Mods why did you move my post? Those are legitimate questions from a new driver. Now, it's not going to be where it's supposed to be.
Yeah, I love real quiet areas to sleep, like abandoned gas stations/shopping centers and those small rest areas in Tx. that you see on 2 lane roads. BUT, I have to tell you, you are a sitting duck wherever you sleep. The bad guy knows you are confined to a small area behind the seats. He can shoot you, gas you through the vents or call you out on a fake pretense. HOWEVER, he doesn't know if you are armed or not, right? Or maybe have a closed circuit security cam rolling. You're better off in a crowded area like a truck stop or shippers lot etc.
I think this was the case recently at the corner of Route 50 and Interstate 495 in Prince George's County, MD. The incident was actually on Route 50 east bound towards the Chesapeake Bay and Ocean City. A four wheeler fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into the back of a truck, almost got three fourths of his car underneath the truck. He died at the scene but the driver got a ticket for parking on the shoulder. The excuse the driver gave was that his brake warning light came on in the truck and he pulled over to check on things; a few minutes before the driver slammed into him. I think the cops thought he was parking on the side of the road for a rest and did not buy that story.
While there is something to be said about staying in a T/S or rest area ... sometimes it's nice to stay at a motel ... the Red Roof Inn in Winchester, Virginia has truck parking in the rear area of their parking lot in a business area that's not run down. I think it's Exit 313A on I 81.
HFC I have noticed that many T/S's have a motel/hotel within walking distance. When on the road I stay at a hotel when I'm on a 34 reset or if the truck will be in the shop overnight. The rest of the time I'm in the truck.
Thanks everybody! I've always wondered where truckers actually pull over and sleep. Now, I have a better idea. WHich is important to me because I'm not that big at 5'11" and 165lbs. I am not going to intimidate many people with my size. Anybody care to answer how far apart truck stops are, on average?
It just depends on the neighborhood, if you do OTR long enough you will learn which neighborhoods to avoid of you want stress-free sleep. On-ramps on any Interstate (away from the big cities) in Minnesota, Iowa, SD, ND, MO, IL I feel perfectly safe. Just use common sense. If the shoulder ain't wide enough for you to be totally to the right side of the fog line, don't park there. South side of Chicago is a usually no-no, done it before more than a few times. I would rather have the piece of mind parking somewhere safe 20 miles away than be woken up @3am by a drug dealer, the guy trying to sell gold chains, a crack-#####, or worse. Gary/Lake Station, IN truck stops has always had a reputation for being iffy. I've never had a problem but usually try to stay in the well-let areas of truck stop if i have to. I wouldn't take my chances on the streets though. Sometimes I park at a shipper/receiver if I know they have enough room and are in a safe neighborhood. Just plan your eating and restroom activities accordingly, not many places are open 24/7 West Memphis, AR is a nasty area, even during the day. Slept their once at night, never again. The Petro there has security, that ain't saying much. Baltimore, DC, and Philly are no-no's if you don't know the area, and if you want a truck stop get there early. New york City area goes without saying I think. Just try to do your research. The truck stops within the Dallas/Ft worth area ( I mean those small ones with maybe 20 spots or less) that are scattered throughout the freeways are pretty crime infested. If you get stuck in Los Angeles area for more than a day its best to just backtrack to the Big truck stops on the far east side (Ontario, Fontana, etc). I wouldn't take any chances there unless i know its a safe neighborhood. Sometimes that on ramp out in the country with hardly any traffic, parking at the shipper/receiver, or parking at those DOT scales that are never open will get you a better night's sleep than being in the truck stop and hearing air dryers going off all night. just my $.02
A driver at a tanker co. I used to drive for was in the Gary In. shop. He slipped and fell out of the truck, knocked himself out. The mechanics stole his wallet,phone,charger, cb,tv, cleaned the truck out, at the TA. I,m still at my winter job, I figured in spring there would be a decent job out there. Anyway south side Chicago had 21 people shot sat. night. We travel the inner city streets, the corner gang members don,t bother us. They problebly know, we want them to aproach the truck.
That's disgusting. So from what I've read so far OTR living does present some danger. What do you mean they don't bother us? Why don't they bother you?
