Staying Safe Overnight at Truck Stops: 6 Essential Tips

Staying overnight at a truck stop is ideal when you need to rest, recharge, and refuel before the next leg of a haul. Whenever you do stay overnight a truck stop, here are some essential tips for staying safe.

1. Choose the Right Truck Stop

Don’t just roll up to any old truck stop. Make sure you select one that is top rated and offers what you’ll need, whether that’s showers and WiFi or a dog area and laundry services.

There are plenty of online truck stop finders that let you search by state and highway, so you can easily locate a safe and excellent option wherever you may be across the country.

2. Park in a Pull-Through Spot

Not only will a pull-through spot let you conveniently leave whenever you want or need to, but it also gives you a quick getaway option if you need it. If you can’t find a pull-through spot where you’ve stopped, try to back into a spot so that you can pull forward and leave in a second’s notice.

3. Park Near Other Trucks

Avoid desolate truck stops where you can easily be a target. Stop at a busier truck stop and park near other drivers. Professional truckers tend to look out for each other. So, if you’re parked close to other trucks, it’s more likely you’ll get a head’s up if anyone notices some suspicious activity nearby.

4. Make Sure You Carry a Fully Charged Cellphone Before Leaving Your Rig

Even if you’re just inspecting your rig, make sure you have a fully charged cellphone on you. If anything goes wrong, you’ll be able to call for the help you need ASAP.

5. Carry a Protective Device with You

Whether you feel more comfortable with pepper spray, a bat, a knife, or even a gun, choose one or more protective devices to keep in your cab and carry on yourself when you leave your truck. While you probably never want to be in a situation where you’ll have to use this device, it’s always better to be safe than sorry—and you’ll be grateful you have a weapon if you’re ever in danger.  Make sure whatever you decide, that you know the state laws on keeping it in your truck or person.

6. Be Alert to and Report Suspicious Activity

Stay alert and always keep an eye on what’s going on around you. Don’t let strangers try to lure you away from your rig, and if you do notice any suspicious activities, report them to the truck stop manager ASAP. They don’t want any risks or dangers on their property, just as much as you don’t. And they’ll take quick action to address it.

While being alert to safety at truck stops and on the roads is always important, sometimes, no matter how careful you are, accidents happen. When they do—and when they’re caused by someone else’s carelessness, you will likely have legal options for seeking the recovery you may deserve.

Hurt in a Truck Wreck? Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer at the Amaro Law Firm

If you or someone you know has been hurt on the job in a truck crash, you can count on a truck accident lawyer at the Amaro Law Firm for exceptional advocacy in the pursuit of justice and recovery.

Call (713) 955-5521 or Email Us
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At the Amaro Law, we are known for providing the highest quality representation, and we always strive to get our clients the highest recoveries possible. While we understand that compensation cannot reverse the permanent impacts of serious truck wrecks, we also know that the recoveries from truck accident cases can help restore lives.