[tmbm]

When I first started driving years ago, it was as a solo female. I had lots of advice from experienced drivers and it did help to ease some of my concerns. Seatbelt through the door or chain, anything to make it more difficult to enter the truck even if someone breaks the window. Take some fishing line with a little clip on each end, clip one end to the cable for your air horn and the other through the door handle. If the door is opened it will startle the intruder, wake you and your neighbors. Now I drive a KW T300 and it has the horn switch so I can't do that with this truck. Try to park near the front of the TS, more traffic, more light...less likely for someone to break in. We all need a good flashlight, so invest in a MAG (3,4 or even 6 cell), if you have to get out at night and need protection, swing that thing, it will leave an impression. Also for anyone who doesn't already do this (or is new) always keep the box locked, empty or loaded. One is to protect your equiptment, but even when I drove company TT and the box was 100% empty it was locked. The reason is, if your in a not so desirable neighborhood and someone decides to open your box to see what they can steal while your at a traffic light and find it's empty, they're not going to be polite and close it back up for you...do you want to get out to close the doors. I was given other tips, but I found these to be the most assuring for me. Also just as when driving, always be aware of your surroundings, if something makes you feel uncomfortable then move, instincts go a long way in self preservation.

[morningstar55ny]

Originally Posted by dieseldiva

The nightmare stories we read in this thread and others would NORMALLY be some of our reasons for NOT parking at truck stops. But when I think about you out there solo it would seem that you're safer among truck drivers than you would be at the local Wally World, mall, etc. At least this way if you call for help on the CB there's a good chance that someone will hear and come to help. You're sure not gonna get that at Wally World!

The only thing that I would try if I were you would be to try to get to a Flying J as often as I could and park up front with the RV-ers. Seems a little more quiet and safe up there. Other than that, if I were a solo driver, I couldn't see me parking anywhere but at the truck stop with the "big guys".

oh i hear ya.......
i have camped out at wally worlds
and i do try to park in the RV areas..... but end up getting booted to the back with the big truckers.... and to tell u the truth i like it bk with the big trucks..... but i do my best to be near the front or lite area.... somewhere.
and yes .... the drivers will come to my aid if needed.... i was surprised 1st time i ever requested for security ....and wow..... lol
sometimes..... not always.. when i come into a truck stop at night. and all the spaces r full and just cant find NO where to park........ I will get on my CB and say
aawwwwww come ONnn now..... yall mean to tell me there is NO room at the INN ... not even for a baby truck???? .... i have gotten some spaces real quick saying that.... LOL
another thing i might do..... is
when going down the interstate..... and lets say speed is 65 and i am going ahh h70 ...... and these big trucks zoom pass me.... i dont do this all the time.... but sometimes ill say....
Hey.... i think ya'll are going to damm fast now....... sooo ahh wait for me..... LOL
or i will say........ the same thing but then go...... im tellin....... heh.
they just laff at me..... ha..... tell me to come on. and catch up. LOL

[morningstar55ny]

Originally Posted by tmbm

When I first started driving years ago, it was as a solo female. I had lots of advice from experienced drivers and it did help to ease some of my concerns. Seatbelt through the door or chain, anything to make it more difficult to enter the truck even if someone breaks the window. Take some fishing line with a little clip on each end, clip one end to the cable for your air horn and the other through the door handle. If the door is opened it will startle the intruder, wake you and your neighbors. Now I drive a KW T300 and it has the horn switch so I can't do that with this truck. Try to park near the front of the TS, more traffic, more light...less likely for someone to break in. We all need a good flashlight, so invest in a MAG (3,4 or even 6 cell), if you have to get out at night and need protection, swing that thing, it will leave an impression. Also for anyone who doesn't already do this (or is new) always keep the box locked, empty or loaded. One is to protect your equiptment, but even when I drove company TT and the box was 100% empty it was locked. The reason is, if your in a not so desirable neighborhood and someone decides to open your box to see what they can steal while your at a traffic light and find it's empty, they're not going to be polite and close it back up for you...do you want to get out to close the doors. I was given other tips, but I found these to be the most assuring for me. Also just as when driving, always be aware of your surroundings, if something makes you feel uncomfortable then move, instincts go a long way in self preservation.

tis is sooooooo true.
i have a lock for mine......
and i been thru some ahhhhh shaddy nieghboorhoods already....... 1 i drove thru last month... i was just waiting for someone to jump on my truck or have a bullet zing thru my window...... serious....... it was not good.

[dieseldiva]

Sometimes it seems that they're hard to find but there really ARE some "Knights of the Road" still out there!

[hapipupi3]

I have a GREAT secrity system for my truck. It's a 45 pound Keeshond that does NOT like strange people on "HIS" truck, and he WILL let us know real fast. I have curtains that go around the entire windshield, so nobody can see inside. That helps a lot to keep strangers away,too.

As far as parking places for a "Baby Truck"--in a pinch, you can always park in front of a light pole!

[pelicn]

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.

I posted this, and I had a funny thing happen the other day. I was walking back from the coffee pot at the J and an older gentleman was standing in line. He says, "excuse me maam, if you don't smile, I'm gonna have to bite ya! I started laughing and he says, "see isn't that better?" The man was very nice, and he explained that out here it's easy to become cynical so you need to keep smiling to keep from getting that way. As I was leaving, he says, be safe and have a nice day.

I just thought it was hilarious after this thread. So....keep smiling or I might have to bite ya!

[Jack_Berry]

leo posted a few months ago about looping the seatbelts thru the door handles and i've been doing it ever since. my wife saw that one time and thought it was a pretty good idea. i also keep the box locked empty. afterall a load bar has scrap value to someone who did not pay for it, right? i am surprised many drivers do not lock the box esspecially when there is a plastic seal on the back. how owuld one explain a lost seal and lost freight?

[morningstar55ny]

well....... i see somelike that seat belt thru the door handle idea... it works well. lol
cause there were a couple times...... i forgot the passanger side was sraped shut.. and i would go to open the door with my key and couldnt figure why it wasnt opening...... HELLO .. lol .... they put the refil windshield washer thingie in the strangest places. lol
since i posted this thread......
ii was sitting in memphis ..... well west memphis at a pilot..... and has a awsome parking spot .. then there was this guy .. who knocked on my passanger side window...... as i am trying to read and type on the QC . and he stoof there for a few min.......
i have or had NO idea who he was ... or if he was a driver or what.
then another time i was at the Pilot over by seville .... and this guy comes up and wants to ask me ? about my QC ... and he had a panther jacket on.... ok...... well ..... it was nice outside..... and i rolled down my window and held up the QC so he could ask his ?? .... but he wanted to know if he could come inside my truck......
aaaHHhhhh......... i wouldnt let him. no no no ...... soo he had to settle for standing on the step. and i helped him with his QC ??

[iceroadtrucker]

The bungie cord thing is a good thing.
If ur runnen single and a lady dont open ur doors to no jamoke or jabraoney for that matter not worth it.
A good old fashion fire extinguisher Good for putten out that fire.
Run across alot of weirdos and Vagrants and homeless claims to be's.
Maybe Im wrong and correct me some one If I am.
For a lady Maybe a Petro or Ta OR Fly J, is ok but stay away from the Pilots ect nothing but trouble.
Then again if the TS dont have security then to me not worth the time.
Just be alert dont let your guard down and take care.

[morningstar55ny]

Originally Posted by iceroadtrucker

The bungie cord thing is a good thing.
If ur runnen single and a lady dont open ur doors to no jamoke or jabraoney for that matter not worth it.
A good old fashion fire extinguisher Good for putten out that fire.
Run across alot of weirdos and Vagrants and homeless claims to be's.
Maybe Im wrong and correct me some one If I am.
For a lady Maybe a Petro or Ta OR Fly J, is ok but stay away from the Pilots ect nothing but trouble.
Then again if the TS dont have security then to me not worth the time.
Just be alert dont let your guard down and take care.

......a ahhh jabraonyy who???? or Jabaoneyyy whats??? ....

[iceroadtrucker]

Originally Posted by morningstar55ny

......a ahhh jabraonyy who???? or Jabaoneyyy whats??? ....

Jamoke or Jabraony = Joes, Vagrants, Con Artists, Lot sellers, Polishers, Beggers, Homless, ect. get it.

[morningstar55ny]

Originally Posted by iceroadtrucker

Jamoke or Jabraony = Joes, Vagrants, Con Artists, Lot sellers, Polishers, Beggers, Homless, ect. get it.

ahhhh yes i do ..... ty .... ha

[sherelynn]

Thanks for suggesting she park at a Flying J. I work in Financial Services for Flying J and see the Expeditors parked near the restaurant or in front with the RVers all the time. I think it's a great idea. I talk to a lot of drivers (duh!) and, for the most part, they all comment that Flying J is by far safer and cleaner than any of the other fuel stops.

As a woman going out to the fuel islands to talk to drivers, I'm very cautious and never venture out in back unless I'm accompanied by another employee. Even then, I don't go out back to talk to drivers...only to walk the lot and get some exercise. I wear my name tag and fortunately, have only had my position questioned once in the last 1-1/2 years. Drivers give the best advice and I try to make it a point to listen.

You might wonder why I'm on this board. It's not to solicit business. Actually, I'm seriously considering becoming an expeditor. I'm nearly 58 years old, no real ties at home and I need a change. I hear from the expeditors that the money is decent. So, I'm looking for some advise and will post another another thread.

[cheri1122]

Welcome to EO, Sherelyn! You have LOTS of reading to do, if you haven't already, lol, but it's all here, and so are people to help, if you can't find an answer.
I respect your prudence, but would like to say that in the 6 yrs I've been driving OTR, I've never had a moment of being afraid for my safety. (Well, except driving in rush hour in Chicago traffic!)
Most drivers are the type to help you, if they know that you need help, and many of them make me proud to be part of the group. Particularly the expediters!

[sherelynn]

Thanks for the welcome, Cheri. I'm busy reading threads and getting lots of information, useful and otherwise. LOL

I find I especially have a great respect for the women drivers. I try to make it a point to ask what made them get into driving. Most tell me it was to support their kids. I can relate as I was a single mom (husband died) and my daughter is a single mom (deadbeat dad). I can't imagine, tho, leaving my kids in someone else's care for long periods of time. I say that as my grandchildren just ran screaming thru the house and used my desk chair as a "safe" tag!

I see all kinds of drivers coming in and out of the plaza. It reminds me of my younger days when I would go out dancing in the nightclubs. The lines never change, only the people and faces. I've been backed into a corner in my office, I've been propositioned, stalked and even threatened. But, I still love my job. I've made a lot of good friends with drivers and received a lot of really good advice.

The women drivers always say the same thing...they never come out of their trucks after dark. And, still...I want to be an expeditor. I was in outside sales for 30 years and I guess it's that wanderlust that just takes over.