Personal Safety On The Road.

Hello all,

After several months of research I've decided to try a career in trucking and plan to go to CDL school this November. This website has been just brilliant and articles by Brett, Trucker Mike, Guy Hodges and others have been extremely helpful. Thank you! I've heard there can be some dangerous places on the road such as West Memphis or certain parts of interstate 10 in the southwest. When I say dangerous I mean robberies/hijacking and such. If so, what are some things a trucker can do or should be aware of while out on the road?

Hello St. Elsewhere, and welcome to the forum!

I've been in all the places you mentioned multitudes of times and I have never felt uncomfortable or threatened. Common sense goes a long way when living on the road. Being aware of your surroundings, and situations is paramount in staying safe. People can keep themselves relatively safe by practicing safe practices especially when in an area that may not have the best reputation. Remember that when you are staying at a truck stop you are staying with other truck drivers who probably have the same concerns that you are having. If it's two in the morning there's no reason for you to be wandering around outside your truck in the parking lot. Some areas, like the ones you mentioned, may have more people just hanging around the truck stop - just be aware of the ones that just seem to be loitering and conduct yourself like you know what you are doing and where you are going. I come across a lot of panhandlers or beggars at many of the truck stops. It's funny because there's one in Phoenix that I have had the same guy give me the same hard luck story about breaking down there and having a sick baby that he needs to get to the doctor. Last time I reminded him that he told me that same story three months ago when I was there and he just kept going with it.

So many people when first getting started in this get all worked up about wanting to have a gun with them and things like that, but I have covered these highways and criss-crossed this country many times and have yet to feel threatened at any of the truck stops I have been in.

Hey there. Old School is right. I have stayed at some questionable truck stops as well and also never felt threatened. I am one of those pro gun people, BUT, although I do participate in debates regarding the right to carry, I actually do not keep one in the truck.

Don`t sweat this kind of stuff. You are more likely to be in danger while the wheels are rolling rather than being parked (bad drivers...etc).

Good luck to ya

Thank you for your replies. That makes a lot of sense; you probably have more safety concerns ON the road than off! Haha! And that's a funny story about the panhandler. I'm a limo driver and come across the same types in downtown S.F., but almost all are harmless.