Back in the late 80's or early 90's my father (also a trucker) was going through Detroit in the middle of the night. Up ahead there was a guy in a wheelchair crossing the street. My dad noticed that there were people on both sides of the road standing and waiting for something, namely for the truck to stop for the guy crossing the street so they could swarm it. So dad blew the horn, floored it and the wheelchair guy got up and ran. We always joked that that was the night dad healed a cripple.
Alabama once I was out of hours and slept in mall parking after 6 hours police officer knocked the door and calmly said move from here now as it is not polite neighbourhood to rest , he told me that ha parked beside my truck for whole time (+5 hrs) while I was sleeping , he just guarded me later I checked internet and news , yes lot of stories in that area. police officer was real hero.
I saw some jackass try to brake-check a semi today on I-70 in Indianapolis but luckily the truck driver was skilled enough to change lanes and get around the pest.
My older brother is a lifetime trucker who started about 1980 while I was still a school kid. The first thing he taught me when I rode along during summer breaks from school was not to interact with anyone in anything but a perfect public setting and especially don't ever try to joke around with strange truckers - his reasoning was "ya never know their mental state / intentions and if they have a gun or not". Even on those rides, I remember him stopping at certain places at night saying "we will sleep here for a while - we aren't going into the dock till after daylight". Once we did go in, the place was in the middle of some rough area like projects in NYC which even as a 12 year old kid I thought was "post apocalyptic" looking war zone with burned out cars lining the streets and trash and abandoned buildings all around. The docks where behind metal doors that where manned by armed guards - pull up and honk and they usher your truck in as fast as possible so none of the locals had time to cause trouble. ...fast forward 20-some years and I'm in a service truck trying to work on equipment at a construction site in Washington DC. I get done an emergency and leave to head home about 9PM, then drive right into the "hood" where the local taunt you / block the streets hoping you will bump them with your vehicle so they can start a fight....or go to job site where they tell you to lock your doors and you have to call the office for them to open the electric gate and see the fence is electrified with high voltage like a concentration camp to keep the locals out... a lot of the same issues.... and it mostly goes with trashy inner cities...
6:30 reminded me of Detroit. I went to a west side neighborhood to deliver furniture. It was getting dark and there were a lot of people wandering around on the sidewalks. Turned onto a side street and arrived at a large garage type building for a curb side unload. The receiver was there and ready. There people were like bodyguards who whisked me into the building. The buyer was there with a briefcase and a few big guys around him. He told me to stay where I was and his men would handle everything. After about 45min of listening to the sounds of the inner city at full tilt, He indicated that the transaction had been completed to his satisfaction. He opened the brief case and produced a large wad of cash. As I received the cash, He told me not to linger in the area, a rapid departure would be best. A few of his men pealed off to hurry me back to my cab and away I rode. What an odd evening that I will never forget.
You BELIEVE it was called Cabrini Green LOL? Cabrini Green was one of the most dangerous projects in American History. You're a legend and I love the stories of your experiences lol.
while hauling reefer delivering in New York or crossing Detroit I found people got bolt cutters and as u stop on lights they will cut the seal and throw beef boxes out of truck (robin hood style) later I always had nut and bolt tightened coz no one carries tools and never fully stopped at lights just adjust speed to green and slow accordingly don't complete stop. I have also delivered in Chicago downtown produce place , locals will hang on mirrors and stand on step charge 5-10 dollars(long ago)to Navigate and help backup.
The guy that got killed in Detroit the company probably just found another driver close and still delivered the load. I got bumped on an appointment in Detroit couple months ago and there was no way I was staying in that neighborhood. I ended up driving about 15 miles north to a safe area and waited. The place I was delivering had a huge auxilary parking lot where they could have easily put about 50 trucks but they said no parking in the facility.
I know I'm a little late to the comments, but great video Dave! I'm just starting my career in trucking (Heavy Rigid in Australia doing local deliveries), and seen a bunch of your videos! You have helped me wise up before I get started, cheers mate!
early 80's, the dispatcher wanted me to pickup a cigarette load going to Jersey...I called the consignee for a delivery appt., and they started giving me instructions about calling ahead from a certain distance out(no cellphones back then), and not stopping or getting out around the warehouse...I didn't take that load
I really appreciate you taking the time to give advice sincerely I've been through some bad times too thanks again ... your friend from Brownsville, TX...
I drove team for a company that did a lot of ‘high value’ loads. There were all kinds of safety protocols in place, but it still made me a bit nervous. The thieves figured out a long time ago that a 53’ full of cigarettes, for instance, is worth millions of dollars. Thanks for all your great stories, Dave! ✨👍🏻✨
I'm from Chicago and you're close to pronouncing it correctly. It's Cabrini-Green projects. It's since been torn down but still not a good place to be. Never was and never will be. And yes those overpasses are treacherous. Even the locals have a difficult time navigating them
19:40 is the best tip I ever heard. Thank you for that. Beware of you destination before yo get there. along this lines (I am not a trucker yet but considering it) about 12 years ago or so my wife’s best friend relocated to Chicago and so we planned a trip to go see her with the kids. Our kids were just very young. I am native from Spain and bottom line; I like to do scenic routes so on this trip I turned off Highways, toll roads and bridges. I ended up in a location north of Indiana known to my wife (and me totally unbeknownst of at the time) to be extremely dangerous approaching the evening hours. She realized I was in jeopardy and started to call me all the worst words you can name anyone in Spanish. The kids had a blast and learned some good words for the future and I learned a good lesson. Keep scenic routes to those well planned ahead truly scenic (America has plenty) but when you are moving your family with you from A to Z take the highway man! PS: to this day when planning a trip first comment out of my kids “No scenic ride cabron!” And we all have a big laugh. Only my wife seems to have a harder time accepting that trip could had costed us a lot more than money.
Listening to your horror stories, makes me glad I always worked "dedicated runs" into areas I knew about or had other company drivers give me the low-down on......WHEW.....I led a charmed truckers life for sure!!
I love these stories. My dad who was a trucker in the 70's to early 2000s has a bunch of stories that he somehow remembers. The other day he told me that the one accident that he was actually in, he was parked, brakes engaged, in the back of the trailer, and a junk pickup truck who goes around collecting junk to go to the scrap yard for money rear ended the trailer. It clipped part of the trailer and totaled the pickup. Everyone was okay though so that's all that matters. Trailer had no damage to it. Guy wasn't going that fast though. Dad said that like 2 weeks later the family of the guy called his company and asked them to pay for a new pickup truck. His company pretty much laughed at that and said "He hit our truck it's not on us to do that"
Wow, they sent you near Cabrini Green. Did your Trucking company or Dispatcher have a death wish for you. I could have my H&K on my him along with my SCAR-17 and I wouldn't gone ten miles near that place. When it did exist it was one of the most dangerous housing projects in the country. As a non-trucker these videos are so fascinating to see the crap you guys have to deal with.
Likely this has been thought of a thousand times already. There needs to be an online database or perhaps a smartphone app that stays updated with trouble spots. Before accepting a load, the driver can take a moment to check if a destination is in the database and if so, why. Wouldn't it be nice if Garmin put those cautions in the GPS units? Maybe rank them as to risk level or type of risk. Thanks for sharing these stories.
I went to E.St Louis several times to drop a empty and pick up a loaded trailer which I had to chain and sometimes tarp,it was always 2 or 3 AM pickup. I called dispatch one time and was told "never go there after dark you"ll get mugged" I thought gee thanks for the warning. After all I"d been there after dark at least 3 or 4 times . Also had guys jump on grab the mirror mount and demand a ride. Had one guy passed out under my trailer I Would have ran him over if I just got in and took off.Thank GOD for helping keep me safe all them years.
The new truck drivers don't realize how difficult it was to get around some cities back in the day when you had to physically look at a map and try and figure out where Bridges were. Also trying to rely on a customer giving you bad directions
Unless the company gives better directions now, it's probably worse with a GPS device or other digital mapping software or service if you don't check its directions for legs not suitable for trucks or the load you're pulling.
hi my friend i am so happy to find a man like you in TH-cam telling everybody the truck about trucking industry my name is Robert and I'm from Dominican republic's I living in Florida and I already have my CDL 5 year's ago I haven't worked for any truck company since I got my license but I have been considered to work as a truck driver and I just want to be very careful thank you man
Fort Street is like a Scooby-Doo ghost town now. I went to truck driving school off of Fort Street in Detroit and I wouldn't dare be over there at night now.
Never let your guard down. Two drivers were beaten and robbed this week at a Wisconsin rest stop. Thugs waited until they were in the stalls doing their business.
Most dispatchers don't tell you anything except addresses no other info, they don't even have that info, the info goes through so many people before it gets to the driver
I used to deliver pizza boxes to a food service supplier that was in the deepest darkest depths of Detroit. They had big signs in their lot warning you not to park overnight and to lock your doors even if you were sitting in your truck because it was a high crime area. I never had a problem there but I was always nervous going in there.
Thanks for all your videos! I sure have learned so much from your videos and your information sure made me think twice about trucking. I think I will stick to being a Janitor! lol! Love 4Truth!
Thank you sir im a newer driver but have been around the block a few times! I am in my late 50s and know exactly what your talking about ! Again thanks !!
The Chicago cops will not even go into Cabrini Green. One of the most notorious complexes in this country. Must have been sooo scary! Yikes! Glad you made it out of all those incidents without any harm coming to you!
You are so right about that even at rest stops now people are getting robbed going in using the restrooms at the rest stops there's been two of them in Wisconsin this month already thanks for the information
They tore down most of the housing projects like Cabrini Green here in Chicago & instead of quelling the gang violence & drug dealing it just spread it out to surrounding areas of the city & suburbs. Now Chicago is MUCH, MUCH WORSE.. I will deliver or pick up anywhere in Chicago due to my familiarity with the City but much prefer to do business in the far west, southwest & northwest suburbs. Much safer & still plenty of good paying freight.
John Spano Well you can get a carry permit in Chitcago, Crook County, HELLinois now....because the supreme court told those stupid corrupt freedom hating dirty corrupt evil dildos in the state government to go fornicate themselves.
Another place to avoid like the plague for nothing but low clearances is Edison, NJ. We spent over 2 hours trying to get back on the big road after mistakenly exiting off... with no re-entry ramp like there usually is beyond the cross road. If not for an empathetic local log hauler, I'm not sure we would have ever found our way out of there. After all that, Baxter Medical expected me to lump their load of supplies that was stacked floor to ceiling, nose to tail, and not even on pallets. I was out of hours, and stood my ground about not being a combo driver-lumper. Atleast it wasn't a dangerous area at that time... yall stay safe out there!
My wife and I grew up in Battle Creek Michigan / Kalamazoo Michigan and we have taken i94 through Chicago a few times the best time I have found to pass through Downtown Chicago and Traveling Through Nashville Tennessee is Early 4/5 O Clock AM
Great stories! I've been driving since 1980 and familiar with some of the areas you mention in your stories. I've got some stories as well and fortunately, managed to get out unscathed.
7:29 Dude. Caprini Green is a notorious, infamous, dangerous housing project. Famous, worldwide, as being lawless and dangerous. I have known this since 1983. Yikes.
I truck in Canada, so not too worried about getting jacked, but I do haul a different kind of dangerous good - jet fuel with a b-train tanker. My biggest concern is idiot drivers driving like morons.
I’m a beer delivery driver here In south texas my route runs through Brownsville texas, Whenever i deliver in downtown I always keep my head on a swivel sometimes I notice the locals staring at me and the truck with a side loader trailer which is pretty easy to open to do a beer run lol, but my supervisors have said that no one has stolen anything from the trucks in years but I don’t even leave my phone or wallet when I go in and unload. Even if I’m charging my phone I still take it off with me.
Your are so SO RIGHT, because it is MY Grandsons real live happening , second month of team driving [in training] with a ex-vet. the rest of the tail I wish I could tell you,but he got away, and call for someone to come a get him ASAP..... It was all recorded as it happen. on his cell phone, relaid back to dispatch while it was happening........ What I think is so sad is the company he was -team-working with, did not care enough to call the police. SO it isn't just on the outside of your truck, but inside of your truck too.
I do deliveries in the early am to restuarants. I'm usually alone, so I'm always watching for the "early am freaks". I''ve never had any problems, but a co worker of mine was making a delivery while someone else was robbing the place. the crook hood under the pool table in the bar, and the delivery went without any problems. the owner told my co worker about it.
Heading into Hunts Point one time, I had a (I assume) guy dressed up as a lady pushing a baby carriage. Shoved that thing right out in the street in front of my truck. Knowing that neighborhood, I was sure it was a way to get me to stop, which I didn't do. No idea what was in the carriage to this day.....
i've been to Hunt's Point several times. Paid the $25.00 entry fee. Parked there overnight. Never had a problem there. I had problems getting to Hunts point driving through bad neighborhood .
As a flatbed company driver I refuse to cross a picket line and it almost cost me my job. But if I had been fired I was fine with that. My father a UAW member at gem for 20 years. If not for the UAW i and my sister would NOT have had as good a life growing as we did.
a picket line is employees that are... a. on strike to get improvements in the agreement with their employer, b. locked out because their employer does not want meet or negotiate for an equitable contract.
Richard Misel jr I have to say one thing. longshoreman at port Elizabeth/Newark nj, earn a base pay of 90,000, with overtime, 150,000. the truckers who come to move containers, get paid 50or 75 bucks to pull containers. a port trucker can run all hrs, even run illegal hrs, and his/her earnings will be nowhere near. the people working at ports treat truckers like garbage,scum. they'll threaten to lockout or ban driver, over something minor. to top it off, these arrogant longshoreman, not very intelligent, have basic ged, or hs diploma, they lack tbe ability to make sound judgement or reason in a fast moving environment like a port. they rely on walki talki too much, again limited thinking ability . they drop the f bomb in every sentence of a coversation, very rude. sometimes, karma comes back to haunt, that's how I feel. eventually, ports will go automated, longshoreman already an archaic job title of the 1800s, will be obsolete. I'm not anti union just because i despise longshoreman. in fact, I work at a truck company that has a unionized workforce, but my feelings of port workers, not the same.
Ever been to Hunts Point? I have, many times. I've always carried just in case. Dad never did over his 30 plus years, and, always reminded me that it was illegal, until his first time there. I was right behind him and saw that he was in deep shinola! I then proceeded to get my S-W model 29 out and walk up toward dads truck. My dad was a big man but no match for 6 guys. I walked up and put my Dirty Harry style 44 Magnum against one of their heads then cocked it. They all heard this and stopped trying to intimidate dad. I couldn't resist saying "Do ya feel lucky punk?!?". Dad didn't even own a gun at the time. He met me at a local shop that weekend and bought a .45 though! I know we're not allowed to carry but many of us do for just this kind of situation.
Stratton Pa I had a guy jump on my flatbed next turn I was getting on the interstate. I went as fast as I could shaking the truck as hard as possible. I have no idea what happened to that guy.
My brother and I were team driving. delivering Castro street seafood , bro mike woke me up. Much to my surprise to bare ass chaps walking down Castro street . (one of my favorite trucking memories).
One time many years ago I had to deliver out by Vettans Stadium in Philly. I think it was a produce load. They allowed trucks on the property overnight and it was gated. I go to use the porta-pot and see many hypodermic needles in the urinal and I was like, oh boy, I could be in danger here. Another time I was delivering in Detroit and I never park on the street there, usually stay at the Detroiter. Go into rcvr and signs said, truck parking allowed on street, but it's not recommended. Used to truck into Canada all the time, don't any more, too much hassle. The Ambassador bridge crossing. I think the border town in Canada is Windsor. You go through Windsor, very busy, lots of traffic and somewhat chaotic. That said the town looked nice. Nice houses, grass trimmed, no graffiti, looks nice, feels nice. Then you cross into Detroit. First thing I usually experienced was a pothole that could swallow a truck, the next was seeing overturned cars and trash cans on fire. Neighborhood run down and it looked dangerous. I was like WTF is this, where am I?
Cabrini Green was a sh!# hole. Now is a posh area. I'm not a trucker, but I believe east of the L is trucker trap. Before heading on consult a truck specific map
Caprini Green? Good Lord man! Phew....they tore that sucker down with live ammo and a small ICBM....lmao. Yeaaaah Good Lord always looks out for fools and babies...lmao! Good stuff Dave👍
I recall a tv documentary showing the dirty thieves breaking into trucks at truck stop and roadways. In no time the locks to the trailers were cut,the loads were stolen,at times without the driver even knowing what had hit him/her.
when you go to jfk, go to the plaza thats at "wendys 150th & 148th s 148th queens NY" trailers park on the street around it and at that plaza theres a Wendys, 7eleven, pizzeria, and a qdoba, and they have a big restroom, ive been going there for at least the last 5 years and havent seen anything sketchy.
It is NOT an option anymore! You must be prepared to protect yourself at all times! Owning a gun and being trained is NOT an option. If you don’t, you will have no one to blame but yourself. Sad but true! It is better to have the ability to protect yourself and you family and never having to use a gun then to be in that 1 time when it is absolutely necessary. Think about it, right now, if someone was to invade your home or truck in this instance, WHAT would you do? Are you prepared? If it happened right now this second, what would the outcome be. It is truly amazing how many people have never thought about this question. Whoever reads this, think! Hopefully this saves you life or someone you love one day.
Back in the late 80's or early 90's my father (also a trucker) was going through Detroit in the middle of the night. Up ahead there was a guy in a wheelchair crossing the street. My dad noticed that there were people on both sides of the road standing and waiting for something, namely for the truck to stop for the guy crossing the street so they could swarm it. So dad blew the horn, floored it and the wheelchair guy got up and ran. We always joked that that was the night dad healed a cripple.
Alabama once I was out of hours and slept in mall parking after 6 hours police officer knocked the door and calmly said move from here now as it is not polite neighbourhood to rest , he told me that ha parked beside my truck for whole time (+5 hrs) while I was sleeping , he just guarded me later I checked internet and news , yes lot of stories in that area. police officer was real hero.
Tht wuz up stay safe
Your making a hell of a case for constitutional carry. Just saying..
I could listen to good stories like this all day.
I saw some jackass try to brake-check a semi today on I-70 in Indianapolis but luckily the truck driver was skilled enough to change lanes and get around the pest.
My older brother is a lifetime trucker who started about 1980 while I was still a school kid. The first thing he taught me when I rode along during summer breaks from school was not to interact with anyone in anything but a perfect public setting and especially don't ever try to joke around with strange truckers - his reasoning was "ya never know their mental state / intentions and if they have a gun or not". Even on those rides, I remember him stopping at certain places at night saying "we will sleep here for a while - we aren't going into the dock till after daylight". Once we did go in, the place was in the middle of some rough area like projects in NYC which even as a 12 year old kid I thought was "post apocalyptic" looking war zone with burned out cars lining the streets and trash and abandoned buildings all around. The docks where behind metal doors that where manned by armed guards - pull up and honk and they usher your truck in as fast as possible so none of the locals had time to cause trouble. ...fast forward 20-some years and I'm in a service truck trying to work on equipment at a construction site in Washington DC. I get done an emergency and leave to head home about 9PM, then drive right into the "hood" where the local taunt you / block the streets hoping you will bump them with your vehicle so they can start a fight....or go to job site where they tell you to lock your doors and you have to call the office for them to open the electric gate and see the fence is electrified with high voltage like a concentration camp to keep the locals out... a lot of the same issues.... and it mostly goes with trashy inner cities...
Stay far away from projects in any state! No matter what race you are! If you don't stay there, don't go near there please.
Wise words
I doubt them kids had fathers
Got a laugh out of me there! Dave
Why do you doubt they have fathers?
Someone upstairs has definitely been looking out for you Dave.
I have been lucky, upon occasion! Dave
That's true 🇯🇲
6:30 reminded me of Detroit.
I went to a west side neighborhood to deliver furniture. It was getting dark and there were a lot of people wandering around on the sidewalks.
Turned onto a side street and arrived at a large garage type building for a curb side unload.
The receiver was there and ready. There people were like bodyguards who whisked me into the building.
The buyer was there with a briefcase and a few big guys around him.
He told me to stay where I was and his men would handle everything.
After about 45min of listening to the sounds of the inner city at full tilt, He indicated that the transaction had been completed to his satisfaction.
He opened the brief case and produced a large wad of cash.
As I received the cash, He told me not to linger in the area, a rapid departure would be best.
A few of his men pealed off to hurry me back to my cab and away I rode.
What an odd evening that I will never forget.
Wow! Dave
Sounds like you unknowingly delivered something different to them
We need guns in our trucks!
And country-wide permits.
Then get one. There's no federal law against it, and add long as you stay out of certain jurisdictions, you're okay.
Yes truck driver shoot have a permit for all states to carry fire arm ..
There wouldn't have been any fathers over that hill, just adult gang members. Few in those kinds of neighborhoods know who their father is.
All truckers should stay out of California.
Jay T
Agreed!
yes, starve that state full of liberals out of existence make them realize how detrimental and un constitutional their stupid laws can be
Jay T -- California is one colossal toilet. The sooner it sinks into the ocean, the better.
That is not even close to the true story.
Couldn't agree more 😛
The majority of Chicago projects was built close to downtown and off the freeway but they all tore down now! Great story
Drive down Pershing and they're still hanging off the back of the reefer like lampreys. lol
Just because the ghetto buildings have been torn down doesn’t mean the areas are safe. The area is still shit!
You BELIEVE it was called Cabrini Green LOL? Cabrini Green was one of the most dangerous projects in American History. You're a legend and I love the stories of your experiences lol.
Really enjoyed listening to this young man
Thanks Ray, and nobody's called me young for quite some time, so I appreciate that as well! Dave
while hauling reefer delivering in New York or crossing Detroit I found people got bolt cutters and as u stop on lights they will cut the seal and throw beef boxes out of truck (robin hood style) later I always had nut and bolt tightened coz no one carries tools and never fully stopped at lights just adjust speed to green and slow accordingly don't complete stop. I have also delivered in Chicago downtown produce place , locals will hang on mirrors and stand on step charge 5-10 dollars(long ago)to Navigate and help backup.
The guy that got killed in Detroit the company probably just found another driver close and still delivered the load. I got bumped on an appointment in Detroit couple months ago and there was no way I was staying in that neighborhood. I ended up driving about 15 miles north to a safe area and waited. The place I was delivering had a huge auxilary parking lot where they could have easily put about 50 trucks but they said no parking in the facility.
As a mover for 30 years, I was mostly in good neighborhoods. After hearing your tales, glad that I never did any general freight hauling.
I've delivered at that place in Detroit on a dedicated run and parked in that same lot as him. That news was a wake up call for me
I know I'm a little late to the comments, but great video Dave! I'm just starting my career in trucking (Heavy Rigid in Australia doing local deliveries), and seen a bunch of your videos! You have helped me wise up before I get started, cheers mate!
It's a jacked up world we live in these days. When it comes to shit like this. I'm glad you're still here to tell these stories.
Delivered a few times on Fort Street in the early 80's. We always had to be in there before 3am. Seen three people get killed down there.
early 80's, the dispatcher wanted me to pickup a cigarette load going to Jersey...I called the consignee for a delivery appt., and they started giving me instructions about calling ahead from a certain distance out(no cellphones back then), and not stopping or getting out around the warehouse...I didn't take that load
I really appreciate you taking the time to give advice sincerely I've been through some bad times too thanks again ... your friend from Brownsville, TX...
I drove team for a company that did a lot of ‘high value’ loads. There were all kinds of safety protocols in place, but it still made me a bit nervous. The thieves figured out a long time ago that a 53’ full of cigarettes, for instance, is worth millions of dollars. Thanks for all your great stories, Dave! ✨👍🏻✨
Love hearing your stories the good the bad and the ugly of trucking from experience
I'm from Chicago and you're close to pronouncing it correctly. It's Cabrini-Green projects. It's since been torn down but still not a good place to be. Never was and never will be. And yes those overpasses are treacherous. Even the locals have a difficult time navigating them
19:40 is the best tip I ever heard. Thank you for that. Beware of you destination before yo get there.
along this lines (I am not a trucker yet but considering it) about 12 years ago or so my wife’s best friend relocated to Chicago and so we planned a trip to go see her with the kids. Our kids were just very young. I am native from Spain and bottom line; I like to do scenic routes so on this trip I turned off Highways, toll roads and bridges. I ended up in a location north of Indiana known to my wife (and me totally unbeknownst of at the time) to be extremely dangerous approaching the evening hours. She realized I was in jeopardy and started to call me all the worst words you can name anyone in Spanish. The kids had a blast and learned some good words for the future and I learned a good lesson. Keep scenic routes to those well planned ahead truly scenic (America has plenty) but when you are moving your family with you from A to Z take the highway man! PS: to this day when planning a trip first comment out of my kids “No scenic ride cabron!” And we all have a big laugh. Only my wife seems to have a harder time accepting that trip could had costed us a lot more than money.
I use to run NYC into Boar's Head Meats , use to have to back up to telephone poles so they wouldn't steal the meat out of my trailer back in the 80's
God I hated NYC ! Dave
I am glad you are alive to tell. Stay safe always.
Listening to your horror stories, makes me glad I always worked "dedicated runs" into areas I knew about or had other company drivers give me the low-down on......WHEW.....I led a charmed truckers life for sure!!
I always travel equipped to defend myself very well!. Good stories Dave
Thanks Dan!
I love these stories. My dad who was a trucker in the 70's to early 2000s has a bunch of stories that he somehow remembers. The other day he told me that the one accident that he was actually in, he was parked, brakes engaged, in the back of the trailer, and a junk pickup truck who goes around collecting junk to go to the scrap yard for money rear ended the trailer. It clipped part of the trailer and totaled the pickup. Everyone was okay though so that's all that matters. Trailer had no damage to it. Guy wasn't going that fast though. Dad said that like 2 weeks later the family of the guy called his company and asked them to pay for a new pickup truck. His company pretty much laughed at that and said "He hit our truck it's not on us to do that"
Wow, they sent you near Cabrini Green. Did your Trucking company or Dispatcher have a death wish for you. I could have my H&K on my him along with my SCAR-17 and I wouldn't gone ten miles near that place. When it did exist it was one of the most dangerous housing projects in the country. As a non-trucker these videos are so fascinating to see the crap you guys have to deal with.
We miss you Dave, videos like this one helped me stay safe in my career
Likely this has been thought of a thousand times already. There needs to be an online database or perhaps a smartphone app that stays updated with trouble spots. Before accepting a load, the driver can take a moment to check if a destination is in the database and if so, why. Wouldn't it be nice if Garmin put those cautions in the GPS units? Maybe rank them as to risk level or type of risk.
Thanks for sharing these stories.
Excellent idea! You need to patent that and get rich! Thanks for watching! Dave
Smart-Trucking.com it was already done. Turn out it only pointed out black neighborhoods for white people to avoid. Look it up, they shut down.
I deliver for Discount Tire. The store are located mostly in good neighborhoods .After your experiences I feel so lucky
I went to E.St Louis several times to drop a empty and pick up a loaded trailer which I had to chain and sometimes tarp,it was always 2 or 3 AM pickup. I called dispatch one time and was told "never go there after dark you"ll get mugged" I thought gee thanks for the warning. After all I"d been there after dark at least 3 or 4 times . Also had guys jump on grab the mirror mount and demand a ride. Had one guy passed out under my trailer I Would have ran him over if I just got in and took off.Thank GOD for helping keep me safe all them years.
The new truck drivers don't realize how difficult it was to get around some cities back in the day when you had to physically look at a map and try and figure out where Bridges were. Also trying to rely on a customer giving you bad directions
Unless the company gives better directions now, it's probably worse with a GPS device or other digital mapping software or service if you don't check its directions for legs not suitable for trucks or the load you're pulling.
It's a sad, sad day when innocent truck drivers are killed for no reason except the load in their back.
Excellent narration.It is a pleasure to watch these videos of yours.
Hunt's Point in NYC. in the old days was a good example.the last time I was in NY was the early 80's don't plan on ever going back.
Charles Dyer it’s not THAT bad, Christ. Sack up.
Tie a rope or use bungee cords holding across door to door to each other. That's what I did every time I stopped anywhere.
Once you mentioned does projects in Chicago, I got chills down my spine.
What are the odds of a fresh driver getting into those situations, because they can't refuse too many loads as a company driver?
In my opinion, if a new driver , or any driver is with a carrier that wants you to do ghetto deliveries, they're with the wrong carrier.
Dave
hi my friend i am so happy to find a man like you in TH-cam telling everybody the truck about trucking industry my name is Robert and I'm from Dominican republic's I living in Florida and I already have my CDL 5 year's ago I haven't worked for any truck company since I got my license but I have been considered to work as a truck driver and I just want to be very careful thank you man
Fort Street is like a Scooby-Doo ghost town now. I went to truck driving school off of Fort Street in Detroit and I wouldn't dare be over there at night now.
I used to have to unload off of mack ave back in the day! Scary stuff!
Candlestick, Cabrini Green and Newark are notorious areas.
Never let your guard down. Two drivers were beaten and robbed this week at a Wisconsin rest stop. Thugs waited until they were in the stalls doing their business.
wisconsin is an open carry state :)
Where I live in Wisconsin, a guy got stabbed in the back behind the gas station and my town only has 1,400 people....
I live in Wisconsin as well never had a problem anywhere, where did this happen
Most dispatchers don't tell you anything except addresses no other info, they don't even have that info, the info goes through so many people before it gets to the driver
I used to deliver pizza boxes to a food service supplier that was in the deepest darkest depths of Detroit. They had big signs in their lot warning you not to park overnight and to lock your doors even if you were sitting in your truck because it was a high crime area. I never had a problem there but I was always nervous going in there.
Thanks for all your videos! I sure have learned so much from your videos and your information sure made me think twice about trucking. I think I will stick to being a Janitor! lol! Love 4Truth!
Cabrini green also known as the CANDYMAN PROJECTS!!!! cops wouldn't step foot in the place if they was a murder happening
Thank you sir im a newer driver but have been around the block a few times! I am in my late 50s and know exactly what your talking about ! Again thanks !!
The Chicago cops will not even go into Cabrini Green. One of the most notorious complexes in this country. Must have been sooo scary! Yikes! Glad you made it out of all those incidents without any harm coming to you!
Me Too! Dave
Thanks for the warnings.
You are so right about that even at rest stops now people are getting robbed going in using the restrooms at the rest stops there's been two of them in Wisconsin this month already thanks for the information
They tore down most of the housing projects like Cabrini Green here in Chicago & instead of quelling the gang violence & drug dealing it just spread it out to surrounding areas of the city & suburbs. Now Chicago is MUCH, MUCH WORSE.. I will deliver or pick up anywhere in Chicago due to my familiarity with the City but much prefer to do business in the far west, southwest & northwest suburbs. Much safer & still plenty of good paying freight.
John Spano
Well you can get a carry permit in Chitcago, Crook County, HELLinois now....because the supreme court told those stupid corrupt freedom hating dirty corrupt evil dildos in the state government to go fornicate themselves.
John Spano
To bad all the stupid political shills in that area have let it get so bad.
Really, they tore those places down? Robert Taylor also? I think that was the one on south State st. ?
John Spano facts I live in Chicago
Michael Carlson yes Robert Taylors been tore down since 2007
i dont know why ANYBODY would want to drive trucks after hearing these stories.
It's not for everybody!
Omg, caprini green!!! You're so lucky brother
The Phisencorp deal sound like a gang initiation.
Loved hearing about your war story truck experiences.
Terrific
awesome stories!
Another place to avoid like the plague for nothing but low clearances is Edison, NJ. We spent over 2 hours trying to get back on the big road after mistakenly exiting off... with no re-entry ramp like there usually is beyond the cross road. If not for an empathetic local log hauler, I'm not sure we would have ever found our way out of there. After all that, Baxter Medical expected me to lump their load of supplies that was stacked floor to ceiling, nose to tail, and not even on pallets. I was out of hours, and stood my ground about not being a combo driver-lumper. Atleast it wasn't a dangerous area at that time... yall stay safe out there!
Yup, Jersey is a hellhole! Take care driver! Dave
My wife and I grew up in Battle Creek Michigan / Kalamazoo Michigan and we have taken i94 through Chicago a few times the best time I have found to pass through Downtown Chicago and Traveling Through Nashville Tennessee is Early 4/5 O Clock AM
Gotta agree! I used to go through there a lot. Wee small hours of the morning was the best!
Now on the other hand ,Chicago you was right to be scared
Great stories! I've been driving since 1980 and familiar with some of the areas you mention in your stories. I've got some stories as well and fortunately, managed to get out unscathed.
Slept with crowbar in sleeper made me feel a little bit better in case someone somehow came into my cab with the wrong intentions.
7:29
Dude.
Caprini Green is a notorious, infamous, dangerous housing project.
Famous, worldwide, as being lawless and dangerous.
I have known this since 1983.
Yikes.
I truck in Canada, so not too worried about getting jacked, but I do haul a different kind of dangerous good - jet fuel with a b-train tanker. My biggest concern is idiot drivers driving like morons.
And that's a problem everywhere! Dave
I’m a beer delivery driver here In south texas my route runs through Brownsville texas, Whenever i deliver in downtown I always keep my head on a swivel sometimes I notice the locals staring at me and the truck with a side loader trailer which is pretty easy to open to do a beer run lol, but my supervisors have said that no one has stolen anything from the trucks in years but I don’t even leave my phone or wallet when I go in and unload. Even if I’m charging my phone I still take it off with me.
Your are so SO RIGHT, because it is MY Grandsons real live happening , second month of team driving [in training] with a ex-vet. the rest of the tail I wish I could tell you,but he got away, and call for someone to come a get him ASAP..... It was all recorded as it happen. on his cell phone, relaid back to dispatch while it was happening........ What I think is so sad is the company he was -team-working with, did not care enough to call the police. SO it isn't just on the outside of your truck, but inside of your truck too.
Message to all trucker a carry license is always a needed thing in this industry
I do deliveries in the early am to restuarants. I'm usually alone, so I'm always watching for the "early am freaks". I''ve never had any problems, but a co worker of mine was making a delivery while someone else was robbing the place. the crook hood under the pool table in the bar, and the delivery went without any problems. the owner told my co worker about it.
These stories are a wealth of life saving information
Heading into Hunts Point one time, I had a (I assume) guy dressed up as a lady pushing a baby carriage. Shoved that thing right out in the street in front of my truck. Knowing that neighborhood, I was sure it was a way to get me to stop, which I didn't do. No idea what was in the carriage to this day.....
Hunt's Point. Was there once in the early eighties. Never went back! Life's too short as it is. Dave
Yeah I went back to dry vans a few weeks later! haha
i've been to Hunt's Point several times. Paid the $25.00 entry fee. Parked there overnight. Never had a problem there. I had problems getting to Hunts point driving through bad neighborhood .
As a flatbed company driver I refuse to cross a picket line and it almost cost me my job. But if I had been fired I was fine with that. My father a UAW member at gem for 20 years. If not for the UAW i and my sister would NOT have had as good a life growing as we did.
Richard Misel jr what's a picket line?
fargeeks It's workers picketing outside of their work for a union strike. Refusing to cross a picket line shows respect for the workers.
a picket line is employees that are...
a. on strike to get improvements in the agreement with their employer,
b. locked out because their employer does not want meet or negotiate for an equitable contract.
Richard Misel jr
I have to say one thing. longshoreman at port Elizabeth/Newark nj, earn a base pay of 90,000, with overtime, 150,000. the truckers who come to move containers, get paid 50or 75 bucks to pull containers. a port trucker can run all hrs, even run illegal hrs, and his/her earnings will be nowhere near. the people working at ports treat truckers like garbage,scum. they'll threaten to lockout or ban driver, over something minor. to top it off, these arrogant longshoreman, not very intelligent, have basic ged, or hs diploma, they lack tbe ability to make sound judgement or reason in a fast moving environment like a port. they rely on walki talki too much, again limited thinking ability . they drop the f bomb in every sentence of a coversation, very rude. sometimes, karma comes back to haunt, that's how I feel. eventually, ports will go automated, longshoreman already an archaic job title of the 1800s, will be obsolete.
I'm not anti union just because i despise longshoreman. in fact, I work at a truck company that has a unionized workforce, but my feelings of port workers, not the same.
I made a delivery to a warehouse near compton...i had to park near compton til my appointment...never do that again
Yup, been to Compton myself a couple times. Never had any trouble but never went in there before sun up. Dave
stay blessed thank you very much for let us know.
Awesome stories!
Can relate to them a couple times or more
Keepin it safe👍
Roll on
😎
Amen brotha, thank you for your Knowledge. Clearing things up on what I got my self into, and how to handle my self🙏
The scenery out that drivers window is beautiful thanks for the video and views
Ever been to Hunts Point? I have, many times. I've always carried just in case. Dad never did over his 30 plus years, and, always reminded me that it was illegal, until his first time there. I was right behind him and saw that he was in deep shinola! I then proceeded to get my S-W model 29 out and walk up toward dads truck. My dad was a big man but no match for 6 guys. I walked up and put my Dirty Harry style 44 Magnum against one of their heads then cocked it. They all heard this and stopped trying to intimidate dad. I couldn't resist saying "Do ya feel lucky punk?!?". Dad didn't even own a gun at the time. He met me at a local shop that weekend and bought a .45 though! I know we're not allowed to carry but many of us do for just this kind of situation.
Hunts Point Produce in NYC!If the ☀️ ain't up,don't go in!
10-4! Dave
Stratton Pa I had a guy jump on my flatbed next turn I was getting on the interstate. I went as fast as I could shaking the truck as hard as possible. I have no idea what happened to that guy.
My brother and I were team driving. delivering Castro street seafood , bro mike woke me up. Much to my surprise to bare ass chaps walking down Castro street . (one of my favorite trucking memories).
Woauuuu, it being a pleasure to sit and ride listen all this experiences, I'm so glad that you make it to be here today
Thank you for share all this knowledge and experience
Good information. Great video.
Thanks Ronald! Dave
One time many years ago I had to deliver out by Vettans Stadium in Philly. I think it was a produce load. They allowed trucks on the property overnight and it was gated. I go to use the porta-pot and see many hypodermic needles in the urinal and I was like, oh boy, I could be in danger here. Another time I was delivering in Detroit and I never park on the street there, usually stay at the Detroiter. Go into rcvr and signs said, truck parking allowed on street, but it's not recommended. Used to truck into Canada all the time, don't any more, too much hassle. The Ambassador bridge crossing. I think the border town in Canada is Windsor. You go through Windsor, very busy, lots of traffic and somewhat chaotic. That said the town looked nice. Nice houses, grass trimmed, no graffiti, looks nice, feels nice. Then you cross into Detroit. First thing I usually experienced was a pothole that could swallow a truck, the next was seeing overturned cars and trash cans on fire. Neighborhood run down and it looked dangerous. I was like WTF is this, where am I?
Cabrini Green was a sh!# hole. Now is a posh area. I'm not a trucker, but I believe east of the L is trucker trap. Before heading on consult a truck specific map
Caprini Green? Good Lord man! Phew....they tore that sucker down with live ammo and a small ICBM....lmao. Yeaaaah Good Lord always looks out for fools and babies...lmao! Good stuff Dave👍
I recall a tv documentary showing the dirty thieves breaking into trucks at truck stop and roadways. In no time the locks to the trailers were cut,the loads were stolen,at times without the driver even knowing what had hit him/her.
There needs to be a computerized reference file on locations to avoid, always. I hope no one ever goes to that SF area again, ever, at all.
Agreed! Dave
cabrini green was no joke driver. I hauled containers in there a few times. no joke. it's gone now tho thank god lol
when you go to jfk, go to the plaza thats at "wendys 150th & 148th s 148th queens NY" trailers park on the street around it and at that plaza theres a Wendys, 7eleven, pizzeria, and a qdoba, and they have a big restroom, ive been going there for at least the last 5 years and havent seen anything sketchy.
It is NOT an option anymore! You must be prepared to protect yourself at all times! Owning a gun and being trained is NOT an option. If you don’t, you will have no one to blame but yourself. Sad but true! It is better to have the ability to protect yourself and you family and never having to use a gun then to be in that 1 time when it is absolutely necessary. Think about it, right now, if someone was to invade your home or truck in this instance, WHAT would you do? Are you prepared? If it happened right now this second, what would the outcome be. It is truly amazing how many people have never thought about this question. Whoever reads this, think! Hopefully this saves you life or someone you love one day.
I'm from south carolina and that's absolutely ridiculous. I hope no one else has to experience that
Yep. You were in the Dog Patch, that neighbor area around 3'd street formerley Candle Sick Park.
Great video, thanks for the heads up.
Love your videos. Never driven a big rig but something I've always found interesting. Great stories and experiences, thanks for sharing.