A trucker’s job is a very dangerous one. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, truckers are more in harm’s way more than any other profession.

So it shouldn’t be a surprise that they’d rather not increase their chances of dying or getting hurt any further. As such, according to a recent poll by CDLife, a company dedicated to news and entertainment surrounding truckers, the vast majority of truckers aren’t willing to venture into areas or zones where police have either been defunded or disbanded:

Truck drivers have been voicing their concerns on the CDLLife App. After reading about their concerns, CDLLife posted a poll on the app.

We asked drivers on the app, “Would you pick up/deliver to cities with defunded or disbanded police departments? Why or why not?”

As of June 13, 2020, we’ve had over 1,283 respondents and 79% say they will refuse loads to cities with disbanded or defunded police departments.

Truckers who took the poll voiced their concerns and fears after submitting their vote according to CDLife:

“This is not an area you need to act fearless and think you you’d look like a fool for saying no…Imagine what kind of fool you look like for driving into a hot spot and putting your life in danger.”

“I will not deliver to an area with a disbanded police department. My life matter and I do this for my family. We are already at the mercy of these towns and cities with laws and hate against us for parking, getting a meal or even using a restroom.”

“Simple. We may not like it all the time, but laws and order is necessary.”

“Most places we go already can be dicy an about only time you see a cop is when lights is on behind you.”

“For my own safety and security of my customers’ loads, I have already informed my dispatcher that I will refuse all loads to cities that have defunded their police departments.”

It should be understood that even if this poll is even a little accurate, this could spell massive problems for cities all over the United States. Trucks are the primary method by which supplies are transported from one place to another. If truckers refuse to deliver to various cities, or even parts of cities, due to the absence of police, then many cities will begin facing shortages very quickly.

It’s important to remember, however, that the truckers wouldn’t be to blame at all for this. They would essentially be driving into warzones where, at any moment, they themselves could be the target. In a city where supplies become scarce and items hard to find, a truck driver’s life could become imperiled by desperate people.

It doesn’t even have to be desperation that drives a group of people to attack a truck. In the fervor of the moment, a truck driver could be attacked and assaulted simply for belonging to wrong demographic. That’s what happened to Reginald Denny during the L.A. riots back in 1992, when Denny was pulled from his truck and beaten nearly to death.

Things haven’t changed much. As Bonchie reported in May, a Fed Ex driver accidentally killed a man after rioters surrounded the truck and began looting it while threatening the driver himself. Spooked, the driver attempted to get away resulting in a man going under the tire and dying.

Drivers do not want to be put in this situation, and their fears of delivering to chaotic areas where police are no-shows is understandable.