Truck stop safety (FYI)

Unaware, did they not open their eyes Alan? Did they not have their cb radio turned on and hear the crap that goes on Alan?

The only thing "dumb" Alan is people that wander into cess pools like Memphis/West Memphis with their head stuffed firmly up their butt and not be aware of their surroundings. People sow what they reap Alan. When a driver stops @ well known criminal havens like the Memphis/West Memphis area there's a good chance that something negative may happen to them or their equipment. Why subject yourself and your equipment to that type of risk when there are countless other places that don't allow the criminal scum on their property.

 

I was robbed at the J in west memphis, just about 2 years ago. Lit area of the lot, 'snag' me as i was at my door unlocking to climb inside. Got. $8.00 my cdl, med card, atm card, which i canclled asap.
Ya i called the cops and they were there in 2 min, but the guy slipped away.

 

Had I not read this thread I would not have known not to stay in the area. I've personally not been through there before for an overnight stay.


Joe

 

I loaded at Palo Verde nuclear power plant last week.... I had to stop at the T/A on I-10 to get a log book. What a naked helpless feeling standing in that lot at 4:00 A.M. with NO GUN on me or in my truck. First time in 10 years I felt like I was at a disadvantage if two people wanted to rob me.

 

Our terminal is not far from that stretch of 78...I have never stopped there...hubby would have a FIT. He even gets testy when I have to stop for a light. His brother is MPD and used to work that area...some of the stories we heard...good grief.

When I first started, I was solo and one night I got back to the terminal, my car was there and decided to go home to the in-laws about 30 miles away..well, the only way I knew to go was back the way I had come...78. I thought I would never hear the end of that riot act...from all of them.

Even though i fought the good fight trying to explain that I am a big girl and not stupid enough to get out anywhere around there...i never did admit to them that i coasted to every light, and never once brought the car to a stop at any of them and was as nervous as a turkey in November ;]

Also, we entertain ourselves a lot by playing "count the hookers" as we drive through. Loser has to drop the trailer.

 

"wander in"??? Those that drove in from the east and empty in memphis the following day .. they supposed to drive clear out to Shell Lake TA? Or stop well short at Stanton Pilot? Many drivers are in effect forced to stop there due to a number of reasons. And what about the new drivers, or the western drivers who rarely venture past Fort Smith and are totally unaware? And who leaves their CB on in an area so full of crap-chatter as W Memphis? Chill out dude and accept the post for what it is and stop putting people down for no reason.

 

I've stopped in West Memphis numerous of times, I am from inner city urban small town, and I still get uneasy feelings when I go certain places. I also come from what used to be a racially prejudice area and I get uneasy when I stop in small towns that have a lot of (no offense) whites. I know some areas as a black man you have to watch your back because of the old way of thinking. I know some people get upset when I tell them I go in a store and I take my hood of my head, so that I won't get looked at funny. It's just the thing of being watchful and aware of your surroundings. I haven't had much problems in West Memphis, have had a begger come up to me at Love's, when I go the Flying J I am in and out of the truck stop in daylight and inside the truck at night with a locked door.

 

... and where, in that statement did anyone reap what they sowed?

Take your foot out of your mouth, Ralph... no-one has thanked you yet for what you've 'contributed' here because relevance has not applied.

I have never sown a negative attitude when going into a truck stop so why would I expect to reap negativity?

I don't expect for Memphis to be a criminal haven when I drive into it anymore than I expect anyplace to harbor criminals. I park in truck stops because they are considered by most to be areas of activity that are not an invitation to crooks. Eyes open or not, I don't deserve to get robbed, burgled or assaulted as you suggest. That's the stupid part of what you say.

The police are not my friends, I already know that. Fellow truckers?... I could take them or leave them... a pretty iffy bunch from all of my experiences with them but getting what I deserve is accomplished only if I put myself into a situation that reeks of carelessness. A truckstop, whether in Memphis or Detroit, is not carelessness, it's time management, the need for fuel or Hours of Service.

I bet I get thanked... you haven't yet.

'Bigfoot'
View attachment 41886

 

I've never had much for problems in W Memphis, but, I've got a place I usually park at, I get in, get setup and put up my curtains. I turn my CB off about 5 miles away, I get tired of hearing the drug dealers. I wish the feds would come in and pull a sting and bust all of them. The guy who used to sell bootleg DVDs got busted by the FBI........

 

I always carry an ice pick. The one time I didn't carry it, some guy tried to rob me so I busted his eyeball open with my finger. They won't fight back,the pain is so intense, their priorities change immediately. It's easy to do & the last thing a robber expects.