personal safety

I'm not a current truck driver, Yet!! Working on it though. I've traveled the country with a band in a tour bus, and frequented truck stops, rest areas, etc. across the U.S. We usually parked along side trucks in the parking area of truck stops to stay the night. I'm also a former Police Officer of 17 years. During about 10 years of traveling, we only had one incident. We got off at a dumpy little store with fuel pumps, because we let ourselves get too low on fuel, and had to stop, instead of our usual major chain truck stop. One of our guys got robbed inside the store with the cashier, by one of the local crackheads.....................While I always had a firearm on our bus and have a CCW permit, good in about 38 states, it seems that Firearms are frowned upon by most of the trucking industry. I know many truckers who do carry, but many avoid it, because of going into Canada, military bases, etc. Our band played several military bases, and simply left our firearms at the gate with the guard. I've never been to Canada, so I don't know the situation, other than they don't allow you to take firearms into Canada. That being said, I have had some training in knife fighting and defensive tactics. Not the ultimate fighter guy, but able to take care of myself. I'm planning on carrying a couple of good blades, and the best possible Pepper Spray. ( I was a Pepper Spray Instructor, and had to be sprayed numerous times.... it HURTS) Please understand, NONE OF THESE THINGS ARE 100% EFFECTIVE OR FOOLPROOF!!! Your tactics, safety decisions, location, etc. make up for the vast majority of your personal safety. I've found that staying in most truck stops is relatively safe, but there are some where you would not want to stay. Watch closely and observe your surroundings and the activities going on. A place occuppied by sleaze bags, hookers, and vagrants should tell you what to expect. Care should be taken in darkness and in secluded areas. Use your commons sense, and ask other truckers in the area. You'll find alot of truckers on this site are very willing to give their advice from experience. Listen to them.

 

I've made some drops at night that would curl your hair. Those drops should have been put on daylight only. But I'll tell what my company has told all of us drivers. First you've got to be aware of your surroundings. Watch all around as far as you can. Avoid any situations that might get you into trouble you can not control. I always stayed to myself when unloading. Second if you're robbed let them have it. We used to say if we were robbed we'd even help the robber start the truck. But that's a joke of course. But no property is worth your life. That's the view point from a oil company hauling gasoline and where they forbid us to carry any weapons. But we still had a few on the truck. A good tire thumper is good as well as a 6 battery flashlight. But avoidance is best.

When I was on the road I'd always lock the truck all the time. I'd try to park in lighted areas and along with other trucks. But no place is safe and your guard has to be up all the time. Just remember that there are thousands of drivers that nothing happens to them but you hear that one because it might be newsworthy.

I'm sure there will be more drivers that will come on and help.

 

GasHauler you are right on the money! The use of common sense is the best defense there is.

 

i don't carry any weapon of any sort cause then it would be assault with a deadly weapon. even if it self defense. it's all about just cntrolling the situation around you and follow your instincts. in 17 years i have never had a problem or situation that i have not felt comfortable in.

 

Exactly! Mind your own business, keep to yourself, don't be an idiot and stay in well lit areas.

 

Don't be an idiot? OMG, I am SO screwed...

 

Yeh, what they said. Common sense is your first defence.Unless you live in an area where you don't lock doors or observe strangers, you already know what you need to know. If you don,t have common sense, we can't help you.

 

Even in the truck stops we like to avoid dark areas or the back rows of the big ones. Avoid areas where you are concealed from view by those around you. Don't walk between trucks, walk in the roads between rows where you are in plain view etc. This type for thinking goes for customer lots as well. I keep the doors on my truck locked at all times whether I'm in it or not, whether we are driving or not. I also lock my trailer when ever it is loaded. I use regular padlocks which are not going to stop a determined thief, but they deter the opportunist a lot more than a plastic seal by itself.