Two updates for Tuesday on the shooting of a truck driver last Friday at a TA facility in Oklahoma.
- A spokeswoman for TA released this statement: “TA is aware of last week’s distressing incident involving a truck driver and a security guard at TA’s travel center on South Council Road in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. TA is cooperating fully with the Oklahoma City Police, as is the third-party security company, and we await the conclusion of (the investigation by law enforcement). Our thoughts are with the truck driver and we wish him a quick and full recovery.”
- A spokesman for the Oklahoma City police department said there is no further information on any aspect of the shooting “at this time.” Further, there “won’t be until the DA’s office decides if they want to file charges.”
Please click on the links to find FreightWaves’ earlier stories about the shootings from Sunday and Monday.
Noble1 suggests SMART truck drivers should UNITE & collectively cut out the middlemen from picking truck driver pockets ! UNITE , CONQUER , & YOU'LL PROSPER ! IMHO
UPDATE !
Quote :
February 24 2020
Security guard takes own life days after shooting truck driver with ties to Wichita Falls
Gary
If you park .in a pay spot .then be a big boy and pay.stop making the guard the bad guy.
Benjamin
Out here in the north east every ta is mostly reserved parking only. I had an altercation with a police officer that cost me 350 dollars .because I had to park on a shoulder when Iran out of driving time.why should I have to pay to rest. If I just fueled there.
Benjamin Rivera
This could had been prevented if all the ta around the country stop being so hungry for money.bad enough we pay the highest fuel prices .95 % of parking is reserved.and we dont have enough parking around why should I have to pay for parking when I just fueled 500 dollars.
Noble1 suggests SMART truck drivers should UNITE & collectively cut out the middlemen from picking truck driver pockets ! UNITE , CONQUER , & PROSPER ! IMHO
Ok I found an update regarding this situation with eyewitnesses ..
Quote :
February 19 2020
New details emerge in TA truckstop shooting of trucker parked in reserved parking spot
We are starting to learn through eye witness accounts what may have really happened at the West Oklahoma City TA Service Station early Saturday morning, when a trucker was shot by a security guard hired by the truckstop to protect it and its visitors.
According to eyewitness reports a driver was parked in a reserved parking spot when a 5’8”, 180 lbs security guard in a tan pickup truck approached the white Volvo and flatbed trailer with Texas apportioned plates. According to the eyewitness report, the guard knocked on the truck and woke the 42-year old driver up telling him he needed to move as he was in a reserve parking spot and had not paid to park there.
According to the eyewitness report combined with a heavy redacted incident report obtained by Freight Broker Live, the driver of the semi climbed back into his truck but did not move it. The 45-year old security guard reportedly “laid on his vehicle’s horn” until the truck driver got out of his truck. A physical fight began between the security guard and the truck driver resulted in the guard drawing his .40 Caliber Glock 22 and firing at the driver, who was “shot once as he attempted to continue striking the armed security guard,” the incident report shows.
Freight Broker Live attempted to identify the security guard’s employer with the Oklahoma City Police Department, however according to Sgt. Brad Gilmore the case is still under investigation and has yet to be presented to the District Attorney’s office to determine whether charges will be filed against the security guard or the driver, and because of this names and other details will not be released until the investigation is complete.
In a statement to Freight Broker Live, a spokesperson with TA stated, “TA is aware of last week’s distressing incident involving a truck driver and a security guard at TA’s travel center on South Council Road in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. TA is cooperating fully with the Oklahoma City Police, as is the third-party security company. Our thoughts are with the truck driver and we wish him a quick and full recovery.”
As of the latest update, the truck driver is in “good condition” and “expected to survive” according to police.
Armed security guards in Oklahoma are required to attend 72 hours of training including a 20 hours if on-range instruction and exercises along with a proficiency exam, background check and a letter of employment or proof of a surety bond to become licensed.
This truckstop has 175 total parking spaces, although it is unknown how many of these spaces are held as “reserved” parking for paying truckers. The parking spots retail for $15.00 each night.
To be clear, this truck driver was reportedly shot over $15 dispute that escalated.”
End quote .
Noble1 suggests SMART truck drivers should UNITE & collectively cut out the middlemen from picking truck driver pockets ! UNITE , CONQUER , & PROSPER ! IMHO
…
Quote:
“Armed security guards in Oklahoma are required to attend 72 hours of training including a 20 hours if on-range instruction and exercises along with a proficiency exam,”
Quote:
“The 45-year old security guard reportedly “laid on his vehicle’s horn” until the truck driver got out of his truck.”
Where in this “exam” does it indicate to provoke the driver in such a way by causing a disturbance of the peace by laying on one’s horn and disturbing all the other truckers that are sleeping in the truck stop yard ?
Quote:
“Disturbing the peace, also known as breach of the peace, is a criminal offense that occurs when a person engages in some form of unruly public behavior, such as fighting or causing excessively loud noise. When a person’s words or conduct jeopardizes another person’s right to peace and tranquility, he or she may be charged with disturbing the peace.”
End quotes .
Furthermore , most people who haven’t driven a semi truck believe that they need to knock hard on the vehicle’s door to be heard due to its size . A gentle knock is enough for those inside to hear it . Knocking hard is offensive .
The guard should not have chosen to cause a noise disturbance by leaning on his horn in such an aggressive manner , that’s number one .
This act was a tremendous misjudgment on his part which apparently lead to a fight to break out in retaliation to his behaviour .
I’m sorry but this guard provoked the situation to escalate and therefore should lose the right to perform such a duty , and be held accountable for disturbing the peace and provoking a situation to escalate out of order .
The story states that the driver had climbed back in his truck until that guard’s misjudgement which lead to provocation occurred .
Granted the truck driver should not have behaved in the way he did . However, he was provoked . Both are guilty of making bad choices . Both broke the law . Truck driver’s license should be suspended , fined , and put on probation . Security guard should lose his security guard license permanently , fined , and put on probation .
Security agency should retrain guards to use common sense and act rationally . This unfortunate situation could have been prevented had the security guard enacted a little more rationally .
TA should choose another security agency and test them at spontaneous intervals at all truck stops ,ie: like in an undercover boss situation .
IMHO !
NEXT !
Gabriel S Soto
Why dont we just put the truck driver in a corner till he promises to behave?
GTFOH Suspend the truck drivers license WTF.
Noble1 suggests SMART truck drivers should UNITE & collectively cut out the middlemen from picking truck driver pockets ! UNITE , CONQUER , & PROSPER ! IMHO
You’re right . According to Oklahoma law the truck driver should be prosecuted for assault & battery , put in jail and fined . That way he can keep his license but won’t be able to drive while incarcerated ! Are you happy now ?
GREG O'NEIL
I can see both sides of this, as a truck driver I find it frustrating to find parking to be so difficult to get. Now I actually use paid parking only because I have to. I believe there should be a reward program to get free nights in this program. Here is the truth of the matter, they have not released what really happened leading upto the shooting.
1) was there available slots to buy the right to park there ( if not then there was another driver depending on that spot)?
2) was there other parking available ( probably not but still a question needed to be known)
3) Did this driver really try to find a legal place to park. ( Meaning, by law he has option to use safe haven move to find a spot, did driver do due dilligence here)
4) who was the aggressor, the guard or the driver?
There are more questions true, but i will reserve my opinion until i know more.
Now there is a real issue of parking shortage, improper training, HOS regs, etc. This shooting is proof of these problems.
3)
Cindy
Wow! You haven’t been driving long or do not drive too much. I40 especially around OKC, Amarillo, even Albuquerque has had a shortage for well over 20 years
These are major hubs.
So what’s a driver to seriously do when that little electronic parole officer is telling you you are in violation?
What happens if your delivery is there in town? And you need to park close by to take your 10 and still make your appointment?
No matter what comes out, Security should have called the State Police, they could have assisted both the Security Guard and I am betting, exhausted truck driver. But you give some guys a gun and their finger itches at the chance of using it.
I seriously think T/A needs to scrap their reserved parking. Go with either everyone pays, or no one pays. A whole lot less confusing. Or only fueling customers park free. So you park at night and fuel in the morning or fuel coming in…once their is clear knowledge a driver can decide if they want to pull into their lot or not…that little fuel ticket could be good for 2 days at any T/A Petro…either way, I know how frigging rude it is to have some beligerant dude pounding hard on your truck and you be in a sound sleep, them threatening me about all kinds of stuff…Not even civilized! And you know that trucker wasn’t a big enough threat to try and kill him..
He was tired and pleased and we all have been there. So quit talking like your are polished silver…cuz like I said, some of us actually drive 600 miles every day, can go the speed limit, don’t jump out in fast traffic and impede the flow for 40 miles…Why don’t you come down off that, you got it wired high horse, and realize some of us are not running 400 miles a day and sleep is everything if we are going yo make a living#
Gabriel S Soto
Dam it girl !
I guess you told him lol.
Bottom line no driver should be shot and killed for a parking spot and 15.00. This is all on the T.A. and that third party security service. Third party our not that security guard was representing the T.A when he confronted a truck driver not a civilian.
Noble1 suggests SMART truck drivers should UNITE & collectively cut out the middlemen from picking truck driver pockets ! UNITE , CONQUER , & PROSPER ! IMHO
First you need to be fair . A security guard asked a driver to remove his vehicle from a parking spot which the truck driver had no right to park in .
The truck driver decided to assault and batter the security guard . The security guard drew his fire arm and discharged it shooting the assailant in self defense .
The guard will get off scot free while defending himself in his line of duty while being assaulted & battered by the assailant aka truck driver .
It has nothing to due with the value of a parking spot . The truck driver assaulted the security guard , THAT’S THE POINT !
No matter how unhappy we may be with that security guard’s action , he was ATTACKED physically by the truck driver ! He felt threatened enough to draw his fire arm and discharge it in self defense ! That’s is right under such a circumstance . He didn’t shoot the assailant multiple times . He fired once !
It’s unfortunate , he could have acted differently than to blow his horn and disturb the peace . However, the truck driver chose to attack a guard carrying a gun ! That truck driver is extremely unwise . The truck driver should have removed his truck when asked due to parking in a spot he wasn’t suppose to park in .
PERIOD !
Had the trucker obeyed the truck stop rules and the security guard when asked to remove his truck , this unfortunate situation would have been prevented .
Nobody forces any truck driver to park , fuel , eat , go to the washroom , at a truck stop ! If a truck driver “decides” to use their facility an services , then they must abide by that facility’s rules . PERIOD !
If you or anyone else don’t like their rules then go elsewhere !
Fair enough ? Consider yourselves lucky they just charge $15 for a reserved spot . They could charge you $50 . It’s a freaking tax deductible business expense ! If you don’t like it , go elsewhere or freaking UNITE rather than remaining divided and controlled like puppets and animals !
Truck drivers could literally own the truck stops but they’re to freaking stupid . Due to their stupidity the industry is walking all over them and treating them like dung !!
IMHO ………..
Jeff
I dont use Pilot or TA for anything and wont as long as they have paid parking
Mr.D.
Well ! It’s just a matter of time before the the others follow. You can bet your money on that.
Noble1 suggests SMART truck drivers should UNITE & collectively cut out the middlemen from picking truck driver pockets ! UNITE , CONQUER , & PROSPER ! IMHO
If truck drivers UNITED they wouldn’t have this sort of a “parking problem” nor many others !
All those years that went by and all those times truck drivers stopped at a truck stop and never thought about uniting and owning truck stops collectively through a Cooperative structure . Tsk , tsk , tsk .
Don’t feel bad though , it took awhile for even Warren Buffet to wake up and figure it out until 2017 came around !
Quote: October 2017
Buffett bets on truck stops, to buy majority of Pilot Flying J
End quote .
He’s no truck driver though , YOU ARE ! However, perhaps you should LEARN FROM HIM ! If truck stops are good enough to attract his money , they should be good enough to attract yours COLLECTIVELY !
You truck drivers are the main clients those trucks stops depend on to survive and you can’t do without them !
WHY AREN’T YOU INVESTING IN YOURSELVES COLLECTIVELY ? YOU have the UNITED power to control those truck stops .
Collectively you could also expand and build all the parking & services YOU need wherever you deem them to be necessary !
You truck drivers need to wake up ! All that money of yours that you keep on putting in middlemen pockets is unnecessary .
Start thinking like Buffet ! UNITE & PROSPER !
In my HUMBLE opinion …………..
GREG O'NEIL
I agree that there should be an organization that drivers could join, not a union, but a real group. Like NRA, where there are lawyers and people to be able to defend and represent us.
Jessica Merideth
There is. United states transportation association
Charlie
There is a organization call owner operator independent association they fight for all truckers
Charlie
And I hope the TA gets sued that’s if the victim was in the right
Noble1 suggests SMART truck drivers should UNITE & collectively cut out the middlemen from picking truck driver pockets ! UNITE , CONQUER , & PROSPER ! IMHO
Yes Greg , an Alliance like has never been seen before . A strategic structure that would go down in the history books .
The truck driver Alliance would even put Amazon to shame . I’m talking about an ingenious revolution inspired by wits rather than fists .
A conglomerate with subsidiaries preventing government from breaking it up . Nobody would be capable of competing with it . NOBODY ! The Alliance would expand in all kinds of sectors and industries creating subsidiaries with labourers as its partners .
The first stage would be to gain control over the basics . Agriculture , Mining , and Transportation .
Since we’re in Transportation , we eliminate carriers by becoming the ultimate carrier & broker due to our UNITY ! Nobody can transport diddly squat by road(at first)without going through an Alliance subsidiary . If drivers unite , where are “they” going to get drivers from ???
If drivers could freaking wake up , they would be in a powerful position to endorse autonomous trucks due to our unity in other sectors and industries . These trucks need to haul product . Well , if we position ourselves to unite with labourers who fabricate product , we’re controlling what is being hauled and by who !
Remember , what ever isn’t grown is mined ! CONTROL Agriculture , Mining , & Transportation , and then you control the 1% .
I’m simplifying . Of course we would create our own bank ,mutual , & hedge fund OVERSEAS . Finance is the racket that makes this world turn as we know it . We certainly wouldn’t remain money’s slave . Money(currency) would be our slave .
Start small but think BIG !
IMHO
Noble1 suggests SMART truck drivers should UNITE & collectively cut out the middlemen from picking truck driver pockets ! UNITE , CONQUER , & PROSPER ! IMHO
Are you catching on ? It would trickle down to rendering the consumer our partner. (wink)
Now that is one heck of a game changer !
1% what ??? LOL ! The 1% would be working for the 99% and the 0.01% working for the 1% ! ROTFLMAO ! Eventually we would be 1 , no more subclass , all one class ! An evolution of the human race into uniting into 1 .
Now do you honestly think “truck drivers” have the mindset to embark on such a journey ? LOL !
Why do this for truck drivers ? Because they are among the little one’s being treated like dirt , and that’s unfair and immoral . That’s why ! Truckers are a great asset as well .
If truck drivers remember and never forget how unfairly they’ve been treated , once they reach the top it won’t go to their heads and they’ll extend a hand to all those who are unethically being used just has they have once experienced .
Compassion & wisdom due to experience can conquer the immoral . The immoral simply need restructuring to change their ways . Labourers outnumber them . All they need is a wise structure to persuade them to unite .
IMHO !
Benjamin
I’m sorry for the driver but this is getting worse everyday every time I go to a ta I can’t find parking because they are so greedy about money that they have made 95% of the parking lots reserved.bad enough their fuel prices are the highest in the country and maintenance is just as bad. I got into altercation with a ct state trooper because I couldn’t find parking and why should I have to pay for parking when I just spent 500 in fuel
Gabby
Simple Boycott all T.A. No Truck driver. Take your business somewhere else.
should ever have to pay for a parking period. We pay for parking when we buy there fuel eat there food. The T.A and pilots are taking advantage of truck drivers and were letting them. Now we have one driver dead for what ? 15.00 and a parking space that was free couple years ago.
Noble1 suggests SMART truck drivers should UNITE & collectively cut out the middlemen from picking truck driver pockets ! UNITE , CONQUER , & PROSPER ! IMHO
Everything has a time and place . Currently you aren’t united nor structured to boycott truck stops in a meaningful way .
Once you’re united then you’ll have the upper hand to drive them out of business and replace them , or form a partnership in your favor .
At this point vacating their premises will simply invite another to gladly take your place .
UNITE then strategize . Until then it’s wishful thinking .
IMHO
Cl
I agree something like this was going to happen the TA truck stop take up so much parking spots with paid parking spots, the Petro in Effingham , Il is almost all pay spots. It’s just greed
Stephen Webster
We need to fix the rules so can drive up to 14 hours and a day of up to 17 hours. People who drive into the us on E-logs are losing feet and other health care issues in Ontario Canada. I am currently camped out at queens park after seeing two people lose a foot in a homeless shelter after no longer able to drive truck. I was arrested after I was unable to leave the hospital because of fungus in both feet. A good friend who lost his first leg because of fungus last year. He is now going to lose his second leg after his insurance company stalled paying for a work related injury. He was put in a homeless shelter with no medical care. 5195239586
Geno Cofield
Now you preaching bro! I agree 100…This my 30th year and the industry seems like it has gotten worse. I same we shut it down for a few days and let the toilet paper run out. Bet we be heard then! 🙌🏾😂
Kenneth Fannin
Well, Professional Drivers that are current legal citizens of the USA, Should have a Union, to protect their rights and fight for union wages, retirement, medical .
Freight rates should be regulated also,
Eliminate the lease purchase operator because everyone should know that’s a joke, it only relieves the cost and responsibility of said company, it’s a loophole made by companies to avoid paying driver insurance and taxes.
Noticed how I used the word Professional Diver there is a big difference
CM Evans
I disagree that drivers should unite rather if each individual raised their standards and held others to those standards then we would see greater results. A ground up approach is always best.
Noble1 suggests SMART truck drivers should UNITE & collectively cut out the middlemen from picking truck driver pockets ! UNITE , CONQUER , & PROSPER ! IMHO
Due to your disagreement , remain divided while the majority unite , and we’ll see how far you get and how long you’ll last in this careless cutthroat industry during a capitalist era .
Haven’t you learned yet ? If you want to instill ethics and change people’s mentality it starts in childhood through the educational system by instilling ethics and standards based on truth . To create this change from the “ground up” you need to have influence at the top !
Therefore you UNITE , gain “power” collectively in the process , and then create change from the ground up due to having power to do so at the TOP !
IMHO ………..
Stephen Webster
Too many foreign truck drivers in Canada and the U S to do this without a association or union.