Keith A. Hamblin
April 14, 1996
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to road test a new driver for my company. He was doing a fantastic job but I noticed he had a problem with his left hand. I asked him about it because I wanted to make sure it wasn't going to affect his driving. What he told me was a story that is becoming all too common these days. A few months ago in a truck stop in California someone had attempted to rob him.
He had just finished eating and was walking back out to his truck when some gang banger rolled out from under his trailer and put a gun to him. Out of reflex he slapped the gun and it went off destroying most of his left hand. He fought the guy not realizing how badly his hand was damaged and this damaged it worse. He subdued the robber and with the help of a few other drivers who had come running when they heard the shot, he taught the would be robber a small lesson in why you don't mess with truck drivers. Luckily the police showed up before they made it his last lesson but it was close...
I remember a time when most truckers had to carry a lot of cash with them. Before the days of com-checks and credit cards we had to pay for fuel and permits with that green stuff I so often hear about but seldom see. I can remember when dispatch used to hand me several hundred dollars with my dispatch so I could get fuel, permits, food, etc.. THOSE DAYS ARE GONE AND GOOD RIDANCE. I hate to burst your bubble bad guys but them truckers aren't carrying any cash anymore.
I wish I was better at researching facts because I know that the high crime rate against truckers would probably be staggering. Too often the nature of our business makes us easy targets. Usually alone, usually tired and in most cases trusting. At one time we were carrying a lot of cash too and I think this is one of the things causing most of the problems now. People think we still do..
I know I stopped picking up hitch hikers long before it became policy just because of some of the things that were happening out on those roads. I remember a friend who had stopped to help a woman who was on the side of the road and looking under the hood of her car. As he was standing there looking under the hood, the womans' partner put a gun to my friends'head. They robbed him then drove away in that broken down car..
Another friend was in Pheonix at a truck stop. A guy approached him from the front to ask if he was going to be hiring a lumper. While they were talking the guys' partner put a knife to my friends' throat and they took his wallet. Luckily they did'nt decide to just cut him anyway which happens all to often. My friend called the cops but there wasn't much they could do besides fill out a report and give him some kind of paper so he wouldn't get in trouble at the ports for not having his license and medical card on him.. He was mad at the cop for quite some time because he seemed completely uncaring but the truth is, and my friend has since admitted it, there isn't much the police can do in these cases unless they catch the guy in the act. Or they know someone who fits the description who has been caught before. The fact that you are in a truck stop means that the guy is not necessarily a local criminal. He could be passing through the same as you and those officers don't have a crystal ball either.
There are some things you can do to protect yourself. Nothing will ever be fool-proof but you can greatly improve your odds by just using a little common sense. Also don't overlook the possibilities of a self defense course. Hopefully you will never need it and in all cases it is much better to lose your money and credit cards than your life but knowledge is a powerful tool if used wisely.
One of the best things you can do is just start thinking about where you are at and what you are doing. Maybe it is not such a good idea to park in that farthest, darkest corner of the truckstop to try to sleep. Walking back and forth between it and the showers is dangerous enough but too many of us are getting robbed in our sleepers. That drivers' side window breaks real easy and by the time you are awake enough to realize what is happening you have a gun in your face.. Sleep under the lights. That helps a little to keep the lot lizards from waking you up too.
Be aware of what is going on around you and plan for it to happen.. It may never but if it does you'll be ready for it. Look for shadows around your truck. Also look under the trailer before you get right beside it. ALWAYS, ALWAYS lock your truck when you are not in it. Make wide turns around corners. That way you have less of a chance of being suprised by what is around it. Keep your back to a wall when talking to anyone who approaches you. It could be a clean-cut well dressed kid but cover your back if you don't have a co-driver to do it for you. After all, what does a robber look like? If you could always tell by looking at them we wouldn't have a problem in the first place. Lastly there are some places where I absolutely will not get out of that truck without some kind of weapon. Tire thumpers are good if you want to get that close but I prefer my fifth wheel puller. It is longer and I can't imagine anyone it wouldn't stop if you were to swing it up from the ground right between a bad guys' legs...
MOST IMPORTANT, JUST LET THEM HAVE WHAT THEY WANT. IT ISN'T WORTH DYING FOR AND YOU CAN ALWAYS EARN ANOTHER PAYCHECK IF YOU ARE STILL ALIVE!!!!!
Remember, the bullets for that gun and the bars for that jail cell came by way of a truck.... Oh yea, We hired the driver with the damaged hand and dispatch says he's doing a fantastic job...