Truck safety at rest/truck stops

I've had fuel stolen from me twice. Once I'm guessing it went right into the tanks of the truck sitting next to me. They took about an 1/8th of a tank.

Another time I was in my truck at this yucky truck stop in south Orlando on OBT when someone came by and checked to see if my door was unlocked.

If it's feels sketchy but I have to stop for the night, I run my seatbelt through the handle of the door and buckle it. (on both sides). Learned that from a female driver.

 

I have only been doin this OTR thing 7 years,and the only problem I have had is folks taking my Bunji straps danging outside..(flatbedder) If they would just ask me,I would give em a few.... Oh yeah,and a lizard once knocked and tried to open the door,which was locked,so......ya know,common sense friend..

 

Fellow driver made wrong turn down street in bad part of city, while checking map for a way out of the area crackhead jumped in passenger seat with gun and took his wallet with a lot of money in it, he could have lost his life...MAKE SURE YOU KEEP YOUR DOORS LOCKED!

 

Ive had other truck drivers mess with my loads more than some random person, back when I drove reefer and hauled ice cream often I had my reefer turned to the off position a few times at truck stops. Ruined a load of Ben and Jerry's premium ice cream pints once while I was sleeping, that was hell to go thru on my end. Best protection is just to do your job and pre trip/day trip/post trip all the time so you know when or where things may have been messed with document and call it in. Strategic parking helps when parked as well.

 

That's messed up!
I would never mess with another person's load, that's just wrong.

 

If you're going to be outside your truck for any amount of time, draw your curtains closed. If they aren't sure if someone's home, they look for another truck where they are sure no one's home.

The experts tell you to quickly give up whatever the thief asks for. But if you are able to read people and are confident in your self defense capabilities, you can often get the thief to 'take his eyes off the ball' so to speak. If he's pointing a gun or knife at you, play the scared act, keep your head sorta down but your eyes up and out, hand him the wallet for example but trembling drop it or somehow hand it around the side whatnot to get him looking at that as you get ready to sidestep and attack any weak spot he has exposed (like a crushing hook into his ribs, as he bends forward from the pain, quickly upppercut to his face)as you push his arm up that is holding the weapon. Twist the weapon out of his hand and toss it further twisting his arm maybe even getting on top of him and getting him into an arm bar and break his arm out of the shoulder socket-- he's done.

 

Play the scared act? Who will be acting? If someone is robbing you using a gun, you better be 100% sure that you can get that gun away from him/her, or you could escalate the situation into a world of hurt..for you. It's easy to tell yourself beforehand that you are going to react a certain way, but in the real world when you are surprised by a robber and the adrenaline starts pumping, those plans can go to crap, and fast! Too many times someone tried to defend himself by being a hero and got killed doing it. Best advice to myself? Carry little cash on me. Leave the rest in the truck while I am in a TS, etc.. In the real world, $50.00 and or a credit card is not worth the principle of "I'm not going to let this sum' bit-- get away with stealing my money".......and getting killed.

 

this is anyone's first line of defense....i worked with a trucker when i first started out, when we were at the truck stops i locked the doors...he yelled at me, he said if someone wants to get in they will break the window and make a mess....i said, "so what"....he yelled at me more..."NEVER LOCK THE DOORS...let them get in/out, and thier gone"...!!

to that, i will say, ALWAYS KEEP your doors locked, while you're driving, at a stop sign, truck stop, rest area, etc,etc....

another person once told me as well, "keep a dummy wallet with you, and maybe all of 20 one dollar bills.....(to make it look like a lot of money)...hand that over to the crackheads......maybe also keep a record of the serial numbers as well and hand that over to the cops.....

but in any event, our personal security starts with AWARENESS of our surroundings at all times, and never let our guard down......even that great looking half naked chick can be a set up for a mugging/hijacking....or at the very least........she screams rape, and she's only 15.....!!! try and get outta that one......

 

A 1" sinch strap between the door handles is a good start.

also keep your side boxes locked. Locking fuel caps are a must too.

I have been working on a way to hook a car alarm up to trailer boxes, still workin on that though.

I had a guy try jacking my truck once in Seattle, we were sitting on a hill. He got up on the passenger side step and tried reaching in through the window to open the door, I casually let off the brake and let the truck roll up to about 20mph and locked em all up hard, Launched him off the step into the back of a parked car.

That calmed him on down plenty.

Also a great tip, always check your load before you leave the truck stop or rest area, I have had people steal straps and bungee cords off of loads. as well as an oversize load sign, and some led tail lights.

 

even aiming for a telephone pole helps "calm them down plenty"...it's the headaches they get afterwards....