parking truck when not working

[dakota1]

I was curious where a lot of you park your truck when off duty if not on your own property. Especially those who have there own trailer. I plan on buying a truck and trailer and where to park it when not working is something I'm trying to figure out. I know a little north of me in Fontana there are yards where you can rent a spot on a monthly basis, but haven't seen anything like that here in San Diego.

Rich

[floored]

I park my truck at a yard down the road from me, $100 per month. I'd prefer to be cheao and park on the street, but the city I'm in is anti truck and we are not allowed to park on any street in the city limits for more than 1 hr.

My brother uses a dirt lot behind a mini mart to park his truck when he is home. The mini mart is okay with this and his truck so far has been safe there (a few other trucks park there as well)

[Red Clay Rambler]

San Diego might be a tough place for truck parking, but you probably know that already. Might be easier to find something the farther inland that you go.

[dakota1]

Yeah Floored I've been eyeing up some dirt lots around here and will approach the owner when the time comes, if I haven't figure out another alternative by that time. Thanks for the response. I'm trying to gather all the costs right now as to how much I'm going to have to lay out to get this business started and parking is one of the things on my list. Gotta park it somewhere and my in front of my house won't do.
Red Clay Rambler you're right about it being a tough place to park. Especially compared to Fontana as I mentioned in my original post. I'm already inland, but not east county inland (meaning El Cajon, Alpine). I use those references because you read like you are familiar with San Diego. Thanks for the response.

Rich

[Mountain Flyer]

I pay $100 per month, too, at a trailer dealership... they have about 4-5 owner operators parking there.... :?

[Gibby]

I park at my farm, or at the old abandoned truck stop where I live

[Arizona]

I pay 280 per month to park in a covered storage area.

[Big_Al]

but the city I'm in is anti truck and we are not allowed to park on any street in the city limits for more than 1 hr.

I bet your city is anti-airline too because they don't let that American Airlines pilot bring his 757 home and park it in his driveway. It's amazing in this country how people are always ready to scream discrimination if they aren't allowed to do whatever they want.

[Gibby]

Most cities have truck parking rules, I live in very rural KS, and we still have truck parking laws. Tractor not to be parked longer than 72 hours, tractor-trailer combinations are not allowed to park for more than 4 hrs, on the Emergency routes ..no parking including cars... most people that live along here have to park in their yard. So I do not think people are crying, lets face it the world is the way it is because of who WE all put in city and state offices... just something to think about..

[no_worries]

Rich, make sure you get the parking situation figured out before jumping in, it's not going to be easy. Even in Fontana there are very few spots available. When you see a lot with open spots it's usually just because guys are on the road. This whole area has seen a crunch put on oversize parking spots due to a rash of counties and municipalities tightening up the RV parking regs. That, coupled with the closing of a very large RV parking area at El Toro and increased property values, has both increased demand and decreased supply. I'm sure San Diego is even worse. If you can find a landowner willing to let you park that would be the ideal situation. Just keep in mind that if the parcel is within a municipality there are likely to be restrictions as to what can be on the lot. Your best bet in that area is going to be areas like El Cajon, Otay Mesa, Lakeside, etc. If you're only in need of parking for relatively short durations, a few days at a time, you can often find store managers that will allow you to park in their parking lots. Places that have large parking lots that never fill up are your best bet, keep your eyes open. Also, know your city's parking regs. I can park on the street in most non-residential areas of HB up to 72 hours. At that point, all I have to do is move my truck a couple of feet to prove that it is an operational vehicle and I'm good for another 72. I can do this indefinitely it just means I can't be gone for longer than 3 days. When you do find a place that rents spots for trucks definitely make it known that you would like to know when a spot becomes available. Most of these places have waiting lists and openings are never advertised so you have to be proactive.

FYI, there is a place in Fontana, North American Truckstop, that rents spaces by the day, week or month and doesn't reserve spots. You can pull in and if you find an open space you can leave your truck for as long as you want. When you leave someone else can use the space. They always have spots open but you're not allowed to park your car as that defeats the purpose. But, you could park your trailer and bobtail home. It's much easier to find parking for a bobtail than a full combo.

Another one to consider is the Acorn Casino out there on the 8. It's a ways out but they're never anywhere close to full and they might be willing to accomodate you. Good Luck.

[dakota1]

Parking restrictions in "very rural KS". Crazy! No_worries I agree the ideal situation would be to find a landowner who would let me park on there property. HB? Is that Huntington Beach? Parking is just one of the issues I'm looking at besides insurance, equipment, brokers, stress and the schedule (time away from home). I'm a local driver and enjoy my job but I can feel wanting a change down the road. I'm trying to figure out if I could operate solely in So. Cal. and make a living. I believe I could but it will be a matter of finding the right people. Thanks for the responses.

[no_worries]

Sorry, yeah, that would be Huntington Beach. I'd spelled it out earlier but must have erased it. Just running SoCal may be a little tough but if you're willing to go up into Central and Northern CA you can do a bit better. I know some guys that do very well just running CA but they've been at it quite awhile and haul exclusively for one or two shippers. From what I've seen, you could do alright ratewise but because you're running in a limited area you're not doing alot of miles with typical loading and unloading. You can make a living, it just depends on how good of a living you're wanting to make.

[dakota1]

Just like anything else, i guess, it takes time to establish good working relationships with shippers like the guys you know who run in CA. I was getting a light weight on my truck yesterday at a moving company's scale and noticed what appeared to be an o/o parking his truck in one of there spaces. He was obviously parking for a while because he left with a lot of his belongings. Wish I had taken the time to try and talk to him. Got to get better at that.

[tweety bird]

You can park in National City off the Bay Marina/Mile of Cars exit. Either behind the Dennys or over toward the port. It'll be you and about 900 other trucks, though!

[no_worries]

I'd make sure I had one helluva a security setup before I parked there :shock:

[Blacksheep]

I'd make sure I had one helluva a security setup before I parked there :shock:

I park at a flatbed company about 3 miles from the house, $65.00 a month including a plug in during the winter. :wink:

Not bad for a lot with a guard and completely fenced in and secure.