stuck in Memphis- safe areas?

That t-shirt comment was too funny. I stayed at the Pilot off 78 yesterday/early evening with the subway. It was a rathole but I didn't feel threatened at any point while I was there. I did notice an armed guard when I left, think it was an actual cop but not sure. Parking is very limited and cramped, made blind siding interesting after pulling a full shift. My biggest gripe though would be waiting about 2 hrs for a shower starting at 1030 along with a few others. It was by far the most poorly organized excuse for management I've ever seen anywhere. I can only imagine what kind of stuff takes place in W. Memphis judging by cb chatter and the amount of people there. I never get worried anywhere though really, just keep my doors locked and curtains pulled. If a panhandler or anybody approaches me I tell them if they are not a driver then get the **** away from me before I call the cops, before they get too close, also give them the crazy eyes and put my hand in pocket to rdy my knife if needed. On another note I passed my first dot inspection just east of Stanton last night.

 

My company has a terminal in Memphis, so that's where I sleep if I get stuck there. But one night I stopped at the Walmart in West Memphis to shop and my 14 ran out while I was there. So I figured I'd just spend the night right there at the Walmart.

About 3:30 I get a knock on my door and there's a security guard there telling me to leave. Apparantly, it's parking for shopping only, not sleeping. Who ever heard of that at a Walmart? All the other Walmarts I know of with truck parking could care less how long you stay there.

Just thought I'd pass that along. They have signs up now saying two hour parking limit. They do enforce it.

 

Yep, many have started enforcing that for the last year. Usually it just depends on the quard, but most of the time if you park out of the way and in the white areas (after hours) they usually won't harass you.

Never had a problem at the Pilots in Memphis it's just really cramped, but there's also a BP with a huge dirt lot on the 78 somewhere around Goodnight (I think) that I use sometimes that not many notice.

 

You know what, it's amazing that they still let trucks park there at all. There were trash cans about every 20 feet, yet the place was always a disaster. There are many Wal-mart's that have a No-truck policy unless you're delivering there. Drivers need to learn respect for the facility, no matter where they are.

 

That place is a three ring circus. It's crawling with skanky looking hookers, and they bang on your truck all night long, even if you have your curtains closed. I've seen cops chasing people on foot through there with guns drawn. There is no way in hell I would ever park there. My company has a terminal up the street from that place with enough room for a dozen trucks and it's always full, so I end up getting stuck in that neighborhood quite frequently. What I do is head southeast on 78, exit 6 in Mississippi, the Pilot you're talking about is pretty close to the border so we're only talking 7 miles, there is a Flying J down there where you can get some rest without being bothered.

 

If I have to go anywhere in West Memphis, it would have to be the northern most Pilot, There are two of them. The one to the north, just off the I40 exit, not the I55, the one that used to be a Williams, and has a Wendy's in it, (btw, Wendys there won't honor your payback card) seems to be a little more quiet and laid back than the others.

 

Good. I used to go in and shop there, I stopped going there. The place gets clogged so bad there is no room to turn around so you can leave.
You should just go in buy your stuff and move on. Maybe someone else want to go in.

 

Yeah, I really think it's perception more than anything anymore. I've never had any problems there as long as I don't eat anything.

But for some reason, still, I do whatever it takes to not stop in W. Memphis. When I'm driving through I stay hammered down and don't look back.

 

I've stayed in W.Memphis a number of times with no problems and a couple of times at the both Pilots and the Loves on 78 with like results.

BUT! I just talked to one of our driver's while waiting for a load the other day and he was telling me that he had been mugged my two guys at knife point when he was at the Loves off of Hwy 78 down there on the South end of town. They jumped him when he was walking back to his truck while he was between a couple of trailers.