What Every Truck Driver Needs to Know About Truck Parking

What Every Truck Driver Needs to Know About Truck Parking. In this video, we give tips and solutions to the truck parking safety problems for the professional truck driver.
Both in the U.S. and Canada, there is still a shortage of safe parking for truck drivers.
Parking space has become even more of a problem at all hours of the day, due to the implementation of E.L.D’s, which will shut a driver down, when out of hours to drive.
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"PLEASE NOTE: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS PAID SPONSORSHIP ADVERTISING FOR GP TRANSCO."
Here's a link to check out their site and find out if they're a good fit for you. Definitely take the time to investigate this carrier.
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Tips for Big Truck Parking
- Park at the back of the truck stop lot. (Quieter, and get some exercise walking to the truck stop)
- Drive your truck into the spot to protect your truck, especially at truck stops. If another truck does damage to your truck, it can be
undriveable. Downtime can be super expensive to a single truck owner operator. If it’s your preference to back into the spot, that can work too, depending on where you are parked.
- Don’t answer the door if someone pounds on your door when parked, until you are absolutely sure you know who it is.
- Trip planning especially important. Know where you will stop for the night before hand and reserve a spot in paid parking if you’re able. It’s well worth the $.
- Don’t park too close to the truck next to you.
- Don’t count on parking at the customer. Many receivers won’t allow trucks to park on their property. If yours is a night time delivery, you’ll find yourself driving around an unknown area, looking for parking in the dark. Not a good idea at all.
See Our Website For A Post on Truck Parking
- 8 Ways to Protect Your Truck at Truck Stops
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[@SmartTrucking]

Hey Driver. Thanks for watching today's video. What's your secret to parking 'without' getting into a bind?

[@romeoortegaiii2299]

When I was OTR deserted exits, and pull offs out in the desert in the middle of nowhere for sleeping. Little fuel stops and the mom n pop joints. Urban areas knowing the cities comes in handy, there's lots of parking in the L.A. area if ya know where to go...experience is your teacher and word of mouth from trusted sources. If ya have to hit a chain truck stop or even the Mom n pop joints park where your truck is protected and the trailer takes the beating in the event Johnny Mega Carrier is on the loose on the lot. Pretty much avoided chain truck stops, fuel and shower in a truck stop, and leave. And yes park in a parking space while showering, maybe get a bite to eat. I ran dedicated routes from North Louisiana, East Texas and Arkansas to Arizona, California and Nevada. Produce backhaul to Fort Worth mostly. My comments are based on how life was before getting out of OTR Trucking in 2007. I did one little stretch of OTR Christmas week 2015 to March 2016, things really had changed. The guy I was working for had yet to submit to the pending ELD MANDATE. So I was still free to enjoy trucking and run on my clock not the government's. Some call it trashing around, okay, ya if getting in a good hike out in the desert, visiting a museum, like The Pima Air and Space Museum or doing other healthy activities, such as riding my bicycle, is considered trashing around fine. The ELD MANDATE has made it impossible to run like that. Push all the dead chicken out the back early in the morning slip into East Hollywood, spend the day taking in the sights, riding my bicycle, about midnight ease on out of town bed down around Frazier Park or Bakersfield. If I was having to wait on the product, most times it was go get washed out and start picking produce. I always got plenty of rest, made my deliveries on time, usually early, and had some fun. Picking produce may take a day to a day and half, sometimes 2 days. On paper a person can make it work. Again I'm so grateful for my little get home everyday gig. Rarely do I see a 14 hour day in a truck, and sleep at home in the bed with my wife. I also learned how to bathe/shower out of a 5 gallon bucket in the Philippines when I was 17, so lots of times that's how I stayed clean and fresh out on the road. Anyone who doesn't wear some kind of shower shoes in a truck stop shower is asking for troubles. We are so blessed to have a government that tells us when to work, when to take a break, when to sleep. Hail to the government our protector. I'm grateful for my little get home everyday gig. The United States Navy a government organization didn't have any problems with we the engineers steaming the boat 6 n 6, 6 hours on, 6 hours off, 24/7 from underway to back inport moored or weighed at anchor.

[@blakewilliams9584]

Hole in the wall truck stops,or if you're at a chain stop stop and start early. Never EVER sleep in a close proximity of a major city and Also never park on the street.

[@adriengriffon]

I'm a tanker driver, and if I'm going through a place with limited parking and I can't park at a company yard or a tank wash, I start my day early in the morning (3am-4am). That lets me finish my day long before the truck stops fill up. If I know I need to run all day, until I might be racing my clock, I'll pay for parking. I usually will pay on my 30 min break, once I have a good idea where I'll be when my clock is running down. Truck parking with no lights or restroom is completely out for me, as are entrance and exit ramps, Walmart, and any truck parking that looks sketchy. I am allowed to break my 11 or 14 hour clocks to get to a SAFE parking location, and you can bet that I will do that if I have to.

[@wayne1840]

Try and get a dedicated gig. Find the best spots

[@jamiegodman715]

You nailed it in the video. Common sense always a goes a long way also!

[@wabashofutah]

We as truckers need to refuse paying for parking when we spend $500 on diesel at their pumps. Fuel purchase receipt should be plenty adequate. This $15 and rising "vip spot" fee is trucker extortion, they will keep raising prices as long as people are paying it to have priority over the other guy. The only people who should have to pay for parking are those darned LOCALS that park 5 company trucks at the nearby truck stop because the owner is too cheap to purchase a yard.

[@bigeric8334]

I ain't gonna hold I was broke a few times I pulled over on the shoulder threw them triangles out for 10 hours......Yea baby

[@thatoneguy985]

My trick for always finding parking. Start my day at 0030 and land around 10am or 11am

[@SmartTrucking]

That would sure work!

[@ladiesman860]

Parking in the northeast is the worst.

[@gregm2147]

In my opinion a huge problem with parking is garbage. Drivers need to make sure they aren’t dumping garbage at parking areas. More places would allow us to park there if we didn’t litter. Just my 2 cents.

[@SmartTrucking]

I agree!

[@SuperHigear]

Hunts Point? Back in the 70s& 80s they couldn't pay me enough to take a load in there!

[@Domebuddy]

got stuck in traffic and was forced to park in a weird spot for my 10. Parking is easily my least favorite thing trucking.

[@johnmatullo9262]

Some DOT Weigh stations that close overnight, fence the station closed, and don't allow truckers, to have a safe place to take a nap, as required by law! New Jersey does this!

[@erikbreaman9124]

You should see rest areas in the rural south east... Packed all the way out of the off ramp..

[@romeoortegaiii2299]

" Be armed, get trained, carry. " -Jan Morgan 2019 "It doesn't do ya any good laying in the bunk under your pillow." -Me 2020

[@srn9973]

Thank you truckers for all you do!!

[@nunurbuisness5578]

I disagree with you on the rest areas I love them personally it's simply alot faster in my opinion

[@Pennychaser1]

Yup me too!!

[@Pennychaser1]

Yup plus I cant sleep at truck stops when there are bunch of reefers nearby.

[@marcushennings9513]

I agree I prefer a rest area.. just last week I saw a flatbed clip a like-new Peterbilt in a truckstop and the driver was blowing his horn to warn the other driver but he did it anyways. Btw drivers turn down your radios and open the windows when backing so you can possibly hear other people's horns. Anyways.. I avoid truckstops as much as possible because of too many inexperienced drivers.. I fuel up, do my dot break, handle any business and get out.

[@shamus240]

I have figured out as a new driver even in the chains. I always park in the back and not near a curb in front. I have had been blocked in so many times by drivers finding real estate.

[@ohiofjr]

As I reenter the OTR life after a 40 years away from it, this is good info. I cant believe how much it has changed out there.

[@jacksoncrosby111]

You have help me alot in my first year of otr

[@SmartTrucking]

Glad to help!

[@kennethfillmoreCoolCatKen]

Really enjoy your videos I been retired since 2006 and I miss it I am 68 and got prostate Cancer but still love the trucking Industry be Safe out there Dave

[@SmartTrucking]

Sorry to here about the cancer Ken. Take care of yourself and thanks for writing in!

[@craigrandall8930]

I plan parking even if it means shutting down early, the DM just hates it, but to me safety comes first.

[@westsidetrucker7943]

I'm not a big fan of nosing in. Not because of backing out, but because you end up sticking out several more feet than normal. If the lot is smaller than normal this just makes it that much harder for the next guy to go into the next spot. I completely agree with parking outside the main cities. The inner city lots are always full, are usually trashier, and are loaded with lot lizards, junkies, and scammers. And theres nothing like waiting 3+ hours for a shower. As for the lot itself, its like playing a game of strategy in finding a spot. Dont pick the ends because somebody may not turn wide enough. If a spot has an island, grassy area, barrier, etc across from it, assume that somebody will be illegally parked there in the morning making your exit smaller. I also avoid 90° corners as well for the above noted nose in's. Ive seen drivers back into a spot and then a nose in parks in a perpendicular spot and his trailer effectively blocks in the first dude. And never assume a lot is full because you see a lot of trucker illegally parked around the entrance. Ive gone straight to the back plenty of times and found enough parking for all of them. Many of those guys up front are just lazy. And I rather enjoy prime parking. It is nice knowing that I'll be showing up late, that the lot will already be full, and that I'll have a spot ready for me. This is especially true in the northeast where people are shutting down as early as 3pm. Some of us cant always run the ideal schedule. The only time when prime parking bugs me is when over half the lot becomes prime parking. Either do like 10 spaces or just fence off the lot and make it all paid (with the usual other payment methods). TA is the most notorious for doing this. Now for my own story. I had a triple drop load but 2 of the drops was actually the same warehouse. Those 2 were in Detroit and the last was in upstate NY. I was making my way to a truck stop for the detroit stops when my DM called me and said the receiver had truck parking. Me being a first year idiot, I said that's cool, I'll just go straight there. Parking in rough neighborhoods is nothing new to me, because thats where the frozen warehouses generally are. But this was different. I can say to this day that Detroit is the only place that has ever truly scared me. I didnt sleep that night. And as soon as I offloaded, my ass was on the freeway and going balls out to new york as fast as i could. Yeah, they had truck parking, on the outside of their gated and guarded fence, where all the crackheads can come wander around your truck. They knock, and if you answer they ask for money, and then try to talk you into stepping out of your truck. If that doesnt red flag you then you deserve it. If you dont answer, they assume youre asleep and will look at the truck for anything to steal. They'll take lug covers, straps, even your broom. I had to take the paperwork in at 3 am and i knew was gonna have to leave the truck eventually and walk 100 yards to the receiver door. God what I would have given to be able to conceal carry over holding my mace and knife. Like somebody else noted in the comments, use google maps and read the reviews. They can so help you avoid situations like the one above.

[@demacdatrucker7528]

When parking late the big truck stops like Pilot and Flying J you can use your Reward Points to reserve parking spot. It save tons of money and time

[@mikecoffee7548]

I consider myself blessed to have a dedicated run in northern Michigan. Never any security or parking problems. But for the 28 years I spent OTR. Won't go back.

[@Farron1960]

The best way to park your truck safely and cheap. Quit driving the damn thing you're getting screwed no matter who you're working for.

[@glennl2012]

I remember, back in the day, when the perimeter was left for us guys pulling multi-axles, now it fills up fast with the same fellows who have trouble backing into a dock. :(

[@SPharaoh]

Parking at bobtail on a full-size parking it’s a fair game unless specified by the property owner. Whatever happened to first come first serve. Just because my trailer is getting unloaded and loaded does it mean I get no space. There are countless ways and scenarios a bobtail is forced to park that way.

[@yhwhswarrior6086]

I try to start my day around 02:00 so when I stop it's only around 13:00.

[@GregHuntley]

I use to haul produce to hunts point and this was recent. I parked on the road for my break. Woke up and did my pretrip to notice someone had opened my trailer doors. I was empty but still. So now I go around to the back of the market cause they now allow drivers to park there. Still a shady place to go.

[@norioxoximeikushi7741]

Your best advice! Preplan your trip, including parking for your rest periods. Thank you.

[@SmartTrucking]

Excellent advice!

[@nonam3s473]

Great video. I parked on a freeway on ramp last night in Oregon for a quick break in the snow, as I was pulling away I almost slid into the on-ramp ditch because it was so slippery

[@markmyjak7739]

Part of being a professional driver is picking up after your self. The Vincent Lombardi Rest Stop in NJ has a brand new parking lot. I park there a few times. Garbage everywhere. All from truckers dumping their trash. Nasty! I had a co-driver who liked to dump the trash along the road when stopped. I gave him hell for it. I would pick it up and dispose of when we reach a truck stop or shipper/receiver.

[@MrHossola]

Yup excellent advise, I used to haul reefer beef from Alberta to Chicago or OK city, yup always land and take off early, always fuel up in morning, that way coffee is fresh, showers aint plugged and pretty much ensures another repeat 11 hours later.....just my .02......

[@arnoldgallegos6247]

Truckers need a nation wide bill of rights starting of the right to bear arms no matter what state. I remember I saw a KZbin video talking about truckers bill of rights didn't have anything about firearms. Just idiotic

[@douglasd327]

I can't tell ya how many nights ive spent sleeping on highway on ramps in the middle of nowhere.

[@Pistolpete218]

I remember just shutting down and closing the curtains, bam loud crunch. Swift tail whipped the guy next to me. Based on the location he was at, I have no idea why he was even turning.

[@andrewgarcia5904]

Pilot/Flying J charge 18 now! Begrudgingly, it is worth it to have a spot guaranteed.

[@CZF-ci8uw]

"...a little detail like the last guy got killed there..." I'd say that's more than little

[@SmartTrucking]

I thought so too.

[@ReviewingTech101]

I noticed at some truck stops, if you nose in to a spot your trailer sticks out a lot because there a curve that prevents the front tires from going over that, however if you back in the trailer tires are up to that curve and the tail end of the trailer is well backed in all the way. It sucks because like you said nose is better to prevent damage to the rig.

[@chloekuenzel5316]

Other parking spots I will go to is Walmarts. If the stores allow them. But will go there if running late into night. Allows parking spots for trucks, a well lit parking, and very quiet. Don"t really have problems parking in a walmart parking lot here in the west lime I did over in the east coast.

[@Sir_knight_trooper]

Being that you cannot bring standard defense in your truck. What about black powder or crossbow type weapons? Melee is also a good idea

[@sincitycapital]

Gonna be going to Prime in a few weeks to start a new trucking career. Love all the info thank you!

[@TruckerMike089]

Do yourself a favor and don't go to Prime. They are a predatory outfit

[@semiretired6033]

A perfect example of why these Mega carriers can stay in business , despite all the warnings ppl still go work for them.

[@chrisolszewski8690]

Always consider the money!!!!!

[@TheRoadhammer379]

PRIME= Please Remember I Mortgaged Everything. The difference between a Prime driver and a large pizza... the pizza can feed a family. Predators, they are being sued for sexual assault, rape, and not paying millions in training wages. Tack on 90 days of training with almost zero pay, all I can say is, you'll regret it.

[@nohippietruckingandtransportat]

Congrats. I'm at prime don't listen to the haters. Problem with most truckers is they know everything and don't actually own shit

[@craigwillford5069]

I usually haul oversized with a 3 axle sleeper and a 3 axle RGN and I feel absolutely horrible just pulling through the fuel island and sitting for 10 minutes waiting for food.

[@justinneal9189]

I am new to this industry less than a year of experience and your channel is always helpful! Thank you and God Bless!

[@scottycox2834]

I’ve been driving for six months and have used Dave’s information in his videos religiously.

[@williamskrainski8407]

Jason's law should have included a provision making a sleeper cabin a home that can be protected with deadly force. You'd be crazy to travel woke America unarmed!

[@HighwayHoney]

Thank you 🙏 I enjoy your videos and always gain so much knowledge from you. Godspeed...

[@SmartTrucking]

Thank you!

[@chaunceymcloggins2647]

I work for a smaller carrier who usually dispatches me 11pm-3am so I can end my day 1pm-5pm and actually find parking. After roughly 7-8-9pm in my short experience good luck. Sometimes it doesn’t work out though was flying out of Dallas with a little over an hour left and everywhere was packed, parked on the street across from Loves, what are ya gonna do?

[@sandasturner9529]

Go for the lesser known truck stops... They'll always have parking.

[@FaresDjebbar]

If company guys don't take good care of the company's truck , they don't deserve a spot in the business. Company or Owner OP , a truck is a truck and you should take good care of it.

[@SmartTrucking]

Agreed for sure!!

[@MolonFrikenLabe]

Why do people park at a fuel pump for 30? Or BT in a full spot? Because they could not care less about anyone other than themselves. Welcome to America. No parenting required.

[@kevingonzalez7646]

Watching this while I’m stuck at a rest area haha dam 😆

[@BladeRunner-td8be]

Good video here. I would add a thing about rest stops though. The rest stops in my area WA/OR are almost always full after a certain time in the night. It's so bad I won't even go into one after about 8 PM. Also, rest areas are prime areas to get mugged. Many of them have no lights and it's pitch dark so prime area to get in trouble. And there are a lot of aggressive, mentally ill and inebriated panhandlers at times. I had to deal with one recently who came way away from the main area and tracked me down while I was taking a leak. I shut him down quickly and scared the crap out of him but it didn't need to have a happy ending like that.

[@davidreynolds731]

Truck stop here bought a wrecker and puts a 15 minute limit on fueling at the pump. If your over the 15 threaten they will move your rig and charge you for it. I don’t think they have ever used it.

[@youngpatrick29]

99 % of the time I drive from 2-3 am and stop it at 3-4 pm. always parking, and always get the best spots.

[@jasonborn5645]

Exactly what I would do when OTR plus less traffic

[@martincarroll7470]

a friend of mine was highjacked from a rest area in Pa. he wasn't hurt but Truck was lost, found 2 months later on fire.

[@SmartTrucking]

Wow! Hope they caught and hung the guys!

[@danieldeblasio9368]

If I was bobtailing, I wouldn't even bother parking at a truckstop!

[@marcushennings9513]

What's worse than a bobtail is seeing a non commercial vehicle taking up an entire truck parking spot.

[@nunurbuisness5578]

Very true. I've been driving a year and 6 months now and I've had to do some very tricky backing at times other times there will be no parking it all depends on the load.

[@tsimmons1974ts]

I love those Trucking stories 👍🏽👍🏽

[@davidrigoni8231]

Multiple bob tails each taking a spot when they could fit 2~3 in a spot

[@larryborkstrom3580]

I work for a mega carrier and if I'm too long in fuel island too long it's the cashiers fault sometimes you wait in line forever to buy a cup of coffee I'm not parking after fuel to get a cup don't think anyone else is as well and as far as paid parking we can thank Love's for that I started doing a real great points promotion with no parking so I started fueling at loves and started which are usually a small truck stop and I go park at the larger truck stops I never pulled into a petro and say welcome to to Love's overflow that's why they started doing that stuff turns out the few extra points you got at loves didn't pay for the parking at the TA or Petro so you might as well just fuel there

[@TruckerMike089]

If I know that all I'm doing is getting coffee and using the restroom then I park. I can't stand those guys who sit in front of a fuel island because they can't or won't park and don't want to walk. No one is teaching guys courtesy at the truck stops anymore.

[@MrDndguy]

Let me start off by saying I really enjoy your videos and find them very informative. I am curious about what kind of truck driver advocates may be out there for someone like myself who has landed a company driving job under a contract after receiving cdl "training" through said company. I am running 14 hour plus days recieving low low miles and visiting shippers and consinees on a daily basis which equates to minimal progress towards completing my milage based obligation. I feel trapped earning the worst money I've made in my adult life and watching the weeks on the road go by with little progress I WANT OUT is there any hope for me or am I stuck slaving away for the unforeseeable future? Thanks again for the great information wish I'd have found you before selling my soul to the MEGA carrier company store!

[@SmartTrucking]

I'm assuming you're under contract to this carrier so the first thing I'd do is to inform someone there with the authority to fix the problem and tell him or her that this deal just isn't working out for you. You'd like to stay and fulfil your obligation, but the way things are now, you won't be able to do that. They won't want to lose you and will probably offer you something better. If that doesn't work you'll need to leave and if they take you to court [ which isn't likely ] I doubt a judge will side with the carrier. Contracts can be written to say anything but they never stand up in court if they're unrealistic and unreasonable. Good luck.

[@jfz19895]

Northeast is the worst for parking

[@jeffchapman9382]

Ya you're going to have to pay to park in some areas. That's just the way it is.

[@travistharp4215]

Also isn’t it funny how Florida has so much open area but they don’t have that many spots for trucks?

[@mirangermanll]

"The majority of truckers parking in the fuel isle are mega carriers" Really? It's been my experience that it's ALL carriers doing it - whether a lil OO outfit outta Podunk, Any State USA to mega carriers! Their ALL guilty!

[@Ididerus]

I try to only park in states that allow me to keep a loaded firearm at hand. If I do have to park in California, I chain the doors together.

[@wmgthilgen]

I own the truck, I pull trailer's owned by someone else. Thus while I'm totally responsible for my truck, though I attempt to be resposible to those that own the trailer; The bottom line is, I'm not responsable for it. I was taught among other things by the old hand that I learned from that having a mentality of me and mine before thee and thine. Is far more important than the reverse. Your story of the meat hauler, reminds me of a time back in the day. Where as I was hauling a load of meat, deliberately stopped by a couple of four wheeler's and one large six wheeler. Stated that there is but two ways this is going down. And it's my choice as to which. One was to accept sufficent funds to purchase a bus ticket home, the other would not have been conducive to living the rest of my life, if ya get my drift. Now days, there's no such offer when being hyjacked. It's simply easier and faster to perform the second of the two choice's one use to get.

[@timothygordon6657]

Paid truck parking is a TAX deduction which means you get all paid costs returned

[@SmartTrucking]

Good point!

[@danielhance1467]

I use the load boards and the brokers have literally lied 100% of every instance when they say i can park at the shipper or when they say you can show up early.

[@SmartTrucking]

They'll say anything to get you to take the load. Should be banned from the industry.

[@scottkailey1]

If I had to pay for parking the company I worked for paid me back with no questions asked.

[@jimsquire9048]

Hunts Point. I remember those days.NASTY!!! :p

[@po6600]

Yes thank God for the payed parking

[@rollthedice54]

Good ol' Swifty Swift is Best in Class of parking!

[@michaellee5399]

The other thing that would help with parking if more of the steering wheel holders would drive in the evening instead of parking so early seems like alot of these guys might run 6 hours a day

[@nategancarz6474]

Maybe they start their day a lot earlier than yourself

[@robertbowersock3471]

Some of us start at midnight if we need to guarentee a spot. This isn't the job to keep bankers hours or the slackers that don't move til noon and wonder why they can't find a spot at 2am.

[@jaysmalls4704]

Michael Lee you sound dumb you probably a steering wheel holder yourself

[@marktiger4613]

Did you ever give your opinion on how the dot set at the rest stop and write drivers up I don't think that is rite they are coming in to rest

[@jasonma2142]

What about dropping landing gear while on load and parked, that help any?

[@whiskeyandagyro3135]

Can anyone put out good rest stops? Doesn't matter where.

[@newsnowadirondacksredux360]

Lol the Pickle Park on I-275 outside of Detroit. You’re better off at the old Stoney Ridge.

[@curtis7599]

Many people who nose in will pick a spot that affects the others. They may even block a corner spot because they are just dumb or do not care. They will even may it extremely difficult if other have to swing around the trailer that is sticking out well into the lot.

[@powerbeast5691]

I am about to get into trucking. Getting mugged was mentioned here, how do the muggers operate? Is there an alarm solution you can get, so you would get notified if someone breaks into the trailer? Or do they climb up and hold the sleeping driver at gunpoint? Would it help if the driver has a handgun? (I would enjoy it if I ever got the opportunity to rid the world of a mugger)

[@onceagaindc]

Some of my biggest nightmares in trucking was finding a place to park to sleep. Man they just dont give a fuck about truckers. But ill be out in the road again. Il definitely preplan now

[@TheConservativeMexican95]

even worse i've seen cars parked in trailer spots saving a spot or i dont know what they are doing

[@kristianxoto]

thats why you should always have an attack dog in the truck, not only for company but also protection and remember 1 shotgun double barrel loaded, 1 pistol loaded, and if you can afford it 1 assault rifle loaded with burst setting and granade launcher under barrel :)

[@juangonzalez5350]

Talking about hunts point that place is still very very dangerous at night i had an amazon drop off there. Amazon wanted me to drop the trailer and wait for an empty to be available i called my dispatcher and told him no way. Ended up heading back to jersey. Guys beware of thay place ppl will come and fake needing help with their cars only to catch you by surprise

[@walterharris1301]

Thank you

[@POLYLIVING]

Thank uu✨

[@Fostoria]

I need feedback on building a new truck parking facility about 25 miles north of downtown Houston and 5 miles off I-69 next to a 1300 Acre Logistics Center under construction opening 1Q 2024. Im not a developer or truck driver just a man with an opportunity. So are you likely to use this spot driving OTR? Daily in and out locally? Or parked while on home time? Help me out men and ladies. I want to tribute this to my uncle who drove OTR until they took his license away then he showed up at 5 AM every day to stage trucks at the yard until the night he died. In other words i could do something else but if i do this it has to be "what my uncle Luther would have done" FOR TRUCKERS.

[@graymikep64]

Thanks. Always help!!!

[@grimreaper4782]

I just started and should have my cdl Friday. All through last 4 weeks of training when we drove to truck stops the instructors say just park at the fuel island.. Even I felt this was so wrong to take a break there, should be common sense right..? Won't ever do it when I'm solo

[@dalebaker9788]

How about truck parking in no parking lanes at truck stops up by the stores blocking intel and outlet lanes

[@SmartTrucking]

Yup! Got a video coming on that this week! Stay tuned!

[@joeduece1]

Due to hard times. It's tough trying to find parking theses days.

[@jonnyc212121]

In my experience, it seems that the majority of people who have an issue with nosing into a parking spot are the drivers who aren't nosed in. For whatever reason they have a problem with other drivers doing it. I nose in whenever I can because I pull a reefer and don't want to disturb my neighbors.

[@SmartTrucking]

Another good reason to nose in! Tell the others you're in charge of driving that truck, not them!

[@jonnyc212121]

@@SmartTrucking It pays to be considerate of other drivers. As time goes on, drivers are being less and less considerate of and for each other, and the respect is almost gone.

[@odog4show]

Wow sir! The company didn't even care about your safety. Only the bottom line matters with these carriers!

[@douglasmorrow5246]

Good ole Costco..at Sumner washington..,used to take the trucks inside..then; no parking on their property...except one half an hour before your appointment ! What a bunch of horse crap....

[@brianedwards7047]

Doesn’t matter vets or rookies we all are brothers and sisters on the toad and we should stick together because at end of the day we are still driving trucks and yes there are many bad drivers that are misguided and some that shouldn’t be in the truck but still at the end of the day it’s us in these big vechicles we should help each other and us as drivers if we see someone in the stop trying to harm another trucker least 4 or five people will see what’s going on and that when we jump out and protect each other for real it could be like back in the day we can be a band of brothers no matter how sloppy or dirty one trucker is fact that we do the same job and we need help each other

[@stevebell4906]

Hey how come nobody mentioned the customers that will not allow you to sleep?....Happened to us in two different places....Loading bananas at Port Canaveral....You had an appointment....when you showed up they would give you a card to put in the windshield and you had to park outside the gate in an open dirt lot and wait to be called on the CB...only then did you get assigned a door..You were not allowed to sleep and if they called you and you missed the call....to bad you missed your appointment ... We had an afternoon appointment maybe 3:00- 5:00 PM...we sat outside till maybe 7:00 they gave us a door and loaded 3-4 pallets and then stopped loading us until almost midnight and then finished the loading just before midnight and gave us our Bill of Lading to me delivered to Indianapolis 8:00 next morning....Of course when we got there Late we still had to wait half a day for a door....We were a team operation so that was two drivers burning all of that time... The other time that I'm bitching about...We got to a customer some time between 10;00 and midnight....8:00 AM delivery nice fenced compound with a guard gate....Professional type guard....Told us you can come in and park in here where it's safe...BUT Absolutely No Sleeping In The Trucks...If we catch you sleeping we will throw you out! Just two of the reasons that I quit driving team and van and reefer....I went to flats....at least there the shippers and receivers don't always act like you ruined their day just by showing up pick up of deliver their shit!...

[@SmartTrucking]

Yup, don't agree with that system at all, even though you run into it fairly often. I used to gauge them by my situation, by how tired I was. If I was fresh and didn't feel like sitting and it looked like it could be quite a wait, I'd leave and tell your dispatcher or agent or who ever that they needed to find me something else. If they said there was nothing else and weren't prepared to pay me for waiting, I'd just head home.

[@stevebell4906]

@@SmartTrucking Company Driver at the time....The prevailing attitude in my opinion is/was.....the only way to waste a Drivers time is not to use it... I would sometimes get the same runs repeatedly and get to know the receiver....After a while they would tell me stuff like listen I know that the ticket says 5:00 AM...That's Bullshit I never want you here then...it's too early...I want to load my truck and get them out ...you are only in my way...Get here at 7:00 or some other time that he said....and I'll get you unloaded in 10 minuets and out of here....So of course I did ...so after a few times calling the dispatcher and telling him i was empty and needing my next load... He would say how in the hell did you get unloaded so fast?...When he found out...I never got sent back there again....They would send another driver to sit for hours... There was a truss plant that I would go to trucks lined up in the street forever waiting to load and unload...I would bring 2X4s there all of the time...Christmas Eve I bought 2 cokes from the machine...and gave one to the guy who checked me in and signed my bills...and told him Merry Christmas!...Next time I came there he told me .....listen you don't need to wait in line...Just drive in and drop your trailer and pick up one of the others with tarps and stop me and I'll sign the bill and you are out of here...I did for a few times and the dispatcher asked how in the hell I was empty so soon? I told him... The guy knows me and likes me....almost never got sent back....sometimes 3 times a week before that...

[@Hotecce1]

with eric and jason's situation, were the customers at fault, and if not, why weren't the held accountable for that? The way i see it, they were 100% responsible.

[@SmartTrucking]

Good questions with no clear answer. I say that the customers should have let those drivers park on their property, knowing what kind of an area their facilities were in. However, legally they had no obligation to do so. Deadly examples of how poor treatment for truck drivers is.

[@travistharp4215]

I’ve pissed off a few bobtails before lol there would be no spots and the would be parked all the way in a trailer spot so I’d pull in right in front of him and park lol I’m sorry but I got to park somewhere in Florida

[@stevesemar7106]

Parking at fuel island is the only place I see to park.

[@yhwhswarrior6086]

I delivered to some place near LA and there was a guy going around trying to get the lumper payment from drivers. He did not work there.

[@mariodelcid2479]

I used to park in rest area till I woke up missing a mirror after owning my new truck for a month

[@jessemichael992]

Are truckers allowed to carry a firearm in the truck?

[@randomrandom227]

How to go up an down hill