2008_A_TC

Safety
Tips
out if parking is available where they want
to stop; then, when they get there, the apps
can make entries to alert other drivers. More
apps are available from truck-stop chains that
report available spaces and allow reservations.
Parking on highway entrance ramps can be
a solution, but it’s illegal in many jurisdictions
and can be risky even when legal. Some drivers
find parking in abandoned shopping centers
or parking lots at large stores. However, it’s
always best to ask permission from a store
manager, even if there are no signs prohibiting
truck parking. Too many drivers have seen their
equipment towed or “booted” by unscrupulous
towing companies that charge extortion-level
fees to remove the locking device.
Regardless of where a driver chooses to park,
it remains important to follow some commonsense
steps when parking. The security of
your vehicle, your load and even your person
are at stake.
Most truck accidents happen in truck stops.
While the accidents are generally low speed
and low cost compared with highway crashes,
repairs are still expensive — and drivers can
lose enough time to cause service failures
with customers. Parking at the end of an aisle
or in restricted areas can set your truck up as
a target for sleepy or inattentive drivers.
Illumination is a proven deterrent to crime.
For personal safety, especially if you plan on
getting out of the truck, parking spaces with
direct paths to the store and restaurant are
preferable. Also, the shortest route may not
be the safest. Walking in tight spaces between
trailers, where sight lines are obscured, can
increase your vulnerability, so it might be
better to walk to the end of the aisle or along
the edge of driving lanes.
Trailer locks can help keep your load secure,
but backing close to another trailer or a fence
or wall leaves no room for thieves to get trailer
doors open. Locking the cab goes without
question, whenever you leave it and when
you come back to it. Thieves often look for the
easiest opportunities; don’t make it simple for
them to make you a victim.
One of the best ways to stay safe, in and out
of your truck, is to stay alert. Before exiting the
cab, look around the vehicle. While walking, be
observant of what’s happening around you. No
on hangs out in a truck-stop parking lot. Most
people will be going to or from their truck. If
a person has no apparent reason to be there,
chances are YOU are the reason. Criminals
often look for a victim who appears weak,
so walk briskly and stay aware of what’s
happening all around; this will help display a
sense of confidence and strength.
When returning to your truck, check the area
all around the vehicle before you approach. If
you need to perform a pre-trip inspection or
a tire check, it might be better to wait for the
light of day or to pull out of the space and find
an area with better visibility.
It’s never a bad idea to check your fifthwheel
release handle and perform a “tug test”
before driving off. Troublemakers who are
avenging a perceived slight, have a grudge
against the company you work for, or have
some other reason have been known to pull
release handles, setting the driver up for a
major problem. In the worst cases, landing
gear can collapse and air lines can be ripped
loose. Even if there’s no damage, cranking a
loaded trailer high enough to back under is a
daunting task.
Personal protection is a decision every driver
must make. Weapons of any kind, including
pepper spray, tasers or other nonlethal defense
devices, are illegal in many areas. While an
arrest or loss of a job might be preferable to
being robbed or harmed, make sure you know
the risks before arming yourself. The best
defense is to stay out of a bad situation to
begin with.
12 TRUCKER’S CONNECTION www.TruckersConnection.com