Trucker's Truths – There Are Such Things as Bed Bugs

September 16, 2014

Bed Bugs

When you were a kid, your grandma may have sent you to bed with the old saying, "Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite." A common household pest in the U.S. before World War II, these blood-sucking parasites were all but wiped out in the 1940s. Now, they're back and causing panic in New York subways, Chicago skyscrapers, Cincinnati hotels and highway motels and trucker hostels across the U.S. and Canada.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are flat, reddish-brown insects about the size of an apple seed. Like mosquitoes, they feed on human blood; but, unlike fleas and lice, do not live on the body. Bed bugs scurry away after feeding to hide in tiny cracks and crevices in furniture near their victims' beds. Nocturnal creatures, bed bugs creep out of their hiding places at night, crawling into beds and under the covers to feed on their sleeping victims (us!).

How They Spread

Brought back to the U.S. hidden in the luggage of international travelers, bed bugs have spread to all 50 states. These tiny insects are only attracted by human blood, not filth or food. Their presence is not a sign of poor maintenance or hygiene; merely bad luck. If you are unlucky enough to sleep in a motel bed where someone with bed bugs has slept, you could carry them with you to your next stop on your clothing or suitcase. (Trucking tips: Don't unpack until after checking your bed for bed bugs.)

Are Truckers at Risk?

Anyone who sleeps in a motel room runs a risk of running into bed bugs. Moving van drivers and truckers that carry storage trailers full of used furniture, clothing or mattresses are also at risk because bed bugs are more frequently found in used household goods.

Trucking tips: Click for photos and info on identifying bed bugs. Our best trucking tips: Avoid bed bugs; sleep in your cab!

Hey Truckers, It's Trucker Appreciation Week!

As a thank you for all you do, Trucker to Trucker is offering all truckers a free hat and chance to win $250 in our drawing this week as a celebration. Just visit our page to register and we'll send you your free hat. Have fun and drive safe this week and thanks for all you do!

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