Question about street smarts?

Back in the mid 90s, I was driving along I20 EB. Tired as hell, middle of the night. Stopped into the last pickle park to the west of Columbia, hoping to find a spot to catch a nap. Surprisingly, there were only a handful of truck in there (should have known that there was something wrong, shouldn't I?). Grabbed a spot, popped the brakes, jumped into the sleeper, the pillow was so sweet that it stung.

Heard a knock on my sleeper. God, was I angry. Normally, I don't get that mad unless I see a used car salesman walking up to me smiling. I was pissed. I come out of the sleeper and the guy outside started backing up. "Ummm...ah....ummmm....I just wanted to know if you wanted some...." With every word, I got angrier. "Sorry to bother you", and the guy scampered away. I watched him walk away and he went to a crowd of 40 guys standing in a group.

(gulp!)

A driver comes on the radio, "There sure are a whole bunch of good buddies in this pickle park."

is that what all of those guys are? There has to be at least 40 of them! No wonder the lot was near empty! I'm on their turf!

I put my shoes on, got behind the wheel, and drove on to Columbia.

Note to self: you know something's wrong when there's only 4 trucks in the parking lot on the east coast, be it rest area or truck stop.

 

There's quite a few things you can do.

I learned years ago not to wear team jerseys. NASCAR isn't big in the inner cities, but certain football, basketball and baseball jerseys are used by the gangs. Don't wear any team jerseys in unfamiliar areas.

If you go into a bar, LEAVE THE WOMEN ALONE. Have a couple drinks and get out. Don't close the bar down.

If you are in a dark industrial area, lower your landing gear and pull your 5th wheel pin. If someone is going to rob you inside your truck, they can disable you by pulling the red brake line. Keep your interior lights off (adds to the mystery). If anything goes down, STAY IN YOUR TRUCK. Don't get out to kick butt. Run over any person, any car (I don't care if the would be thug has his kids in the car) anything that tries to prevent you from leaving. Don't let a bleeding heart get you killed. Hit em with the intentions to kill them. They're intending to kill you.

 

If there's no security cameras, throw the body in a dumpster & then leave the area.

 

Several years, got into Miami about 2 am, parked down the street from a produce house near the market, I was to deliver at 5 am.Fairly well lit area. Got in sleeper, felt trailer rocking. Not thinking I jumped out the drivers door, went to back of trailer. Lock was OK, what the ...? When I turned around, they were climbing out of my truck, had gotten nearly everything. The thugs had gotten on my ICC bumper, and shook the trailer, knowing I would come see what it was.When I went back, they came around the other side of the truck, got in easily as I had not locked door.Half asleep, but no excuse.
Later that morning I told a city police officer, he asked me was I hurt, I said no, he said hope I learned a lesson, would not write a report for me.
Another afternoon I was in a bad part of Miami [Little Cuba] that had people all over walking around in the streets.Halfway lost, I pulled into a convenience store parking lot to look at my city map, did not get out of my truck. I could see a police station, but as I was looking at my map, a city cruiser pulled up. He did not ask any questions, just said " I do not know what you are doing here, but you need to leave now". I starting to tell him I was lost, he did not let me finish, just said' Go somewhere, anywhere, just do not stay here, not safe".I left.
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One more thing:
There are certain truckstops that are ran by drug dealers. The older hags will work during the daytime. The younger ones will be there at night. They will swarm the parking lot when the sun sets like a pack of piranha. The dealer/pimp will be standing in the middle of the lot supervising. Don't want to be bothered? Move or lay low and keep your curtains closed. Don't waste your time calling the cops...odds are, the cop that's on duty is on the take. And don't call the news, they will broadcast your name and truck number.

 

the guy picking up the dumpster, if he sees the stiff, will keep his mouth shut and dump the perp into the landfill. If a cop finds the perp and knew the guy to be trouble, they will look the other way.

 

Sometimes I think we need bigger dumpsters.

 

WOW.

Paranomia, comes to mind.

Do so many drivers have these problems these days?
I certainly don't.

 

Well I personally used to carry pepper spray it is small enough to be on you and not noticed. Things do actually happen out there but always follow your gut and then have a backup plan.. The thing is maybe act like you dont hear them wait till they leave and then after the area is clear check the truck?