Self Defense in Dangerous Areas

which truck stop was this? I grew up in Bakersfield most of my life and I actually work a dedicated right outside of Bakersfield now, I would recommend not going to the little truck stops, I normally hit the TA in Wheeler Ridge or the J just north of Bakersfield, I never see lot lizards or they at least have never bothered me and I sleep here at least once a week. There are some other decent locations that are fairly quiet in the area, one being a lot right next door to a McDonalds a few trucks park at time to time. Next time hit me up and I can give you some decent places to park.


I keep a hammer next to my seat and a broken cb antenna, that antenna can whip pretty hard. My company says no to guns as well, I have thought about getting a crossbow, never saw that one in the rules

 

I got a parking ticket 2 weeks ago in Long Beach picking up a load at Yussen Logistics, I was out of time and tired so I found a spot where there was no red and no hydrant, woke up to a $100 ticket stuck to my window with comment "not between the signs"

 

When I ran OTR, we had a stop in Queens right off Queens Blvd and the customer was at the end of a dead end street which required blindsiding onto the street off of the Queens Blvd service road all the way down to the customer. At night the street was deserted and fairly easy to back onto. During the day it was only wide enough to get one single truck through because of cars parked on both sides. So our dispatch instructions told us to arrive there between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. My first time there, myself and another driver were awoken around 3:00 a.m. by a cop who told us it wasn't safe to sleep there. We told him we'll just have to take our chances because daytime traffic makes it nearly impossible to get in there. Nothing ever happened in fact a few trips up there later myself and another driver walked down to a convenience store on the corner to fill our thermoses for our morning coffee and felt perfectly safe. I've been warned about a lot of places I've parked for the night and never had any problems. That being said, I would like the freedom to not have to worry about losing my job or my freedom in certain states and cities to carry my gun just in case. Sometimes, crap can hit the fan in even the "best" neighborhoods.

 

These threads seem to keep popin up every so often---The unfortunate fact is trouble can happen anywhere--and in reality YOUR best defense is your own mind---PAY ATTENTION--and even more important--no matter where you go--do your job--and stick to that.....
I have pulled a reefer ALL my life and believe me--I have been to every ####hole in EVERY major city that everyone complains about--and I have NEVER had a problem!
And frankly---IMHO--99%of the stories you hear--are just that--trucker stories--
When I was younger I used to get a kick outta checkin drivers on this--especially out west--someone would start in on the east beach--and the Bronx or Brooklyn especially(I cut my teeth runnin produce up there--BTW)and Id lay back and listen--and then tell them I was goin to Hunts Point for the first time--and ask them for directions(since they were so well versed on the area)and then after a minute or two of listening to them make up how to get in there--Look at em and spit and go--You aint NEVER been there have ya? LMAO
Anyway--gettin back to the OP--ifn you feel the need--IMHO--like stated earlier--the best weapon to carry is a 4/6Dcell maglite--perfectly legal--many uses-(from thumpin tires--to breakin seals--to lightin up trl lock at night)and NO one has ever questioned me when I get out of the truck with it in my hand-and makes a hell of a dent in somebody--ask any street cop

 

Normally I run 8-10 hours a day and if I only have 1 hour left I'm definitely looking for a place to park. Three times in the last year I ran it down to minutes to go with the EOBR barking at me that I'm running out of hours of service, and each time ended up finding a place to park (once pulling into a rest stop at 6:00 am and waiting for a space to clear, once next to a country road in a wide turnout in Texas, and once next to a county road in a wide turnout in Wyoming). When I get down to 3 hours to go I normally take a rest stop and start consulting my Truck Stop/Rest Area guide and plan exactly where I want to stop with an hour or so left on my clock.

In some states, like California, there are frequently very wide areas that trucks can park at exits, well off the road. Especially out in the desert there can be areas big as a small truck stop with several trucks lined up and parked. In other states (like Arizona) the on/off ramps are often very tight to try and park and the cops will hassle you to get moving. I keep updating my truck stop book with those spots as I see them.

If I don't see anything in my book that is workable with my hours then I'll get on Google Maps and start looking for Walmarts or any parking lot at a big store that might work.

 

I'd like to add that while truckers used to carry wads of 100 dollar bills to pay for fuel, today it's pretty rare to see cash flashed around fuel desk counters anymore. Truckers just aren't the target rich environment for crooks like they used to be in that regard. However, pay attention to your surroundings and you'll be just fine.

 

Look all of this advice is great if we all lived in a war zone or if all the truck stops were in Detroit or Memphis but the truth is that you can't worry about this stuff, everywhere we go is dangerous, there is always some nut case, mad trucker or someone looking to harm others everywhere we go and what we do is dangerous. I have been robbed at gun point, I was not worried as much of that as being run over by some distracted idiot in a truck flying through a fuel isle while texting to his wife (yes that did actually happen),

As said, be aware of your surroundings, don't be afraid to say hello and make someone notice you in another truck and watch where you walk.

 

More often than not, I try to park about an hour away from my delivery, get up 1 1/2 hours before my appointment androll in. That way, I'm not scrambling for a place to park. Mind you, it doesn't always work that way. I delivered to a place in Chicago awhile back and they have a staging area where I could park. It was a dark lot and not ideal, but it was all I had. Sure, there were Securitas guards on site, but what good is a female guard getting paid cheap wages going to do if something goes down? I was on the offramp to the place and on the phone with my wife and told her where I was going. She asked if I was locked and loaded. I said, "Of course".

She never sounded sexier.

 

Quick note on stun guns and pepper sprays: Stun guns and Tasers are illegal in NY, NJ, MA, Philly and Chicago. Restricted in IL - cannot have in vehicle except locked in trunk - use only in home. WI requires a CCW and so does MI - both states may not allow in vehicle. Pepper sprays are limited in size and strength in WI, MI, NJ, NY and some other states also. Strengths and sizes allowed vary. Better to defend yourself, but can get in some trouble if you violate the law.



Restore America. Anyone remember what freedom felt like?

 

I carried a one piece hatchet made of steel, an ice pick, and can of hornet spray.
The hatchet has one side a sharp blade and the other a hammer head. Used it as a tire thumper also.