strange people knocking on your door

**pjjjjj** · 03-09-2008, 10:34 PM

Scuse my ignorance.. why would people need to put bungy cords and dog chains to prevent their doors from opening.. if the doors are locked?

**dieseldiva** · 03-09-2008, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by pjjjjj

Scuse my ignorance.. why would people need to put bungy cords and dog chains to prevent their doors from opening.. if the doors are locked?

I guess it's that added little bit of security, much like the chain locks on the hotel doors. We've never done this but I'm sure we've been in a lot of places where we should have!!

**RichM** · 03-09-2008, 11:26 PM

Door locks can be pried open. I went to the chains when one night in Montgomery AL I heard a noise at about 0200. I looked out of the sleeper and saw a guy with about a 2 foot screwdriver getting ready to pry open the drivers side door. I reached out and blew the air horn and he took off but the next day I investigated and bought the chain and felt a lot more secure. Then I also rigged up a long cord from the air horn cord into the sleeper so I could let the horn blow in case of an attempted breakin or an emergency.

**morningstar55ny** · 03-10-2008, 12:15 AM

*******looking for my fly swatter********

i know its here somewhere....... heh

**morningstar55ny** · 03-10-2008, 12:19 AM

Originally Posted by dieseldiva

I guess it's that added little bit of security, much like the chain locks on the hotel doors. We've never done this but I'm sure we've been in a lot of places where we should have!!

......... trying to find my fly swatter here..........

**dieseldiva** · 03-10-2008, 12:22 AM

Try the bug spray, it's less strenuous!!

**Coco** · 03-10-2008, 12:43 AM

A seatbelt through the door grab handle also works, just release the seatbelt for quick access outside.

**TwoMotherTrkrs** · 03-10-2008, 01:19 AM

So glad you brought up this important topic, Morningstar! We are a 2-woman team and are always looking ways we can be proactive in attending to our own security. Your comment about feeding the seatbelt through the door armrest is one that had never occurred to us. You can bet we’ll start that practice RIGHT NOW!

As economic times worsen, we are noticing an increase in the number of people who approach our truck to ‘talk’, beg, sell, etc., and we’re not exactly delighted with this increase. It also seems like more folks are taking the liberty of stepping right up on our step without even a “Request permission to come aboard, Ma’am” beforehand. Personally, I don’t want people that close if I don’t know them.

DD, security cameras are a great idea and we may just go and price out a system for our D-unit.

We always try to be aware of our surroundings, try to find parking spaces where we have a better chance of being safe, and have even been know to ‘lay on the horn’ when we see someone suspicious lurking around other trucks.

I am certain there is more we can do. We’ll be watching this thread closely ‘cause I’m sure more great ideas will float across.

Two Mother Truckers runnin’ down the road
in GiddyUp-Go with a pretty good load.
Her diesel whirrs and her chrome wheels whirl
GiddyUp-Go’s a pretty good girl
Better get along GiddyUp,
Can’t slow, GiddyUp.
Get along GiddyUp, GO!

**RichM** · 03-10-2008, 01:23 AM

Hornet spray is legal,shoots about 12 feet and will stop someone real fast.

**pjjjjj** · 03-10-2008, 06:32 AM

Our truck came with an alarm, I guess similar to what would be on a car, so if someone were to try to open the door while sleeping, it would go off. But you're right, the added security of a bungy cord or something would give added peace of mind.
Just wondering how many of you carry large wads of cash around with you. I assumed most would use fuel cards, debit cards, credit cards, etc., but husb says he sees truckers pulling out large wads of cash to pay for meals, etc., all the time when on the road.
Another question.. wouldn't a would-be thief be more interested in stealing whatever is in the back of the truck, as opposed to what's in the cab? Or are they wanting to steal the truck as a whole?
Is theft, vandalism, or brutality something that happens alot in this line of work?

**morningstar55ny** · 03-10-2008, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by TwoMotherTrkrs

So glad you brought up this important topic, Morningstar! We are a 2-woman team and are always looking ways we can be proactive in attending to our own security. Your comment about feeding the seatbelt through the door armrest is one that had never occurred to us. You can bet we’ll start that practice RIGHT NOW!

As economic times worsen, we are noticing an increase in the number of people who approach our truck to ‘talk’, beg, sell, etc., and we’re not exactly delighted with this increase. It also seems like more folks are taking the liberty of stepping right up on our step without even a “Request permission to come aboard, Ma’am” beforehand. Personally, I don’t want people that close if I don’t know them.

DD, security cameras are a great idea and we may just go and price out a system for our D-unit.

We always try to be aware of our surroundings, try to find parking spaces where we have a better chance of being safe, and have even been know to ‘lay on the horn’ when we see someone suspicious lurking around other trucks.

I am certain there is more we can do. We’ll be watching this thread closely ‘cause I’m sure more great ideas will float across.

Two Mother Truckers runnin’ down the road
in GiddyUp-Go with a pretty good load.
Her diesel whirrs and her chrome wheels whirl
GiddyUp-Go’s a pretty good girl
Better get along GiddyUp,
Can’t slow, GiddyUp.
Get along GiddyUp, GO!

ty for the kudo's.....
ya know being a solo driver..... i do my bestest to always always be very aware of my surroundings.
I know if there is a problem at a truck stop...... i have my CB and will say something to managment..... mangement is suppose to stick up for the drivers you would think .. since we all support there buiz... eyy???
ya know another time...... i was getting fuel and a girl come up started telling me her.... story about needing $13.50 .... ha ... ya know..... they come up with this odd vall number and tell u how they r stuck there ...... they have this same story for days,, weeks ,, months ,,,, yrs... at the same place.....
i know to stay away from certain truck stops.....
like downtown nashville..... unless ur looking for hookers and drugs
and the J and TA and Pilot off i20 outside of Dallas.....
when i go there.. i end up at the TA over off i 30 .. in rock wall.... its nicer.. and less rif raf...
and lets see another one is......
Petro in atlanta.... even with the fence and gaurd shack.. they still come in and knock on ur door.....
i been driving a truck for around 4 yrs now....
started out with swift...... heh
and now Panther.. i dont miss the trailers... lol
keep th epostings coming..... they r all interesting and its been a great way to get to know some of ya'll .. and hopeing to run across some of ya'll out here.

the fly swater was for dieseldiva's friggin fly...... LOL
i know someone who has that fly in there siggie line on another web site i beong too..... heh

2 mothertruckers........ very interesting post.......and cute lil poem u got there lol

Ppjjjjjj..... it might b more of a hassel too try and bust locks and /or open them big huge swing doors..... i donnu..... and everything is usaly in box's and wrapped in shrink wrap.....
i lock my doors when i leave my truck.......
1 driver told me...... how he was getting fuel and grabin something to eat to take with him.... and ledt hsi truck runnin.... in front the the fuel islands.... cause he just got fuel and was going to be in and out....... and when he got bk to his truck.....he was about to take off.. but heard something in the back.... there was a young girl in his sleeper with no shirt on......... OYY .. ok guys.... are ya'll grining??? lol
anyways..
he booted her out......
but he made me think.......
how often do we jump in our trucks to take off...... and dont look in our sleepers ???

**morningstar55ny** · 03-10-2008, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by RichM

Hornet spray is legal,shoots about 12 feet and will stop someone real fast.

... LOL .... silly i was joking about the fly swatter....... it was meant for the fly .. buzzin around on Divia's avatar..... LOL

**LDB** · 03-10-2008, 11:43 AM

I never get out of the cab without locking the door. I have 3 sets of keys, two on carabiners and one on a ring. That guy is lucky he didn't come out to find his truck gone. A couple of years ago that happened to a Fedex driver who had about $2mil of Rx in the box. He went inside for a few minutes and left the truck running outside.

The hornet spray Rich is mentioning is meant as a protection device for anyone really persistent and menacing.

If your truck has power door locks and doesn't have remotes like your car you could get that added for probably a couple hundred dollars as well.

**pelicn** · 03-10-2008, 05:39 PM

I've been very lucky since we've been out here on the road. I've had people come to the door and for the most part just a shake of my head will send them away. Hubby says when I walk across the parking lot I always look like I'm about to kick someone's butt, so they're afraid to talk to me.

He, on the other hand, says "good morning" and I've lost him for 30 minutes to some gabby truck driver! LOL

**TeamCaffee** · 03-10-2008, 05:44 PM

Usually at night if someone knocks I am the one to stick my head out from behind the curtains as Bob will talk to them I pretty much tell them to get away from the truck. It is so frustrating to be sleeping in a pay lot and someone know on the door wanting money. We just use our door locks and as far as we know one has tried to break on. I think that is where all of us that have dogs are lucky!