Safety First: Truck Stops

Truck stops are a vital part of any truck driving job. Whether you use them for overnight parking or for simply filling your tank, every truck driver has to pass through a truck stop at some point. That being said, there are some truck stops where it is better to stop at and some where all you want to do is drive past as fast as you can. But how are you supposed to know if a truck stop is good or not? In this article you will find a few suggestions on how you can tell if a truck stop is truly one where you should stop or not.

There are a few ways to tell at first sight whether a truck stop is preferable. One thing to look for is lighting. Are there a lot of dark areas in the parking lot or is the area pretty well lit. Usually, if the area is well lit you are pretty safe. Another thing to look at is the people walking around the truck stop. Do they look like people who should be there, people like truck drivers or truck stop staff? If you see a lot of questionable people walking around the parking lot then you might want to see if there is anywhere else you can make it to. You can also check out the area surrounding the truck stop. Check if the area seems clean or if it seems like it might be a problem area.

Another thing you might want to consider when looking at truck stops is maneuverability. Are the parking spaces large enough for your truck and are the aisled wide enough for you to maneuver safely? If you are in too tight a space it may increase the risk of an accident.

Some other ways you may be able to make sure you are stopping at a decent truck stop is by asking around. Try finding a truck driver that has been around long enough to know about different places, he may be willing to give you advice. If you stop at a truck stop and find that it is a bad area, try to see if there are any others close by that you could go to.

It is true that sometimes you don’t have the choice to stop or not, when you are out of hours you are out of hours. If this is the case then just be sure to take precautions to make sure both you and your truck are as safe as possible. Be wary of knocks on your door during the night and take a notice of your surroundings.

Truck driving safety does not stop once your truck does. You always need to be practicing safe habits. Remember that safety is always worth a little bit of extra effort.