Driver Lifestyles

Off-Road Safety: Just as Important as On-Road Safety

You've all heard the horror stories before: a trucker makes a stop to gas up, grab some food, or pick up a thing or two at a truck stop.  As he's walking across the poorly-lit parking lot, he's assaulted and robbed.  It's not something anyone wants to experience, yet it's something everyone in the industry needs to be aware of. 

This is not to say that truck stops are all lawless dens of iniquity; nothing could be further from the truth.  At the same time, however, things happen--and they seem to happen more to folks who've let their guard down.  Because of this, it's important to make sure that you're aware of your surroundings and to take some steps to ensure your own safety as well as the safety and security of your load. 

That's right, I said your load--imagine you've stopped off to fuel up and get ready for a haul.  You're inside for, say, 15 or twenty minutes, and when you come outside,  you think for a moment, "Where did I park?"  It's then that you realize your truck, along with its entire load, is gone.  While this sort of thing probably isn't necessarily common, the mere fact that it's been reported in the media recently tells me that this happens more than one might expect--and that's precisely the point. 

So, what can you do to ensure that you're as safe as possible at the truck stop?  Much of the advice I could impart seems terribly simple:

Where are you?  In case something happens and you have to call 911 using your cell, emergency services will have to rely on you in order to find out where you are.  Your exit number and mile marker number will be vital information in such a situation.   Speaking of your cell phone... Make sure you keep it handy.  Not all truck stops have payphones around anymore--this is important.
Lock your doors.  It sounds overtly simple, but a locked door could present more trouble than a thief thinks your truck might be worth. If someone REALLY wants to steal your stuff, they will.  For this reason, it's probably a good idea to make sure you're not bringing deeply important personal items on the road with you. In other words, if there's something you can't fit in your pocket that you can't replace, think about leaving it at the house.   If you have them, pull your privacy curtains shut when you're parked, whether you're in the truck or not.  That way, it'll look like someone's in the truck all the time.  This could go a long way to keeping ne'er do wells out of your truck when you're not around. 
Think twice about carrying a gun.  Some truckers keep sidearms in their trucks for protection--and there's certainly nothing wrong with this.  On the off chance that someone happens to enter your truck and come across your gun, things could get nasty fairly quickly. 
When returning to your truck: Approach from the passenger side and, if possible, take a quick look inside with a flashlight, just to ensure everything is in its place.
Lights, lights, lights.  The overwhelming consensus in this thread at the Expediters Online forum was that a clean, well-lit truck stop is generally considered to be a safe truck stop.  At a minimum, it exhibits that the staff is attentive to the grounds and therefore is more likely to be aware of the goings on out in the parking lot, which by extension means a lower likelihood of anything bad happening to just about anyone. 

Another issue to take into account is if you're not going to park at a truck stop, where should you park?

Truck stops.  Generally, truck stops tend to be reasonably safe--they're crowded, which means that it's less likely that crimes depending upon isolation are going to happen.  Truck stops also tend to be well-lit.  You'll want to park as close as you can to the main building, as well. 
Rest area?  Rest areas may be your only option in some cases; these can be hazardous regardless of how well-lit or isolated they might be, so take any precautions available to you. 
Alternatives?  Lots of folks in cargo vans and straight trucks have had some luck finding alternative parking in large, all-night stores' parking lots.  Others have found themselves comfortable with staying overnight at their pickup or delivery point.  The obstacle here, of course, is making sure that the company doesn't mind.  Beyond that, it might just be the safest option of all.  
In the end, your safety primarily depends upon one thing: you.  The best available advice is to be as aware as possible, to be where you're supposed to be, and to simply pay attention to things.  Simple as it may be, it's really the foundation of any safe trip.  It's like they say--"Safety doesn't happen by accident."