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According to the FMCSA’s 2022 Crime Prevention for Truckers Study, female truck drivers often encounter harassment at truck stops, fueling stations, and rest areas. Moreover, these places are frequently labeled high-risk areas due to insufficient security and monitoring.
Given the current truck parking landscape, female truckers may find themselves in locations with limited fencing, security personnel, or surveillance. For those facing a shortage of secure parking options, here are the practical tips to help ensure your safety and peace of mind on the road:
Find Parking in Advance
Reserving space at a parking lot is undoubtedly a good way to get a good night’s sleep, but choosing the right location is key to staying safe. Following these options, female truck drivers can find it easier to secure parking tailored to their needs and enjoy greater peace of mind.
Work on Your Situational Awareness
While every truck driver needs to stay focused on the road, female truckers must also prioritize safety when parked. Practicing situational awareness means staying vigilant and regularly scanning your surroundings for anything unusual.
This awareness includes observing the body language, expressions, and actions of others nearby. Often, your intuition will guide you in steering clear of potentially uncomfortable or unsafe situations. Listening to these instincts can be one of the most valuable tools in ensuring safety on the road.
Carry Protective Equipment
Deciding whether to carry self-protective equipment is a personal choice, but if you do, be sure to learn how to use it effectively. Pepper spray, for example, is popular for its compact size and ease of use. Keep it easily accessible so you can act quickly if faced with a threatening situation, helping you to safely and swiftly leave danger behind. There are several different types of non lethal items to help you ward off trouble.
You can opt for a different self-protective equipment, but what’s more important is knowing how to use it properly. Hence, spend some time familiarizing yourself with how the self-defense tool works before taking it with you on the road.
Do Not Share Your Location
Social media platforms are great for keeping in touch with friends and family, but the information you share can be used by total strangers. Despite your job requiring you to travel across the country, you should still avoid sharing your live location with the public.
Overall, if you want to protect yourself while at work, review your privacy settings and ensure your account is private and that your friend list contains only the people you personally know.
Lock the Doors When Sleeping
As a woman, you might see hacks on how to lock the hotel door to prevent anyone from opening it and entering your room. Use the same techniques for locking your truck doors when sleeping.
To do that, you can attach the tarping strap to the door to give it this extra layer of protection. You can also install a door alarm for added peace of mind. These precautions help create a secure environment, allowing you to sleep more soundly, knowing your truck is well-protected.
Change Your Working Hours
Switching to earlier hours of work can be another good idea for female truckers to stay safe and sound. Hitting the road earlier will prevent you from looking for a place to stay at night, and you may even finish your work or secure a parking place before it gets dark.
If you plan your route carefully, you can arrive at a safe spot with plenty of daylight left, which reduces risks and allows you to settle in comfortably. Additionally, working early also means avoiding traffic and reaching your destinations quicker.
Adopt a Dog
For many female truck drivers, having a dog onboard provides both companionship and an added sense of security. Dogs are naturally protective and can alert you to any suspicious activity nearby.
Beyond the security benefits, a dog makes for a wonderful travel partner, offering friendship and a sense of home on long hauls. Having a dog also encourages breaks for exercise, which is certainly useful for both the mental and physical health of any truck driver.
Taking a dog onboard also helps reduce feelings of loneliness and boosts morale, making long trips more enjoyable and less isolating.
Final Thoughts
Incorporating these safety parking tips will help female truckers have an easier and more confident experience on the road. Selecting the right parking location, starting your work earlier, and even getting a dog onboard can greatly improve female truck drivers’ personal safety.
No matter what self-defense equipment you carry, being aware of your surroundings and listening to your intuition are key to avoiding risky situations.
By Evan Shelley