100% but you do understand that if the driver had been Black there not only would have been an investigation but the DOJ would have been called in, riots in the streets! I guess White lives just don’t matter! I hate to drag race into this but let’s face it, it’s the truth!
Chesley seriously?!?!?!?! The race card come on. Of all the things to say. The freakin race card how absurd.
Chelsey wins dumbest comment of the day! Congrats!
Trump DOJ helping black folks? Your funny..and you do mean to bring race into this…by the way, the black community would have come out to protest , because the white community did no show up for this white man ( driver). Why say you guess white lives dont matter? I know what your are and what your trying to say…just stick with fox news…im black and i see this man as a fellow driver and hope he fully recover.
So true
What does color have,to do with this
You need to send that script to the TA so they can train their wannabe cops. Apparently they just give them a gun and turn them loose.
It was not an employee of TA. It was a rent a cop from a different company. TA can’t train. Just lay down the rules of do this and not this .
It was never stated that there is no investigation…just no arrest at the scene. If the duty sergeant made the call then there had to be ample evidence in the favor of the security guard, who may have been an off duty LEO. That would explain the lack of an arrest at the scene, but not necessarily in the future given that there must have been overwhelming evidence along with eyewitness accounts to back up the guard’s story.
in 2005 the supreme court ruled police did not have a constitutional duty to protect a person from harm. when seconds count, police are only minutes away.
Well THAT is something worth taking a bullet for.
Security should’ve backed the F off and called police at the first indication of the situation being more than just an “I didn’t know” type of contact, the driver being uncooperative, or the like.
On the other hand, nobody knows for sure except the driver and the guard what EITHER contributed to the situation.
Oh well he gets a purple heart.
Now should he log on or off duty being shot in a truck?
I think the security guard should’ve been arrested at last till the truck driver gets to be interwieved. Otherwise they just plainly believed his side of the story?
We are innocent until proven guilty in American.
Innocent until proven guilty? If you really believe that you have a serious problem!!!
We dont have the full story here, there may have been witnesses, etc.
may have been off duty cop
Log on duty. Getting shot while not driving.
People pay for parking and shit happens quit crying and drive
Stop spending money at truck stops that charge for parking. I always choose a Love’s for coffee or snacks over PFJ or TA/Petro. Go where you’re appreciated, not treated like an ATM.
Now u have to plan and find stops accordingly and follow ure eld, or get a violation ,hurry up and bend,over, this is,for ure safety, remember
Plan yes. You should have been doing that before ELDs. ELDs and their predecessors came about because idiots such as yourself were killing too many people. Maybe if you were safer, we wouldn’t be in this mess.
They did not charge for spots until Elsa came along. TA is corrupt anyhow. 80% of Petro in N Little Rock is paid parking. Thieves.
Elsa? Is she still out there working the lot? Bet she’d go at least 300 lbs. Don’t know anybody would fight over her. She gets way too much credit here.
Really now ,I think u like loves because they like women drivers,I like mom and pop places and only fuel at fly jerk and pilot if I have too
Lol pretty sure u can’t shoot someone over that .. have to call the police to tell him to leave .. he going to do time unless trucker pulled a weapon
It’s never enough parking ppl spots ppl are stopping earlier some places around 3PM you use to have until 6 or 7 to get to a truck stop but because of this eld u have no time
Been there. Rough area. OKC ghetto in those parts
Its,crappy area and on wrong side of okc
Get use to it. It’s going to get worse as the American “Babylonian” Empire slowly collapses…..
The truck driver should have never gotten shot over a parking spot. The 3rd party security guard should’ve called the Police and let them shoot him instead… right? To have an argument over a parking spot is ludicrous. To start an altercation over a parking spot is incompetent. To charge a truck driver to park is in a spot is espionage. And the truck driving companies wonder why they’re experiencing this exodus of vets leave the industry. Too much disrespect, indifference, and minimal compensation towards the truck drivers who ensures that you have your Charmin on the shelf at the local Wal-Mart or the grocery store. So you can purchase to wipe your back side. You crap on them both literally and figuratively. Houston you are the problem! Ijs. Keep it 💯
Shame, I don’t know the truth so I won’t comment but none the less. Shameful and sad
When you shoot at the chest you attend to kill…not injure…smh
It would never happened if people stop paying for parking period, this is a scam that you all support in a daily basis, stop paying for parking and they will make it free , is your fault, don’t contribute to things that work against you.
Orlando, youre right. It just shows what kind of idiots are driving trucks now. Sheep that will accept anything.
This is happening with truck stops all over the country they have gone into reserved parking and taken more than half of their space,every time you park you have to pay $14.00 and sometimes even more not fair to hard working men and women and on top of this they spend money in the truck stop,they need to give you an option if you buy fuel or spend money in the truck stop parking should be free.
The slaves are fighting for parking, the slaves truckers, what business have the government putting an electronic device in your own truck, none, is my truck, my private property, I bought an old model truck, no ELD, no emission, no def, I’m free, the rest of you slaves, obey orders from your master, is your fault.
What does eld have to do with this? I’m not going to comment because I don’t know what happened but to say eld did this is down right silly.
How long have you been trucking? You obviously don’t know a lot more than the details about this incident……
Really? You’re the one who is free? So… You aren’t governed by Hours of Service, you get all the premium freight, you are not subject to roadside inspections, you can park anywhere, any time, you don’t need any permits, you don’t pay any taxes…
So, just buy an old truck, and you’re free, huh?
Man… I guess everybody else really is a bunch of stupid suckers. We ought to elect you President. You’re the only smart one among us.
You should never have to pay for parking to being with. Some drivers are forced to drive 11 hours nothing short and then struggle to find a spot at the end of their shift, then pay 15 or 20 bucks its ridiculous. As if the fuel we buy isn’t costly enough come on now tax after tax we pay, to then have to pay for some rest for moving America thats BS !!!!! Get rid of the paid parking if anything charge for the drivers lounge and corny exercise rooms to make a extra dollar give ys drivers a break !!@
Sad thing is, I’m not at all surprised it happened at that particular TA. Company said to fuel there, once… place gave me such a bad feeling that I pumped my fuel and moved on. Didn’t even take a leak before pulling out. As it stands, that particular lot is approximately 90% reserved parking, which unfortunately seems to be the status quo these days. Make as many quick bucks off the ever worse paid driver as possible… soon they’ll be charging to use the restroom, and charging even more if you’re not pumping at least 100 gallons of fuel SMH
Truck stops are a business. It costs millions to make a lot capable of accommodating trucks. Free parking is not a right. Then they have to pay staff to clean up the garbage, piss bottles and crap bags tossed on the ground. I don’t blame them a bit to try to generate some revenue by charging for reserved spots not to mention the millions to buy the land and build the truck stop.
Tradescant I understand what your saying about the cost of the truck stops I do. But by the same token the truck stops are overpriced on everything so they are making money,
And it’s not like these trucks are free it cost money to buy and operate them also. Last year ( 2018) I lost 192 thousand in my trucking business thank goodness I have other business’s that got me by.
Shoulda hung out on corner selling pencils or poobtang
Well we all know that Warren Buffet needs that extra money !!!
my you are stupid buffet has flying j/pilot
” Oh, contrare` !Truck Stop Corporations are given millions and millions of Federal tax abatements to build more Stops for parking so the Feds/State don’t have to build more Rest Stops ! Liars can figure,…but figures don’t lie ! Book ’em dano,…murder one !
Yep. They need that extra money to hire armed rent-a-cops to enforce that paid parking with deadly force.
They probably also need the extra money to pay for liability insurance and legal support to defend them after they shoot a driver.
Do you suppose that he moved his truck after he was shot? Or did they have to find some other solution to the parking problem, at that point?
Yes, we should not entirely blame the truck stops, for the lack of parking. We should also perhaps not require drivers to bear the burden in both taxation and direct costs, for a problem they didn’t create, either. Yes, there are unfortunate costs associated with being a truck stop of any quality. But that is true of every business on earth (including being a truck driver), and none of it justifies shooting at or around your customers over less than $20.
There is no universe in which this was not stupid. And TA should not get to shift responsibility entirely to the security company. They chose to hire armed guards. This was a clearly predictable outcome of that choice.
Tradescant Thanks for the idea. IF I ever have to pay to park, Ill leave them some mementos..
That land was paid for 30 years ago.
As far as upkeep goes, you know TA won’t spend a penny to fix anything
This is ridiculous. The headline states that the trucker got shot over a parking space. That is simply NOT true. If it were, then the security guard would have been arrested! The TRUCKER was shot because he assaulted the security guard. The trucker did NOT pay for a reserved spot. The security asked him to leave and the trucker became furious. I get that it is hard. But it is private property and it is NOT TA/Petro responsibility to provide parking for every truck in America. And being that is is private property, the security guard is doing his job and demanding that the trucker that did NOT pay for a reserved spot to leave. This does NOT give the trucker the right to get angry with the security guard and threaten him where he fears for his life. That is why he carries a gun! I just can not believe how simple minded people can be. I am also a trucker and if I was asked to leave a property even if it was not a paid space, I would. That is how it works. How about trying the same thing if TA had called the local police department? If the trucker assaults the police officer he is going to get shot as well, and maybe killed. Would that be the police officer’s fault too? Bunch a simpletons, just pisses me off. However, I agree with some of the comments that address the parking issue. It is true, it is a problem to find parking especially at 10 PM at night, you can almost forget it. And why do people have a problem with paid parking? If you don’t want to pay for it, then don’t. How do you feel this would have been avoided if there was no paid parking? That’s ridiculous too! Look at all the trucks that park where they shouldn’t at a truck stop. That is what pisses me off. I can’t get out of my parking spot because there are trucks 3 deep in NO PARKING areas. That’s not paid parking, so if a security guard forced those guys out, the same thing could happen. I don’t know how you all feel that you are entitled to park wherever you want and whenever you want.
1st T/A is wrong or having armed guards.
2nd the rent a cop is wrong for the shooting There are other options and probably a member of the okc police department & should of been arrested like any other person would be.
3rd who knows if the driver pulled a gun or another type of weapon( just saying)
4th a parking space isn’t worth all this nonsense and that’s why I very seldom park at a truck stop. I park either at the consignee shipper rest areas the office where ever sometimes I don’t have a choice so when I do I park at the very back. And I NEVER EVER park on the highway or ramps NEVER! (unless I break down which is very seldom cause I take care of my truck & do preventive maintenance)
5th T/A & the security business & rent a cop should be sued and forced to pay all medical cost and lost of wages to the driver and the trucking company.
6. This location is a very bad location hookers drugs Bums etc. I’ve been approached during the day by lot lizards and sellers while fueling my truck so just think what comes out at night.
7 any one paying for a spot should stop paying if no one paid these rip off so called truck stops would stop charging sooner or later even if the mega trucking companies refunded the parking fees to the driver.
8 for y’all making the eld comments your a idiot eld didn’t have anything to do with the shooting so grow up.
9 PLAN PLAN PLAN your trips where you don’t have to park at truck stops I very seldom do (look at #4) .
I’m always fascinated by the opinions of “drivers”. If you owned your business or had some skin in the game, you may look at things a little differently. Do you have ANY idea what it costs to build a truckstop parking lot and maintain it, only to have fools come in and spin a trailer around on a dime, thus eating up the asphalt? Then after they finally get parked (IF having done so with out tearing a fender or two off) they get out and throw their trash out on the ground, then stand there and p in the lot, take their lunch in that they bought from Walmart and use the truckstop microwave, then take a crap in the restroom, go out and sleep for 12 hrs in a parking spots built for real customers and then leave without spending a dime….then drive across the street to a piece of crap Love’s or Pilot convenience store with 10 parking spaces and buy fuel there….and then wonder why the truckstop has reserved parking….for real customers that want to guarantee they have a place to park…ya sound like a bunch of Democrats!
That said, I don’t defend the guard shootin the guy but at the same time I wasn’t there (were you?) and I don’t know what altercation led to the discharge of a weapon. It’s real simple, if you don’t pay for a reserved spot, don’t park in one, or, don’t argue with the guy when he runs you off.
Back in 2009 when I started driving there was no ELDs and no paid parking spots. When the chatter started about ELDs getting enforced truckstops began to charge us for parking coz if your hours are over you have to stop. If you don’t your company will give you a fine for a vialotion of HOS. And after a few fines they will fire you. Before you could drive for a bit more until eventually you find a place to park and then adjust your paper log a bit. Everyone did it. That was the flexibility we needed and still do. And look at us now. Shooting each other for parking spots. There used to be a drivers code back in a day. We used to respect each other. Sadly all that is gone. And those of you that say ELD have nothing to do with it or it’s ok for truckstops to charge us for parking spots, think again. Everything added a drop to bring us to where we are now
We buy fuel, food and other things in truck stops for thousands of dollars every week each end every one of us drivers and owners and still this shameless truck stops owners want to make more money stilling from us by paid spots. Great job.
Yes there were ELDs in 2009 but they were not required but a lot of companies were running them. I started in 1992 and there were companies running them then also. Depending on where you ran you would see places that charged for parking so this is nothing new. The problem is these large truck stops saw a revenue stream and took advantage of it. Some companies reimburse for paid parking like the one I’m leased to but I try my best not to pay and so far I’ve only did it once. So like a lot of people said if we stick together we could accomplish a lot. European drivers will shut down in a minute to get what the wanted however, here it’s seems to be everyone for themselves.
Finally somebody get real on the root of the problem lock the union between cdl driver is why seems the problem of parking lot low pay etc etc has no solutions
Need president Trump to do something the truck parking problem before more truckers get shot.
What is wrong with the people that think it’s good to keep a sleepy truck driver from parking safely over a few dollars versus a life. Truck stop wouldn’t be a truck stop with no trucks. If you get fuel there you should be able to park
I like the parking spot stuff, as it can really be a God send at 3AM when one pulls in to park. It is worth paying for. But I have noticed, especially T/A Petro has sectioned off a significant portion of parking spaces for this purpose, essentially seeing it as a cash cow. Some, like Petro in Effingham, IL, seem to be sectioning off so many that they are really wanting to turn the entire place into pay parking. And from what happened in this story, the cash cow thing is so important that security is becoming more aggressive about enforcement. TA/Petro needs to reevaluate what they are doing.
Im glad I work line haul. Drive my .500 miles and get home. I can’t believe the only solution this guard could come up with was to use his firearm.!
So unnecessary, smh. Sounds like the perfect storm. A tired driver, an overreaction from a security guard and a truck stop bent on greed. My prayers for all involved…
There’s no need for a security guard to have a firearm at a TA or any other truck parking post.
Having a firearm is not the point as much as who has one needs to have more self control than the other guy. So many thoughts of the how did it happen and why it happened but know absolutely nothing about it other than the printed word. Granted some drivers ,Well many drivers today should not be behind the wheel of any vehicle let alone a semi truck.We see this every day nearly every where.
Boycott the tax I got told I could not park because all spots where paid for in advance for a month I’m surprised the have not shot in nj yet that’s ok I stopped using ta and pilot for fuel loves or small fuel stops for me guess its safer
If there was enough parking spaces in these truck stops to begin with then drivers would not park in reserved spots. It is a terrible situation across the nation. I struggle to find a spot for a 30 minute break as a team driver. Truck stops only care about how much money they can squeeze out of a driver who is struggling to live.
Well, first off, what constitutes “enough” parking space? The limited parking is just the same as the limited driving areas. Fact is there are too many trucks as well as cars on the highways and when they have to stop which is always going to happen there’s just not enough room to accommodate them. I guess each and every truck stop should have at least 100 acres for parking only and that just isn’t going to happen. For some reason truckers don’t seem to want to drive at night anymore. Whenever possible I drive at night and park during the day. When I’m able to do this I never have a problem finding a parking spot. Just can’t always make it work.
This only shows what truckers have to go through in this greedy industry. Sometimes truckers are out of hours and can’t keep driving to look for parking elsewhere. There is a parking shortage and greedy truck stops try to make more money out of truck drivers. May God help this fellow truck driver and God bless all our truck drivers.
If they run out of hours then look for a parking spot they are just non thinking poor planning robots directed by the ticking clock on the ELD.
By the time we buy the overpriced fuel and overpriced food we feel like there shouldn’t be any paid parking…
All these protests against paid parking, LOL.
Good, boycott the places that charge. Leave more spots open for those of us not too cheap to patronize a business.
Le GASP! HOW *DARE* A FOR PROFIT BUSINESS MAKE MONEY OFF THEIR OWN PROPERTY!!! /s
It’s private property, so they can charge people to park there if they want. Would you let someone park on your property for free? The guy that parked there was defrauding an innkeeper and the headline should read “Thief gets shot.”
Wow, someone who believes in individual and property rights as opposed to group rights. You must believe in upholding the constitution also… How rare these days
Think about paying for parking at the grocery store. at the mall same thing you are a customer .but you are limited to were you are able to to park 80ft of rig and they know it and take advantage of it.
One of the malls where I live charges to park. They just started doing it a couple years ago and just raised prices this year.
I choose not to shop there. Plenty do though.
In over crowded areas, this is going to happen more and more.
Jake , youre an idiot.
It’s a parking spot. The rent a cop shouldn’t have been armed, much less shot someone. Charge him with murder and sue the TA.
Parking should be free. Food should be free. Concerts should be free. 90% of truckers are always looking for a freebie. Budget your money and you will be a able to join the elites in the paid parking. Life is better over here. No loud music, pee bottles, general rabble etc.
” Jake,….are you with State Farm ! “
👍👍👍👍
What are you wearing “Jake from State Farm”?
Just plain stupid over a parking spot!
Never did like the corporate greed charging to park. Hope he sues the crap out of them and it puts an end to paid parking. It’s hard enough to find parking.
I hope everyone looking for a quick buck picks your truck to hit them so they can call one of those billboard lawyers and put u out of business… Seems unfair huh. He stole money by not paying for a spot on THEIR property, then got shot trying to argue about it. Sounds to me like things worked out fine.
So next time you argue with some friends it’s ok to shoot them
He didnt steal anything, moron. Charging to park on top of overpriced everything is just another insult to drivers.
I think I’ll start charging to move when the light turns green….nobody pays, I don’t move
Hello driver
My name Tran Dung. I am a new driver with 2 year experiences OTR . When I started to driver there was too many problem with transportation industry. From company to shipper and receiver. And the greedy of truck stop some I know that 90% spot was reserved parking. What is for profit but what is about drivers life to them . It was none meaning at all. How about government care about driver of this country yah you think so and happy with it. It is none. In 1990 I was look up in the survey that till 500000 driver was shorted in US. No one care. Now about the parking at truck stop you never have a luck to find a spot after dark that most 99% I knew. And the on or off ram or side road park you may have the ticket for fact. So all off that problem it is till unsolved. Driver was frustrated and stressful more than the security guard was thought it was so easy made the decision to use the deadly force with unarms driver. Is that fair and legally. For all that unfair and ignorant. Why do not any one as driver step up for the petition ( government, trucking industry, truck stop and etc…) I will support it. And finally I wish to all of us as driver in this country will have a good luck and safe.
I’ve Delt with that security guard before he is a smart ass that thinks he’s the police. He needs to go to jail and TA needs to be sued. All I did was pull tru the fuel island at 4 am and was going to run in and pee. Nobody else on fuel island. No reason for him to be a dick
As for my own defense I carry a 9 mm with two 10-round clips. I’ve been stabbed in a truck stop by some drugged-up lunatic Werner driver that didn’t like it because I parked next to him in a spot where nobody else could back into. I will not get out of my truck anymore and have it in several years now without my pistol in the states where it is allowed to carry as I’m a resident of one of those States that have reciprocal laws I believe in self-defense. But I do not believe that in this case a security guard should have shot a truck driver in a TA truck stop over a parking issue that is something that can be resolved with the local police or the truck stop Management in no way should have security guard be allowed to carry a pistol in a public parking facility such as a TA truck stop or any other truck stop. because somebody’s getting killed over this or nearly lost her life over this I hope that truck drivers Sue’s the heck out of TA truck stops of America and that it teaches them a lesson about having a lunatic armed guard who doesn’t even take a drug test working in their facility with a firearm.
Hadley: You have no idea about firearms. The last word of your first sentence proves that. You state, “no way should have security guard be allowed to carry a pistol in a public parking facility such as a TA truck stop or any other truck stop.” And yet, you state, “I carry a 9mm….I will not get out of my truck anymore…..without my pistol.” You also mention, “a lunatic armed guard who doesn’t even take a drug test working in their facility with a firearm.” So, when and where were you required to take a drug test to carry your firearm? Just a thought, since you believe such a test should be taken.
Your run on sentences make what you have written, a puzzle to read. You have no idea what type of Oklahoma mandatory armed security officer training requirements are in place. And yet, you sir appear to know everything, about everything. The only two persons, whom were present during the incident really know what happened. Each of them will be interviewed during the investigation. I am sure, has not been completed as of yet. ‘Nam Combat Vet. U.S.M.C. MOS 2531 Semper Fi. OUT!!!!! Some of my training, if you are interested is listed as follows: Oklahoma State Certified Firearms Instructor, Oklahoma State Concealed Carry Instructor, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, Oklahoma Certified Commissioned Law Enforcement Officer, E.M.T. And, I almost forgot. Oklahoma State Certified Armed Security Officer since 2000. Been driving commercial vehicles since I was 18. Grandfathered in 1986. Which was the start of the CDL.
This is why TA, Petro, Flying J, & Pilot should get rid of the reserve parking. This is a scam to make money off of truckers. They already make money in their stores & their restaurants. Love’s don’t charge and they never have a problem with security guards shooting truckers either!
Oh well he gets a purple heart.
Accept for low profits, long hours, intermittent dangerous conditions what’s not to love about trucking? I have come to love and hate truck stops. I hate going to them but I love leaving. He should not have argued with someone with a gun. Dallas police kicked me out of a side street parking space last night, but he told me about another place I could park. Decent cop.
The issue to be addressed . The “guard “ used excessive force .on an unarmed individual. The guard should be charged. TA “security “ have been known to strong arm drivers and threaten drivers with firearms etc.
Number one, the gun should never have been brought into play. That guard should have withdrawn before it got violent. He could have gotten help from the police if it were really necessary. No freaking excuse.
I agree 100%
I’m thinking another Job opening for truck driver . Hmm sign on bonus here I come .
In all the reports and media attention nobody has mentioned the truck driver’s weapon and without that I don’t believe under any circumstances did the security guard need to pull his gun out until the trucker pulls out a weapon of his own it should be at best words and if the trucker refuses to move call the police and a wrecker security guard should be looking at jail bare minimum. And before you judge I am an active 2A supporter and an Oklahoma citizen. Lived there all my life.
Jake continue to post and show everyone just how ignorant you are
Thanks RL didn’t think anyone else noticed.
Exactly!
When more and more heat is applied to truckers in the form of draconian “Safety Culture” regulations and monitoring systems, and even powerful trucking companies are denied legislative voice, it becomes like a pressure cooker.
Sooner or later it’s going to pop.
Most “Safety Culture” regulations aimed at making the roadways safer have the exact opposite effect. This can be proven statistically as long as one does not cherry pick data to satisfy an agenda and sticks to a true scientific process
ELD did that. He could not move his truck, but did not pay for spot. Somebody else who reserved spot in advance arrived for parking and was complaining because there was no empty spots for him. Security guard found this guy and this is point where all started. ELD makes much more problems than to contribute.
” O.K. everybody who is tired and cranky @ 4:30 a.m. raise your hand ! “
the whole problem is those spots are usually prepaid reservations. i used them all the time. it’s basically a trespass. here’s my point. what if i parked my pickup in your driveway due to lack of parking on the street? who is at fault? me? you? i don’t care how tired you are. pre-plan your trip. if this guard was assaulted by this idiot, that’s a law broken. like it or not, this trucker was wrong.
Another person with common sense!
First of all a truck stop is for truck drivers. We spend enough money in these places that we shouldn’t be charged two-park. It just goes to show you the truck stops or just like our government greedy for money. It’s really sad dead-ass truck drivers go through enough BS out here worrying about are we going to get robbed a broken in to but the truck stop supposed to be a safe haven for truck drivers but now I see it is it. Is damned if I do damned if I don’t. It’s a no-win situation and it’s sad.
Typo. It’s really sad that truck drivers have to go through what they do
What a bunch of whiney, crying, entitled, sue-happy a-holes commenting here. Probably the exact type that managed to get himself shot over a parking spot.
You sound like one of those that would suck any dick your dispatcher told you to.
20 Years to life for attempted murder We need Trucker Strike For a week or two Maybe that will wake people up All you need is to shut down the Gas haulers to start with I think if you buy Fuel then you should not have to pay for Parking TA/Petro are greedy
That’s why they need to do a way with paid parking because of stupid $hit like that.
Don’t blame ELD for this. Shot by a dickhead security guard over something as trivial as this. Thankfully all we have to deal with here is imbecile car drivers taking up truck spaces and the occasional idiot heavy vehicle operator parking in a Thru-way. I do envy your truckstop facilities though.
A driver swung on me once in a fuel island about 9 years ago because I told him to move(he had been sitting in his truck at the pump for 40 minutes). He missed, I hit him back, he went down.
I was arrested for assault and spent 2 days in jail. 1 punch.
This dude friggen SHOT him in the chest! …police elected not to arrest him…lol.
Well first of all most companies reimburse company drivers for reserved/paid parking…I’ve seen a handful of places charge overall and as long as you pump 50gal of fuel or spend $15-20 in store you get validated and don’t have to pay as you leave lot! I personally don’t mind the pre paid reserve parking, if done properly it eliminates more problems than it causes, you know your plan and can follow it right to your shut down, instead of late night tired searching truck stop to stop praying for a spot!
Obviously truck stops get a little greedy with the amount of spots and $$…that being said I’ve read about and heard quite a few stories about drivers fighting over spots…escalating to extra violence knives/guns etc, which is silly but a little more understandable than having a lot security guard allow a confrontation to get to the point of someone losing their life, we don’t know if his life was threatened by a weapon or what, but I def don’t like hearing about these things and def shoulda called the law and a tow truck before getting into a fight!!
That’s it for me safe travels y’all, and we can change our industry brotherhood “1 person at a time!!”
Maybe it’s about time for parking to turn to a subscription based service like everything else. Then it would have been as simple as showing a membership card to verify if he should be parked in the spot.
It all about money, more spots are being reserved for money whereas truckers are fighting to make two ends meet, as trucks number increasing rapidly no parking is being increased, therefore it is government duty to provide safe parking as they pay lot of tax and fee to the government and there is federal saftey laws after them, so who will help them to carry those on safely ?
When I get to drive nights, I don’t have this problem. However if on day runs, if not shutdown by 5pm its hard to get a spot. Leaving avg of 2.5 hrs of drive untouched.
We all know that the TA probably has security cameras they will probably release that next when the cops are finished their investigation
Looks like the police are taking the guards side. All this reserved parking only started out for the trucker on his way to that location. Now all the trucks stops have them. Also they are increasing in number. The truck stops see as a way for a fast buck. There is just not enough parking spots for trucks. So truckers park where ever they can. The truck stops think we are rich, and are companies won’t pay for parking. Trucking used to be fun, now it’s just a pain in the butt. I’m glad I’m going to retire soon. You all can has this mess. Oh and by the way it’s only getting worse.
The police might be taking the guards side, but the guard is taking Sui-side. He took the room temperature challenge… And won! He shot himself at a gun range a few days later. Look it up.
What in the world! Over a parking spot you stop at a truck stop to eat take a shower and rest etc not to get shot over a damn parking spot wtf. My best wishes to the driver I hope he recovers
Only gonna get worse. And no, he shouldn’t have “just gone in and paid”. These fuel companies are now pumping OUR petroleum from under our feet, and selling it back to us, marked up between 40%-60%. It’s the same dishonesty we’re seeing with the freight brokers. We are being drained. Our corrupt, incompetent government has created every gallon of this pointless bs, now we’re turning on each other, because they’ve divided us.
ta sucks!! they are so greedy and that truck stop in ok city is a dump! some security ,i had my truck broken into at that stop.i quit buying any fuel or anything else at ta or petro, they even screw you out of shower’s with their new policy’s. i was buying at least 60 grand of fuel a year from them! i give my money to love’s and pilot anymore.
Thats a trashy TA and has been ever since I started going there in the beginning of the 90s… Another reason to not go there besides the lot lizzards and friends of “Lucille”
T.A/Petro, and Pilot/Flying J are vultures. The minute these Electronic logs came into play, they saw a way to squeeze more money out of drivers. The more scarce parking is in an area, the higher the percentage of “ parking spots” they reserve. In some areas more than half the lot is reserved. It use to be that you had to pay if you weren’t buying fuel, or otherwise spending any money at the location, but now you can buy $500 worth of fuel, and still be expected to pay for parking, because the free spots are taken up by drivers who may or may not have spent a dime there. It’s nothing short of extortion, and is the reason I only buy anything from these parasites when I absolutely can not find fuel anywhere else.
Stupid comment. If there were no ELD’s in these trucks it would be just that simple to go find another spot. Federal guidelines say stop and he did. Now the police want to start shooting truckers for trying to comply with there law not ours! TA need to be boycotted for this incident. They shouldn’t have payed parking at no truck stop. (N-TRAP-MENT) Just saying!
Getting shot over a park at 4 AM REALLY! These cops or whatever else you want to call them are doing to much. Boycott T/A ASAP!!!!!! P.S. Getting rid of eld’s ,will solve a lot of problems that truckers are faced with!
My company gives me personal conveyance. Federal law allows any empty off duty truck to do whatever it wants under PC. Except you can’t go to the shop. And you can’t move closer to the next shipper. You can do anything you want under PC except work. But 99% of companies won’t allow their drivers PC. Because they don’t want to burn the fuel and because we are slaves.
Hope the driver put himself in “on duty” status on. his logs before he got out to fight and gun grab….because that is physical activity, and considered by D.O.T. as working…… Just saying!
Drove at night for 17 years, never had a problem finding a parking space at 7:30 am
Hello. First nobody should be fatally shot over a parking space, by anyone. This is not a fight to the death scenario. Someone trying to kill me is that situation, and it should never have escalated to that. Second, the previous paid parking arrangement in my opinion worked better than reserved spaces. Everyone paid to park, first 4 hours were free. I paid once or twice over a 10 year period, but usually could circle the truck and get 6 hours of sleep. You would need to circle twice today for 10 hours, but you’re not that tired if you are willing to go out and come back in every 4 hours just to save the price of a meal.
We weren’t there so how can we comment without all of the unbiased FACTS ? 🤔. I’d keep an eye on this incident to see how things unfold . Facts are more accurate than speculation. Stress is a powerful thing for anyone . 😔
If it got to intense for the security guard he should of just walked away and call the cops and let them handle it is that easy. Why rent a cop tried to be tuff.
Driver has said that the security guard started pulling his lines to his trailer and that’s when he stepped out to stop him and the fight started.
And of COURSE he got away with it! Bastard!
No he didn’t… The security guard committed suicide by shooting himself at a gun range a few days later, look it up.
TA immediately distanced themselves from the “Third Party Security Company”, however, they contracted with them to provide a service. I’m sure Corporate properly vetted them and had TA listed as additional insured on their liability.
I wonder, who was the next higher bid for this contract?
Can’t comment right or wrong without all the facts and even then the facts may be skewed. HOWEVER this whole parking BS and how we have to have “Security” in our own realm is a sad sign of the times. I hate to admit but we all need to step up to the plate and unite together. Talk, help, encourage, communicate, get on the CB, socialize, criticize, question, question authority, each other, be involved. Nothing worse than that guy with the headset on 24/7 in a world of their own. We have left an impression that some of Society labels us as ignorant, culpable, pesty, and a cash cow at worst.
Furthermore, why do we have to relinguish our ID just to buy fuel ??
Talk about discrimination. Oh I hear it everyday that some Driver drove off…blah blah blah. Now I’m supposed to do the job of the retailer too ?
Not surprising at all is the retailers are still getting frauded daily by Companies and Drivers with pre-cleared fuel cards. So giving my ID has not solved the problem.
If you are going to sell fuel you must have a section to park. Pilot, Flying J, etc., broke the businesses by offering drive through fuel with a 2 minute warning to get the hell out. If everyone would just park on the Interstate this could be resolved. TA does have parking, but the jerk-offs patrolling the lots have no business carrying guns. There needs to be a law that companies must provide parking based on their volumes.
The guard who shot the trucker killed himself a few days after the shooting after he had a second interview with the police
I have a rule. If a truck stop needs an armed rent-a-cop then I have no business being there. I won’t stop again, ever!
It is bad that a Security Guard (who is NOT law enforcement) is so scared that he/she needs to kill someone over something so stupid! That shows some extremely low intelligence/mentality!
According to the driver who was shot. The guard was not in uniform, and he was only taking a 30. Why pay a full day for a 30? Now we know why drivers take it at the pumps.
All commercial driver is deemed to be under the umbrella of the federal government. That means he or she is a part of the federal government,
That means he should not been shot by any civilian. Especially in a federal safe haven
That civilian should be changed with a federal offence.
I firmly believe that rent-a-cops should never be allowed to carry a gun until the job actually requires it and they have the training to carry responsibly. I just do not see “parking lot attendant” in the carry class..
I’ve had “security” knock on my door and tell me I was in a “reserved” spot…since I was already in the nude I axed if I could get dressed before climbing out with my flashlight…they agreed…we shined the light under the truck and trailer and the was NOT any reserved markings…hmmmmm.
I axed how sure were they about the “reserved” part and they said well the paint musta wore off. I moved for them but called their BS as they just wanted $$$. Parked behind a Dennys and didn’t have far to go in the AM for breakfast. Ya gotta watch for the corrupt dillholes.
I don’t have a problem with truck stops charging for a reserved spot, however, there should be better management of those spots or due away with the program altogether. I work my butt off to get into a truck stop but sometimes have to settle for a rest area. Parking at any truck stop is a nightmare even with the best of planning ahead. The reserved parking should be sectioned off and not just a couple slots by the building and someone should be out there to check trucks in as they arrive. That or make it a free for all, whoever pulls in first gets a spot. If it stays the way it is with the rules we’re going to see more altercations about parking. I personally think that since the government has enforced such rules that forces nearly everyone to be off the road for 10 hours at a minimum then they should create more safe parking facilities that include food availability and showers.
Instead of arguing about paying for parking spots, why don’t we do what the law and government allow us to do to get it changed? You know, send someone to the White House to lobby for us? I have been trucking only for a year now and don’t know what resources are available for us, but if I looked, I’m sure I could find something/somebody that works for us truckers.
We should be asking for free parking on the side of the road every 100 miles or so. Wouldn’t that be nice? Use Eminent Domain to take a small amount of property from the landowners, (and of course pay for it), and make rest stops for us truckers out of that land. That way, everyone would be safer. Boy, wouldn’t President Trump be popular with the truckers then!!
So, as Forrest Gump would say, “That’s all I got to say about that.”
So glad I decided to get out of this business. Screw trucking, screw these ingrates, and I hope that security guard gets the Coronavirus and is bedridden for the rest of his miserable life.
For all anyone knows, the guy was going in to purchase the spot, and he stopped him.
Too many questions here.
Too many guns held by the wrong people here.
INCLUDING COPS.
I’ve noticed more and more TA’s are adding armed security what’s up with that? Are TA’s the hood of truck stops?