The trucking industry’s tensions over adequate parking can be seen as a backdrop to an incident Friday in Oklahoma that left a truck driver in the hospital after being shot by a security guard at a truck stop.
According to several local news reports, the incident took place at a TA Truck Center in Oklahoma City, near the intersection of South Council Road and Interstate 40. The shooting occurred in a section of the truck stop with reserved truck parking.
Sgt. Brad Gilmore of the Oklahoma City Police Department, quoted by local news outlets, described the incident as occurring when the security guard for the truck stop was checking the reserved spots. “Apparently the security guard was out there checking that when a disagreement happened,” Gilmore was quoted as saying. “A physical altercation took place. The security guard discharged his firearm.”
The driver, who was not identified in the news stories, was taken to a local hospital. Charges were not filed against the security guard, though Gilmore indicated evidence could be presented to the local district attorney, who could pursue further action.
The report on the shooting from local television station KWTV quoted a truck driver on the scene named Jimmy Combs. His comments seem to sum up the issue with parking that truck drivers face every day.
“That’s pretty severe force when you’re taking somebody down for parking in somebody’s parking spot,” Combs was quoted as saying. “Most of the time long-haul truck drivers are tired. They run eight, 10, 12 hours and when they want to go to sleep, they go to sleep. You wake them up, I mean if I get woke up, I’m kind of in a bad mood.”
In last year’s annual survey of the biggest issues facing trucking from ATRI, the research arm of the American Trucking Associations, drivers put parking as the No. 3 issue. A year earlier, it was second. In the 2018 survey, management listed parking as the ninth biggest concern. In the most recent survey, it didn’t place in the top 10 in the view of management.
Don
The security guard and the truck stop should be sued….. but mostly the security guard for excessive force
Viper
What is even more troubling about parking. You pull into a rest area late at nite. All truck parking areas are full. But the car area with truce as much parking. Available is just about empty… If you pull your rig in that area and try to grab a few hours of nap time.. You get woke up and run off by the. State law.. The same ones that enforce your hours of service… Make no difference if you have no more hours to drive…
Torian Terrell
I think it’s ridiculous that he got shot over a parking spot. Now that’s going to cost a driver more time and money , for this lethal Force and being very unconsidered to a guy whose drove 10 to 12 hours this TA needs to be sued it is very hard out here for us drivers.
EARL RELLINGER
There were many a time I’ve pulled into a truck stop for the night & it was full. If you aren’t there by 7:30 you are basically SOL . Forced to go to an industrial area or park on oa ramp, both unsafe. I’m glad I’m now retired from trucking.
Willie Wilson
I would have to say that its a big problem only because i have seen at truck stop seven or eight reserved spots with no trucks in them and ten or eleven trucks parking were ever they can
Jake
The reserved parking should be removed from any truck stop. have an area where the Bob tailors would park . And all the parking could improve yet. but I find most managers at the truck stops are there only for bigger pay checks. And I think the department of transportation has a bunch of people working in offices that don’t even know what trucking really is
Jake
The reserved parking should be removed from any truck stop have an area where the Bob tailors would park all the parking could improve yet but I find most managers at the truck stops are there only for bigger pay checks. I think the department of transportation has a bunch of people working in offices that don’t even know what trucking really is
Mark
To shoot someone under any circumstances is insane . Being a retired Truck driver And away from home for weeks at a time rest at any point is nesasarry for the safety of many traveling on the roads to shoot any person for working hard to make a living away from family and friends for so much time is insane and should be held accountable.It is easy while holding a gun to walk away!!!!
Paul D Coughlin
I absolutely agree….
Robert Spicer
Just do away with reserve parking completely. It is nothing but greed on the truck stops part anyways.