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.
Donald Hill
TA can suck my DEFtank. I never give this greedy establishment my business. May the owner stick his ⛳ club where the 🌞 don’t shine.
Ronny Watson
Was he or had he been drinking
Brittaney Mccloud
Yup if ur not a truck stop b4 5 pm good luck
I hate this electronic logging telling me when I can drive sometimes all I need a I 2hr sleep and I’m good but nooo I gotta waste hours and then when it’s time to drive I’m tired
F.S.Dunn
I use to drive team with my husband but no more to much bull shit out there, It’s all about money now glad we are out of it, Your right the truckers need to come together and stop some of the bull but their not going to, So good guys may God Bless ya and watch everyone one of ya
Javier
The government have lot DOT rules but don’t think about where the driver can take rest, meat or something else.
You can’t drive 11 hours and after that go to any exit for rest or lunch that not is safe.
You need to pay for lot place, why? Where are my taxes?
All drivers need good and safety place.
Thanks
Richard Petty
Let’s all stop driving for a couple weeks and let these mother fuckers starve so then maybe they would appreciate us more in what we do how much longer do these assholes think truck drivers are gonna put up with this shit from u stupid people not much longer i can tell u that let America starve fuck these ungrateful people
R.Dominguez
Fellow truck driver needs some justice here!. I’m glad I don’t go there. The TA money greedy policy is what drove me NOT to take my business there. I go to Love’s instead. I haven’t seen a “Reserved” parking spot at Love’s at all. They know how to earn our business. Thank you Love’s.
Donald Hill
TA can suck my DEFtank. I never give this greedy establishment my business. May the owner stick his ⛳ club where the 🌞 don’t shine.
R.Domingiez
Fellow truck driver needs some justice here!. I’m glad I don’t go there. The TA money greedy policy is what drove me NOT to take my business there. I go to Love’s instead. I haven’t seen a “Reserved” parking spot at Love’s at all. They know how to earn our business. Thank you Love’s.