How safe are you really, when you’re out on the road? We hear on the news about how an individual registers at a trucking school, misses the first two days of class and shows up on the third day attired in dress slacks, dress shirt, loafers with no socks, ready to learn how to drive an eighteen-wheeler. And he isn’t interested in learning how to back the tractor-trailer rig. But he does want to know all about Haz-Mat hauling and background checks. Now that’s a red flag; and yes, Homeland Security was called and the individual is in custody while the investigation continues.

What about the individual who doesn’t raise a red flag? A true terrorist is going to do his or her level best to blend in, to look like one of us. One doesn’t need to go to an American trucking school to learn the nuances of operating a big rig. This could be learned almost any place in the world. All this terrorist needs is your truck, a place to load whatever evil device he’d detonate, and enough time to get to his target before he’s discovered.

So how are you protected against becoming the provider of a weapon of mass destruction? Well, there’s Highway Watch. It’s great if you see a suspicious situation, vehicle, or person; call the special contact number, provide the information to the operator, and they’ll contact the correct agency to go out and investigate. But how’s this going to help you if you’re driving a loaded Hazmat truck? You’re required to park it at a truck stop’s Hazmat safe haven area, back in the darkest corner of their parking lot. A group of terrorists knock you over the head with a tire thumper, take your cell phone and stuff you in the trailer. By the time the authorities locate you, you’re many pieces spread over another Ground-Zero. Not a comforting thought.

Another scenario: You haul general commodities. You’re running up against your eleven hour rule, or maybe even past it, because for two hours you’ve been looking for a place to park and take your ten-hour rest break. You finally give up because you can hardly keep your eyes open, and park on the shoulder of the entrance ramp that will return you to the interstate in the morning. This ramp is in a dark, rural area of the interstate. The terrorists have been staking out this area for months. They know how often a trooper comes by to wake up illegally-parked truckers and get them to move. The terrorists selected this particular ramp because it’s not regularly patrolled. You’ve finally drifted off to a deep sleep—BAM! BAM! on your cab. You’re up and checking out who’s at the door; or maybe you figure, “I’ll stay back here, and the trooper will leave.” Either way, the last thing in your life you remember is the glass of your door window breaking, and your truck is a national headline.

It seems as if the government has put not only your personal security on the back burner by not resolving the terrible parking situation for truckers, but it’s ignoring one of the fundamental duties of a government: to protect its citizens.

States are continuing to close down and block off rest areas, claiming budget cutbacks. Communities are regularly turning down applications to build truck stops because they don’t want ‘that kind of element’ in their backyard. Large superstores have parking restrictions prohibiting tractor-trailers. And shippers and receivers have policies that forbid truckers from parking on their premises except for pick-ups and deliveries.

Truck and driver security doesn’t exist for the large majority of truckers in this country. The federal government says parking for trucks is a state problem. State governments say they don’t have the money, and local communities want trucks to pick-up or deliver their loads and get out. Is it going to take an incident that surpasses the tragedy of 9/11 to wake us up? Let’s hope not.

The bottom line is, it’s again up to we truckers to take the bull by the horns. We need to have our voices heard for the security of our country. Contact your local government, your state representatives, and the politicians in Washington. Leave messages late at night when you can’t find a safe place to park. [United States Capitol switchboard (202) 224-3121.] The only way to get them to see the gravity of the situation is to let them know at the time it’s a problem. The more of us who call and leave messages, the more they’ll see into what danger they’re putting every American. Do it for you, your family, and your country.

And remember, it’s your company, your truck, and your country.

Timothy D. Brady is a 20 + year trucking veteran and AMSA’s 2002 Super Van Operator of the Year HHG. He’s the “Trucker’s Business Advisor” on Sirius Road Dog Network’s “Open Road Café” Wednesday mornings. Brady has authored several trucking business books and is available for speaking engagements and to conduct workshops.

Contact him at tbrady@writeuptheroad.com or (800) 292-8072.