How hard is it for you to find a place to park for the night

[steverb1]

There was an article in the news about how the trucking industry is growing with company's adding new trucks everyday. The problem is that the truck stops are too full and many drivers are parking in Safeway parking lots or on the side of the road and getting fined.

What has been your experience? Is it tough out there to find a spot to park and sleep for the night?

[silvan]

What has been your experience? Is it tough out there to find a spot to park and sleep for the night?

On the few occasions when I needed to park somewhere other than a store (where I was unloading in the morning), it was virtually impossible to find anything, anywhere. Not even ramps or rest areas with 2 hr. parking limits. By the time I would have been that tired, it was maybe 3:00 AM or so, and everything was long since clogged up with solar powered trucks.

It's a real problem over here on the east coast. Can't speak of out west. Never been out there, and I like it that way. Too far from home.

[LostProphet]

There was an article in the news about how the trucking industry is growing with company's adding new trucks everyday. The problem is that the truck stops are too full and many drivers are parking in Safeway parking lots or on the side of the road and getting fined.

What has been your experience? Is it tough out there to find a spot to park and sleep for the night?

well,i just got done doing a year over the road.And yes it is VERY hard to get a parking spot out there after 5pm.I would typically start my day at around 5am,so by around 4pm-5pm id be pulling into the TS somewhere for sleep.Too me,theres nothing worse than being tired and not being able to find a place to park.

[Uturn2001]

I do not know about Canada, but here in the US it depends on the area you are in. East of the Mississippi river tends to be a lot more problematic than west of it, with the exception of being around the bigger cites then it all can be real "fun" finding a parking space.

[Roadhog]

For the most part...I do just fine. There are times I am out of luck...but I just roll further down the trail, and take the next opportunity. It is easier if you look for a spot 5am-6pm.
When it's busy, I can circle a lot several times...in hopes for an opening...and sometimes one spot will give (persistence can pay-off)....or you can get creative, long as you are not blocking off someone else.

It really helps if you know your routes and what spots are most likely to be good for you. I have also found it's the most popular and large TS's that are packed full. Many of the small "unknown" TS's will have a spot or two. (Invest in a TS location guiide)
Guy's that can't back for sheit...or wiggle in small places will not go to the dirt hole lots. But then they also are the ones who can only pull straight in...and closest to the Buffet...and you will also notice...they angle so they are taking up more than one spot...or like to pull so far forward...their neighbor has to go crazy trying to pull out around these dickweeds.

Overall...I usually always do just fine...or I am very lucky? I am running over 3k miles every week, and I'm everywhere...so I'm not just talking about parking in upstate North Dakota. :?
80% of the time I am parking at a Truck Stop. I love my Truck Stops.
Even the crappy ones.

[Jackrabbit379]

upstate North Dakota

That's like I-20 outside of Abilene. There are 2 pickle parks. One on each side. Both pickle parks are plumb full. You cant get a bicycle in there. Yet, there are 2, or 3 truck stops not 5 miles east of those pickle parks. :P

[cmb500]

Its funny all the solar powered trucks on the road now and days. I was running MI to louisville,ky 3-4 times a week and just drove all that way back to MI most of the time. I was impossable to find a spot. I usally go to meijer or wallmart some kind of retailer or evern a ind park if you can find one. Or find an adult book store theres spots there but they need to build more truckstops.

[brian griffin]

I'm solar powered and i've never had a situation where I couldn't find a place to park-----eventually. It might take me two or three tries going a bit further down the road, but eventually I find a place.

The real question(s) should be:
Can you find a quiet, legal, and safe place to park every night? A place where someone won't pull up next to you and crank the engine to 1000rpm?

I would say no.

I think more hotels should offer parking and AC power only. Actually, that has got me thinking about campgrounds..........

[terrylamar]

I'm solar powered and i've never had a situation where I couldn't find a place to park-----eventually. It might take me two or three tries going a bit further down the road, but eventually I find a place.

The real question(s) should be:
Can you find a quiet, legal, and safe place to park every night? A place where someone won't pull up next to you and crank the engine to 1000rpm?

I would say no.

I think more hotels should offer parking and AC power only. Actually, that has got me thinking about campgrounds..........

Kinda like IdleAir?

I had more problems with this when i first started...I have been pretty observant in my time out and have a pretty good idea of what places will and wont a space or 2 open in certain areas...I never hesitate to hop on the radi and ask for tips and hiding places either, i have been pretty lucky...Much of the East Coast is a monster unto itself as far as parking goes but i usualy just try and plan myself out better on those trips. I can just say that I have never(so far) had to lose more than a short few minutes of sleep over finding a parking space. Sometimes you just have to be creatvive and maybe explore off of the beaten path a bit. And as stated before, it really helps to have your backing skills shined up and pretty. I have gotten lucky a time or 2 with spaces that others gave up on.

[Windwalker]

My experience is that if you don't find a place to go to sleep before the sun goes down, you won't. And, that seems to go for anywhere in the country. Where's G-man? Some time ago, he had read that a survey was done, and there were a million and a half EXCESS parking spaces. I got in touch with my senator and asked if the folks that did that survey might be able to ride along with me and show me just where all those excess spaces are. None of us seem to be able to find them when we need them. (Maybe they got their information from PILOT. :twisted: ) To date, I have not had a passanger that was in on that survey. I'm wondering if they drove by a few truck stops about 9AM, counted the spaces, and multiplied that by the number of truck stops around the country. They NEED to do that about 10PM. Then, they NEED to TELL US just where all those spaces are.

[golfhobo]

RoadHog said:

I

am running over 3k miles every week, and I'm everywhere...

I THOUGHT so!! I've BEEN everywehere lately.... and I keep seeing you circling the lot EVERYWHERE I go! How do you manage to BE "everywhere" at the same time?? :shock:

I'd been driving for over a year before I heard the term "solar powered." Cracked me up!!!

I drive team, so I'm not usually looking for a place to shut down for the night, but... I gotta stop and switch drivers now and then. It's REALLY hard to find a spot after the sun goes down! Or at least one in a truckstop where I can get coffee! (I know... switch on the fuel island! But, hey.... we gotta EAT sometimes, too!)

Many a time, I've pulled into a T/S late at night, looking for a parking spot. But, my EXCELLENT backing skills notwithstanding, FATIGUE made it hard for me to "hit" certain spots. After trying 2 or 3 times, I got pissed off and went back on the road. Funny thing, just the "exercise" woke me up and I was good for another 200 miles!

But, yeah, parking spaces are hard to find once the sun goes down! Like someone said, the "off the wall" truckstops are a better bet! But, don't expect to take a shower or get a hot meal there!

Best bet? Pay the $10 for a gold membership with IdleAire! You don't have to use the services, but you can park in all those EMPTY spaces!

Call it "protection money." As in the Sopranos! :shock:

And they'll actually SHOW UP to help you back out, if you NEED it!

[Mtc_Is_Hell]

I don't have all the much trouble, no matter what time I park... If its late at night I go to the unknown t/s.. The family owned so to speak.