How to be safe trucking

[SevenOfNine]

I wouldn't carry a gun in the truck. Even with a weapons permit most carriers will not allow it. Some places you might be delivering at will not allow guns on the premises either. Also so gun laws vary from state to state.

A good tire thumper is a good legal choice of a weapon or a heavy duty long handled flash light.

Never give out any info on the CB or in a truckstop about what your carrying or where your going to stop for the night at.

For the ladies......Never tell anyone that your alone in your truck. Take a man's jacket and drape it on the back of one of the seats. It might make someone think you have a partner in the truck. Never tell anyone on the CB your alone.

For the men... Now as dumb as this sounds,some men will tell you how annoying it can be to be woke up at zero dark hour by a lot lizard banging on the door. You might be able to deter them by hanging a ladies bra by draping it on the driver's seat.

Never open your door to anyone banging on the door that you do not know. Don't even roll the window down but an inch if you feel you need to say something.
Even if you think your invincible,you will hit the deck quick with one squirt of pepper spray.

Try to park your truck at night as close to the truckstop and in a lit area if you can.
Avoid parking at rest areas or along side of the roads if you can. If you do,don't get out of the truck.(a porta potty is a good investment when you get your own truck)

Once parked for the night try to limit your trips to the truck stop or rest area buildings.If you really need to go,carry a heavy flashlight with you,like one of those metal cased bar flashes. The use of the light can help deter a possible troublemaker or you can use the flash as a weapon.

Always be aware of your surroundings when you get out of the truck. Look around,never walk with you head down,you can't see a thing if your staring at the ground.

Make sure when you stop for the night that someone knows where you are stopped at. Be it a family member or your dispatcher. Give them a call on your cell if you have one or call them from the truckstop. It might sound like an over kill,but it could mean alot if you need help.

These are just a few tips I can think of.

[Snowflake]

Some good points seven.

I don't know how to say this without sounding like a d***head, but here goes.

First off, us LTL'ers constantly get screwed by the TL drivers parking in the front row. We usually stop for less than 1 hour, and are patrons of where we go. We end up having to park in the back row, and walk through the dark parking lot just to get something to eat or a soda to drink, because of (a lot of them are non patrons) TL drivers sleeping in the front rows.

I sometimes pull through the pumps, but then I screw somebody else that needs to get fuel and get moving.

So I guess what I am trying to say is that if you're a night time LTL driver like me, you just have to be a bad@$$ when the time comes, because if I carry a tire thumper or my maglight, it is very likely to get forgotten and left behind.

[Cerberus]

well said seven.