Trucker Safety

I am constantly researching articles about trucking in order to find out as much as possible about this huge career move and I would like to share what I find with others in the same position. I do NOT want to make a big investment in time and money to go into a career and leave in frustration because of some unforeseen circumstance. So I appreciate y'alls thoughts and feedback!! HOPEFULLY these questions will help others as well.

I found the following presentation (some of y'all may have seen this) and would like to share and get y'alls thoughts: Truck parking and safety

One of my BIGGEST concerns is safety. I realize that this issue is probably the BIGGEST component of this occupation. One of my greatest fears is that my reaction times would be reduced due to lack of rest. I want to be as SAFE, professional and productive as I can, but not at the extent of risking myself or others safety. Should I risk my job performance because I refuse to drive when I am tired? or to drive an additional hour or so before I find a place to rest?

Here's something ELSE, Do I need to purchase a gun and permits because I have to park in a unsafe lot somewhere because the closest truck stop has NO Parking when it's time for me to shut down? According to the survey, personal safety is a real concern for most drivers.

Now, I'm not naive enough to believe that these things won't happen to just truckers. I've worked LONG hours in I.T. sometimes 18 hours, and drove home exhausted. only to have to be back at the office in a few hours. I managed anyway. People get robbed DAILY in corporate office parking lots, walking to their car. I realize that y'all find a way to do what you need to to get the job done, and I can as well. BUT at what cost?

I am SHOCKED that there aren't more rest areas or facilities to accommodate truckers needs and safety. It JUST doesn't make SENSE!! I found this sign very disturbing for some reason, and the biggest question that pops into MY mind is WHY???

I sincerely appreciate y'all's patience with me and my questions, but your advice, support and thoughts are INVALUABLE to me (and hopefully others) considering this career. After all,that's what this site's for right??

THANKS GUYS!!!

Gary

I can't help to much with some of the real world questions because I am still in school.

Here's something ELSE, Do I need to purchase a gun and permits because I have to park in a unsafe lot somewhere because the closest truck stop has NO Parking when it's time for me to shut down? According to the survey, personal safety is a real concern for most drivers.

About this though. I do know however that you are not permitted to carry a firearm on a truck under any circumstances. It's a DOT regulated rule and from what I understand cannot be broken. Doesn't matter what permits you may carry. As far as safety goes I would think a tire thumper would be pretty sufficient for protection though.

Indeed Heavy C is right - no guns in trucks.

I am SHOCKED that there aren't more rest areas or facilities to accommodate truckers needs and safety. It JUST doesn't make SENSE!! I found this sign very disturbing for some reason, and the biggest question that pops into MY mind is WHY???

There aren't more facilities for truck parking because somebody has to pay for the land being used for parking. Unless the Federal Government wants to fork out about $100 million bucks to build a bunch of rest areas and safe havens it's up to the private sector to do so. Well it comes down to simple economics - anyplace that wants truck traffic is going to have a parking lot as big as they can afford to have one. This parking issue has been around forever and in fact it's gotten a bit worse over the years. And in my opinion, adding that 14 hour rule to the logbook rules made it a lot worse. It took away the flexibility people used to have to drive when they wanted to and rest when they wanted to. Now everyone is pretty much forced to get moving in the a.m. and try to find parking in the evening. Back in the day I used to run paper logs so I could write down anything I wanted. I would normally be up by 2:00 a.m., drive like crazy, make any pickups and deliveries I had to make, and be parked by 4:00-6:00 p.m. if my schedule allowed it. I never had any problems finding parking on that schedule. But that's a luxury most people don't have anymore.

As far as that sign about no truck parking - it can be for a variety of reasons:

1) Truckers tend to throw trash in the parking lots. Sad but true.

2) Truckers usually idle their trucks all night and nearby houses are affected by the noise and fumes

3) Many places simply don't have the room to spare because they have other trucks coming in and out during the night or early in the morning so they can't have all of their space taken up by parked trucks

4) Most snow removal is done during the night and trucks parked in the parking lot will hinder that effort

...and there's others.

The reality of being a trucker is that you're basically a necessary evil in the eyes of society. They hate sharing the road with us, they don't like the noise or fumes, and of course as human beings we haven't exactly propelled ourselves to the elite levels of kindness and pleasantness in the eyes of the general public. And of course nobody could possibly imagine just how difficult the job is and what it takes to get the job done safely day in and day out. So it's a thankless job.

One final remark on safety from those slides - I've found in my 15 years out there that 95% of the truck stops are no more dangerous than your typical shopping mall. You have a huge parking lot full of vehicles and a ton of strangers all over the place. You can't see very well at night and again it's because of economics - it costs a ton of money to light up a parking lot like Monday Night Football. So you have to use a little common sense, but problems are very rare. I was never once approached by anyone with bad intentions. Never been robbed, never had my truck robbed, never been threatened. And I'm 5' 7" - it's not like I'm a linebacker for the Bears.

Safety is not a big concern - not when it comes to crime anyhow. The bigger risk is certainly in the driving.

Safety is not a big concern - not when it comes to crime anyhow. The bigger risk is certainly in the driving.

Glad to see you post this. My wife was starting to have second thoughts about my new career choice!

I dont think anyone on their death bed has ever been glad they didnt take chances to pursue their dreams...

I dont think anyone on their death bed has ever been glad they didnt take chances to pursue their dreams...

This is exactly right. No one on their deathbed has said that they regret not working enough. Ever.

The number and size of rest areas needs to be increased especially in Pennsylvania, the East and Northeast. The Mid-west, West and South are pretty much ok? West coast can be full up at night especially around and in the big cities. Someone needs to do a study and make a report on which States are deficient in rest areas. Paper logs allowed truckers to make adjustments when they're out of hours and no parking spots left in rest areas or truck stops. Being blocked in a rest area at 4:00 am by 4 or 5 trucks who cut off the entrance to the highway is unacceptable too. Have accident statistics increased or decreased since electronic logs took over? I would guess its still about the same as paper logs, but maybe I'm wrong.

Have accident statistics increased or decreased since electronic logs took over? I would guess its still about the same as paper logs, but maybe I'm wrong.

I don't know the stats well or the reasons but the other day I read that truck fatalities have gone up each of the past 4 years. Not sure if anyone knows what that's attributable to.