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Driver shooting update: TA releases statement

John Kingston
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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. 

51 Comments

  1. David C. 15y 2mil+ miles.

    We spend thousands of dollar’s a year in these places and they put us in positions like this. Made out to be criminals just for not seeing a reserved parking spot sign (which are always stacked up at the end of a row out of site). The security guard may have just been doing his job, but the TA hired him then blocked off over 2/3 of the lot at most places which leaves very few free spots to park, they created the conditions for this situation to happen. how long are we going to keep letting them step on our necks before we all stand up and do something about this industry and the way things are.

    1. Noble1 suggests SMART truck drivers should UNITE & collectively cut out the middlemen from picking truck driver pockets ! UNITE , CONQUER , & PROSPER ! IMHO

      HEAR , HEAR !

    2. Stephen Webster

      We need to have a one week strike across Canada and the U S in protest of current rules that caused the truck driver to get shot I am surprised that this has not happened at a Walmart warehouse. I almost got shot 2 years ago at a C S warehouse in Dopois P A.

  2. Steve Strickland

    Time to stop doing any business with TA. Parking and shopping at a truck stop is a choice , and right now Loves gives free parking and that’s who gets my business.

  3. Sheila pingelton

    I dont know the story on why this happened..what I am sure of is how bad I feel for the driver who was probably give out when he parked there. I have seen those pay spots stay empty all night.
    What a shame. Get better driver !!

  4. Tony Rich

    A damn shame and my prayers 🙏 for the driver’s recovery. Piece of shit security guard needs to be thrown under the jail. Truckers have a hard enough time just doing their job and in turn have to deal with this dumb shit…. If we truckers don’t come together our future is doomed. Fuck TA … and Walmart…

    1. FIRST AMERICAN

      WORKING ON THE HUB LAW.THE HUB LAW WILL RULE IN THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY..LOST PAY ROLL TAXES OF IRS TO THE TUNE OF MILLION’S.LOST REVENUE TO PROFFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVER WEEKLY.ABOUT 200 MILE’S A WEEK.

    2. Stephen Webster

      Paid parking is not the problem. I have seen people arrested over a truck parking space in Brampton Ontario. I told them that of their 30 tractor trailer spots. Ten spots should $20.00 cd or $16.00 U S with 20 amp plugs.

  6. Gaylord Fleming

    After reading this you will not see my truck at a ta ever again if there that greedy on reserved spaces they can keep there fuel there restaurant and resevered spaces

    1. James

      This is what you get when you allow the big companies IE Swift Schneider JB Hunt England Warner ect… to dictate what goes on in our industry
      Those companies are the ones that started the reserved parking in our industry and they supported because they cannot find enough truck drivers that can back into tight spaces in the middle of the night!!!!
      And then with the greedy truck stops supporting the reserve parking all is right with the rookie driving segment of our industry!!!
      I have never and I will never pay for a parking place in a truck stop I will move on and find a hotel or whatever I have to do to not pay those greedy bastards I already buy their fuel!!!!

    2. Douglas

      All the truck stops combined most likely bring it over 50 million dollars a year in paid parking they do not do anything to help the driver out take the restaurants out serve shity food it’s time we start boycotting these places and it’s time that the largest organization in this country needs to start standing up for its rights

  8. Noble1 suggests SMART truck drivers should UNITE & collectively cut out the middlemen from picking truck driver pockets ! UNITE , CONQUER , & PROSPER ! IMHO

    Quote:
    “A spokesman for the Oklahoma City police department said there is no further information on any aspect of the shooting “at this time.”

    In other words the update is that there is no update ! LOL !

    I would like to know the truck driver’s version . Apparently there were no other witnesses which is odd . What about TA truck stop surveillance cameras , are there any or none ?

    IMHO

    1. Joe Stewart

      The same thing could hav e happened to me a month ago. The store rep came and started beating on my truck door. Now that’s two feet and it sounds like beating two trash can lids startled and upset I confronted the man since it was not a marked reservation parking. Now I’m a big guy retired army. So the ta man retreated to the safety of the store.
      We as truck drivers are not allowed to Carrie weapons. And I am sure that is a unarmed man laying in the hospital. I call for a ban on all weapons except money wagon s.
      Second: I call on a ban on all truck stops that offer for payment parking.. no restaurants no shop no c-store no fuel no nothing.
      I find it hard to believe tht that the same people that mandated the elog also sells a million of them then in everyone’s hasit to stay legal and freak out and pay
      I also c call for a return on investment. How about a place to plug in and not run your truck in the winter time.
      They don’t care about me and you and it’s all about the money. More to follow.

      1. Noble1 suggests SMART truck drivers should UNITE & collectively cut out the middlemen from picking truck driver pockets ! UNITE , CONQUER , & PROSPER ! IMHO

        Hi Joe ,

        You are the perfect example of what truckers need to learn from due to your background .

        Bravery ,Camaraderie & Unity !

        Who better than a “soldier” to represent such an importance ?

        I wouldn’t dare compare the “battle” that truck drivers are caught up in with the battles that soldiers have fought . However, truck drivers are definitely caught up in a “battle” of their own within this industry .

        If just enough truckers would bravely unite and apply the type of loyalty and camaraderie among one another as soldiers do in the army , and strategically structure themselves to win this battle wisely , they would become the “amazon” of the trucking industry .

        As Jeff Bezos has stated , “Big things start small”. He began small and has risen to the top due to his “wits” ! If he can do it , anybody can ! The first key is “believing” it can be done . The second key is having the “courage” to do it . The third key is the “execution of the plan” without wavering .

        It takes self imposed discipline and persistence to reach the mark .

        IMHO ………….

        1. Bob harmsy

          You are a part of a consortium of people who are the MOSTregulated industry in America SAFETY is the lie supporting all regulations but the consequential result is the confiscation of property, and the integrity demanded to make a living…

      2. Kevin

        That’s right I stopped at a TA only to use all my points for a good meal. I have figured out people like Casey’s and mom and pops sell fuel cheaper than those bastards anyway

      3. Stephen Webster

        The N D P in Canada in 2006 said all truck parking in Canada 30 percent of every truck parking area of over 20 spots should have a 20 amp 110 volts. They said E-logs in Canada would have to give truck drivers freedom to have a 16 hour day plus a 13 hour driving day plus a extra hour when needed because of break down or bad weather. All truck drivers should have all the protection of other workers plus all companies should provide overnight parking that received 5 or more trucks a week.

Comments are closed.

John Kingston

John has an almost 40-year career covering commodities, most of the time at S&P Global Platts. He created the Dated Brent benchmark, now the world’s most important crude oil marker. He was Director of Oil, Director of News, the editor in chief of Platts Oilgram News and the “talking head” for Platts on numerous media outlets, including CNBC, Fox Business and Canada’s BNN. He covered metals before joining Platts and then spent a year running Platts’ metals business as well. He was awarded the International Association of Energy Economics Award for Excellence in Written Journalism in 2015. In 2010, he won two Corporate Achievement Awards from McGraw-Hill, an extremely rare accomplishment, one for steering coverage of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster and the other for the launch of a public affairs television show, Platts Energy Week.