Truck Stop/Rest Area Safety

Which terminal?

I remember your username from the Browncafe site. I was on there a couple years ago.

 

99% of all the people that are killed are killed by somebody they know. don't have any friends and you should be fine.

 

I know, we're only in the second day of the year, but I nominate this for best quote of the year!

 

and guns dont kill people...people kill using guns...the laws veri from state to state..but i do carry a glock 27.. 40 cal in my sleeper...never have had an issue

 

Here's my .02:

While I can agree with Harvey's sentiment on being armed in the truck, (in my younger days grandddad's old double barrel Stevens 12 gauge rode with me) I still wouldn't do it, strictly from a legal standpoint. Use Chicago as the example, they won't recognize even a concealed carry permit, thus, having something concealed in the truck becomes the kind of crime they give you state funded vacation time for. I can't remember the exact circumstances, but I'd heard of an incident in NYC where someone jumped on the running board of a truck with a gun, the driver shot him, and though the bad guy still had the gun in his hand when the cops arrived, they crucified the driver and he got time for it. You don't want that.

The best thing I can tell you is this: BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS!!! People that have told me they must have a weapon to feel safe are often the same ones who ignore common sense when it comes to where they park. For example, if an area has all the hallmarks of a ghetto, it's pitch dark and all the windows have bars on them, why, then, would you be stupid enough to park there?

I always park in a well lit area. After dark, if I'm climbing out of my truck, I sit in the seat and have a cigarette and look around first. When I'm out of the truck doing anything, IE fueling, I keep well aware of what's going on around me. I avoid parking in any major metro area. Foolproof? No, there's always that possibility that something could happen, but you cut down your chances substantially. Hope this helps!

 

OK, I have been a driver for about 5 years now. All the weaponry aside now. I beleive 99.9 % of the time, especially in truckstops and rest areas. If you don't go looking for trouble, trouble will not find you. I have yet to have a lot lizard knock on my truck, maybe I'm too #### ugly or I throw out the unwelcome mat whatever, that has never been a problem for me. I can not confirm or deny whether I carry a firearm. When I park loaded at a truckstop or rest area I attempt to park in an area that has some lighting. I also use a sturdy pad lock on my box just as a deterent. It may not stop a determined theif but it will stop the small time idiots. I also try to back up to the truck behind me as close as possible without hitting him at night to prevent someone from having room to work on getting in the box. Use a cab curtain. I put mine up as soon as I park and that seems to present a do not disturb look about the truck. So far it has worked. Stay off the CB looking for "company" and "nose candy" that's just assinine. Outside the truck. Walk to the building and back. Pay attention to what is going on around you but don't walk like you're looking for action. Stay focused and relaxed, stick to business and you will be fine. Again, trouble out there is rare but you can find yourself in trouble at the local shopping mall and in my oppinion more dangerous than truckstops. This is a job we are doing and it seems to me trouble comes to drivers that are doing something they are not suppose to be doing in the first place.