Trouble on I-88 Sends Reminder to Drivers
Some tragic news this week has casted a shadow over the trucking industry.
On Friday, April 21, truck driver Eduardo Munoz was capriciously gunned down while driving a red 2007 Volvo tractor-trailer. Miraculously, the wounded truck driver had the wherewithal to safely pull his truck over to the side of the road before seeking emergency assistance. Munoz was then rushed to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead from the wounds, per Trucker News. Chicago-area authorities remain unsure of the killer’s motive.
The news has saddened all of those in the industry, and it has sent a visceral reminder that truck driving can be a dangerous profession. While the nature of the work is inherently risky due to the habitual chance of traffic accidents, violence, too, often looms over even the most cautious of truck drivers. With that in mind, let’s take a few minutes to review some commonplace safety practices that all truckers should exercise.
Safety Tips for Truckers
Between 2010 and 2014, alone, 40 big-rig truck drivers were murdered on the job. Check out these tips for ensuring that you will be protected from acts of violence and theft as you are on the road.
Find a Safe Place to Park—this is much easier said than done. In many states, there is a severe parking shortage for truck drivers that need to pull over and sleep. This causes drivers to have to pull over in unsafe areas, vulnerable to looters and life-threatening conditions. Public parking lots, roadsides and other obscure locations have become the popular alternative to overfilled truck stops, and this has led to an increase in freight looting and, on unfortunate occasions, assault and homicide.
So what can a trucker do to avoid this problem? After all, there isn’t much that one can do about the shortage of trucking spots, themselves—such issues will have to be hashed out in state/national legislatures and in company board rooms. In the meantime, though, there are trucking safety measures that you can take in order to avoid sketchy parking spots. First, if you have to park in an alternative location, do your best to choose one that is well lit and rather public. Criminals tend not to commit such severe crimes in highly visible, transparent places. Secondly, if you anticipate that you will be pulling through an area with a notorious lack of trucking parking towards the end of a day/shift, it may be prudent to pull over early and rest beforehand. That way, you won’t grow tired in a dangerous area.
Be Aware of Violent Areas— it is an objective fact that some regions of the country’s highways induce more road rage than others. The scene of the tragedy surrounding Eduardo Munez’s murder is a notoriously violent stretch of highway. If you have to drive through crime ridden regions of inner cities or on highways with angry drivers, drive placidly—don’t cut anyone off, don’t be assertive. By the sheer number of truckers on the highway, there will always be random, tragic incidents of violence—like that of Munoz. In his case, it seems that the he was in the wrong spot at the wrong time. While you can never totally eliminate the threat of a capricious, random crime, you can do your best to increase trucking safety by being aware of your surroundings.
Stop during the Day Time on Long Hauls— if you are on a days-long trip and you need a rest, get some shut eye during the day. If you stay on the road during the nighttime, not parked, you greatly reduce your risk of attack or theft. Staying in motion, if you are awake and vigilant, is a smart truck driver safety strategy.
Truck driving can be dangerous—not only because of the risk of traffic accidents, but also because of violent crime. Do your best to avoid risky situations and be aware of your surroundings. To avoid risky financial practices, contact Factor Finders. We help owner-operators and small trucking companies sort out their financial problems and get the working capital necessary for increased profits and expansion.
