Highways of Horror: Why Some Serial Killers Choose Long-Haul Trucking as Their Hunting Ground
Most truckers are hardworking, law-abiding citizens, but the dark underbelly of the long-haul trucking industry has harbored some of the most elusive serial killers in history. The FBI has long recognized that for those with deadly intentions, life on the road provides the perfect cover. With constantly shifting jurisdictions, isolated highways, and an endless supply of potential victims, the open road becomes a hunting ground. Some, like the infamous “Truck Stop Killer” Robert Ben Rhoades, even transformed their rigs into mobile torture chambers, leaving terror in their wake.
A Pattern of Death on America’s Highways
In 2003, an analyst at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation noticed a disturbing trend—bodies turning up along highways nationwide, their murders eerily similar. A deeper investigation revealed a horrifying truth: long-haul truckers were responsible for many of these crimes. This realization led to the FBI’s creation of the Highway Serial Killing Initiative (HSK), an extension of their Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP). This initiative works to connect unsolved murders that occur along America’s vast network of highways and identify potential serial killers operating under the guise of truckers.
According to former FBI assistant director Frank Figliuzzi, the numbers are staggering. The HSK Initiative has linked at least 850 murders—most of them sex trafficking victims—to highway serial killers. Of those, 200 remain active, unsolved cases. Even more chilling? The FBI has identified 450 suspects but believes that many more remain undetected.
Why Does Trucking Attract Serial Killers?
Figliuzzi, author of Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers, spent years investigating why long-haul trucking draws in violent predators. The answer lies in the lifestyle itself—isolated, transient, and largely unmonitored.
“Trucking is a very antisocial profession,” Figliuzzi explains. “It gives someone with violent tendencies the opportunity to disappear into the background, avoiding suspicion. Many of these killers have admitted that trucking was a way to escape society and act on their darkest urges without consequence.”
Trucking’s connection to sex trafficking also plays a role. Many victims of highway serial killers are women forced into trafficking, making them especially vulnerable. But Figliuzzi warns against assuming that only trafficked women are at risk.
“A long-haul trucker attempted to abduct a teenage girl from her home in Boston. Another, Robert Ben Rhoades, kidnapped and murdered 14-year-old Regina Walters, who was simply hitchhiking with her boyfriend,” he says. “These crimes don’t just happen at truck stops; they can reach into any neighborhood.”
How Technology is Changing the Game
The heyday of serial killers—often cited as the 1970s to early 2000s—was largely fueled by the lack of modern technology. But with today’s advances in GPS tracking, surveillance cameras, and electronic logging in trucks, some killers are finding it harder to operate undetected.
However, many serial killers adapt. “Corporate trucking companies have monitoring systems in place,” says Figliuzzi, “so some killers are getting creative. They park their rigs, rent a car or take an Uber, then go commit their crimes. Others are using motels instead of truck stops, making it harder for law enforcement to connect them to their crimes.”
The FBI’s Battle Against Highway Killers
Despite technological advancements, not all police departments use ViCAP to track violent crimes. Many smaller law enforcement agencies lack the resources or manpower to enter detailed crime data into the system. The FBI is now working to close that gap by providing funding for analysts and even assisting local departments in filling out ViCAP reports.
“When done correctly,” Figliuzzi explains, “ViCAP can link unsolved cases, identify patterns, and ultimately put killers behind bars.”
The Future of Serial Killers in Trucking
With the rise of self-driving trucks, one might assume that the era of trucker-serial killers will come to an end. But Figliuzzi warns that predators always adapt. “The transition will just push them online,” he predicts. “They’ll still prey on vulnerable individuals—just through different means. The internet has already changed the way victims are lured, and it will continue to evolve.”
A Deadly Road Ahead
While law enforcement is making strides in tracking down and stopping highway serial killers, the reality remains grim. There are still active predators out there, using America’s highways as their personal hunting grounds. The question isn’t whether they’ll kill again—it’s when.
For now, the FBI and organizations like ViCAP continue their relentless pursuit of justice, but the shadow of these killers still looms large over the open road. The next time you’re on a lonely highway, remember—someone out there might be watching, waiting, and hunting.
