Midland, TX has a bit of a tense relationship with truck drivers right now. On October 1st, a new city ordinance went into effect allowing Midland police to issue $500 parking citations to truck drivers who park where they aren’t wanted.
It started with City Councilman J. Ross Lacy taking a local news crew on a ride along with the Midland Police Department. At the time, police were only allowed to ticket trucks for parking in residential areas. So Lacy brought the news team to a local Walmart where there were large trucks parked. Lacy called the trucks “just completely disgusting.”
Since then the city council passed an ordinance which allows MPD to issue $500 parking citations or even have truck impounded if they are parked in a ‘no truck parking’ area like Walmart’s lot.
But cities rely on truckers – especially an oil and gas boomtown like Midland. And Midland Mayor Jerry Morales is trying to smooth things over. In an interview with CBS7, Morales claimed that “we’re not against the trucks,” and offered a possible solution to the problem.
“If I was a business owner and wanted to make an investment I could purchase 5, 10 acres, put up a facility with showers, possibly cots, and rent them out,” offered Morales. “Provide some kind of transportation service. That’s my answer to that solution. They should be serving their industry.”
“That’s absolutely unreasonable,” came the response from James Lamb, president of the Small Business in Transportation Coalition. “Absolutely unrealistic. To expect every one of those trucking companies that does business in Midland to purchase property is absolutely insane.”
Since Morales wasn’t able to come up with a feasible solution, Lamb offered one of his own.
“We don’t have to say ‘don’t go to Midland.’ We don’t have to say that,” said Lamb. “All we have to say is ‘this is what’s going on… And so, you do what you’ve gotta do.’”
Source: overdrive, yourbasin, cbs7, truckersreport
#BOYCOTTMIDLANDTEXAS
Starve Midland, don’t deliver fuel, gas, food or any products!
Agreed
I full out agree starve them out no trucks period in Midland don’t go thru don’t pickup or deliver there either they’ll pretty quickly start begging for trucks and still give them a 6 month wait after that before the first truck rolls thru it would set a example for a hell of a lot of people
I’ll second that ! once the people who elected these hypocrites who’s life’s depend on what Trucks bring to the stores where they shop feel the crunch as well as the local business do maybe they will vote those wack job democrats out ! if the oil fields can’t get the water they need or the oil out and stop drilling, and the town goes belly up then maybe they will gain a new appreciation for Trucks.
Don’t spend money in Midland, avoid Midland period.
The Scumbaggery of these moronically endeavored officials have no clue what Truckers experience trying to find parking especially since the onset of ELD compliance . Drivers need to organize !!!
Soooo fricken true…..but we don’t even get along at truck stops, let alone organize. I propose treating your fellow truck driver at the truck stops like your fellow co-worker and not your enemy / competitor to begin with. Let’s open up communication with one another regardless of race Creed or color and perhaps we can begin to organize once we are comfortable around one another
I agree 100%
E.l.d.or me.
Invest in a town that does not like what you do that makes you money?
BOYCOTT MIDLAND
I AM SORRY, I DON’T GO THERE.
I agree wholeheartedly. Trucks should stop going to Midland. Stop delivering their food and products and then see how they hate us then…but, as usual, there is no unity…smh
Yes maybe they will get just as discusted when their towns shelves become EMPTY
Why must an article be written in a way to cause some readers to get upset? I read this article and assumed the “mayor” was talking about the local businesses that need us truckers for them to stay in business , to purchase the properties, not the trucking companies, which, by the way, IS a good idea! I, as a local small trucking company, deal with the lack of parking in my area and I have been contemplating the same idea. There are too many shippers and too little parking here and it’s something that can pay for itself with there being a desperate need for a “trailer drop lot” here and plenty of companies willing to pay monthly rental spots for their trailers.
That was pretty much the gist of it that I got..
A serious lack of understanding from government and
the public and how they devalue human life, especially those
of the truck drivers who give their all to bring
you the everything you need to butter your bread…live
your sheltered lives, be entitled and narcissistic and self
important. The Oil and Gas industry has a hand in the making of this
mess and the first thing these people do is point fingers at the truckers.
This mayor and city councilman don’t have a clue and don’t lead the citizenry with any vision. Just take the tax money and run, without
weighing the costs of doing business. Not a clue.
Yes, but where are you putting the truck if this is a TRAILER drop lot? I bet when you say “pay” you will try and charge drivers. Shame. Perhaps more rest areas or something else.
The ‘real’ parking problem is the lack of infrastructure for the truckers. Every town or county should have ‘x’ amount of truck parking spaces per 1K of residents. Warehouse facilities should have some spaces set aside for those drivers who need to take 10 hours off either before or after delivery.
Cities and county govts could give a small tax break to those who provide parking for OTR’s. Supporting the industries that serve you goes a long way to making things better for everyone involved.
if anyone would act on this, i think they would no longer have a problem. But no one acts (except to ban trucks).
I would stop all trucks from going to Midland, and watch there store shelves and gas pumps go dry
Excellent idea !!!!!
Absolutely Correct
Here’s my solution: F%$& Midland. Have the city go buy trucks to move their goods in and out of their city and where those trucks park elsewhere, ticket those trucks at $500.00 each. Hey, J. Ross Lacy, ever wonder how the tampons you buy got to the store, you ungrateful you know what? Trucks are discusting? I’m willing to bet the frame rails on my 88 W900 were cleaner than your tighty whitys….
👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾
Tell her again driver
Don’t need Midland..let them drink their oil
These Towns Need to have All Deliveries Stopped to their Towns Until January of 2019. See how their Holidays Go. No Food, Gas, Clothes or Toys for Christmas. Then Do Not Deliver Until they give the Parking Space that they need and Put It In Writing. Also demand that J.Ross Lacy and James Lamb are Removed From Their Positions Immediately. Evidently People Do Not Realize that Truckers are Their Lifeline.
Why James lamb? He’s fighting for us , hes not part of Midland city council
Why can’t the city provide a parking area for the trucks,you can’t tell me the city doesn’t have some empty property that’s not being used for anything.Atleast till a solution is figured out.
With the way this greedy commission works, they don’t have empty property, they annex just enough (6′) to run down the shoulder of the Interstate so they could grab the airport, or they will annex a property after the owners pay thousands of dollars putting in sewer and water rather than help the owner out by annexing first then charge half to extend into the property.
That’s the best idea yet. Thank You. By the way I think almost all OTR drivers are SAPS. When are we (I am an OTR driver currently working for a temp. driver placement company making $24 per hour, commuting pay, motels paid, layover pay, home almost every night) going to stop being treated like lowlifes and demand to be compensated what that job is really worth ??? Shut down every truck in the country until they start paying us. It’s worth $2,000 per week.
A typical politician. No clue on what it takes to produce in the real world. Don’t go to Midland,Tx.
Stay in Big Spring. Treated very well when I would stop there.
Yep,stop all trucks going there for 1 week. They’ll be a whole new song. Just remember, (you can’t fix stupid) all you can do is laugh at it.
that works for o/o’s company drivers are forced to deal with these
kinda people
It’s simple truckers, don’t go to midland period.
I pass by all the time non stop so I ain’t missing anything…
No more Midland for me!
Another politician making rules about an industry they know nothing about.
I just can’t wait till the rest of the nation follows suit to her ideas. And once enough is enough. We will surely all decide that $500 ticket is worth shutting down this nation over. They need to get their head out of their butts if they want my truck anywhere I’m not wanted because I won’t go there. Then they’ll be beggin us to show up with what they need. And it will cost them dearly.
I have a choice of going there and previously always had to pay very well or wouldn’t go … when the frackers are running there just isn’t any parking. ….. once the oil is gone so will the city then they won’t have to worry about trucks any more.
So now you want to blame a particular sector of trucking? You sound like Ross Lacy’s senior advisor right now!!
He’s not just talking about us frackers. Park your truck in midland and you’ll get sanctioned too. This is why we will never get any justice because of people like you will keep us divided!
Sorry but the overcrowding at truck stops in the greater Permian Basin area *is* from frac sand haulers.
Further, it’s not van, reefer or flatbed haulers dumping trash out of their trucks at the Walmart in question just off I-20 it’s sand haulers.
Pass by that spot at any time of day and you’ll see a pneumatic or box sand truck parked there, and when that’s who’s always parked there that’s who’s dumping, just like you a meth head when he’s always at the dealer’s house…
I quit going to midland and Odessa way before this idiot councilman and mayor opened their mouths. I quit going when the oil and gas boom took off. The entire area across I20 has become modern day sodom and gamorha. Last time I was there I saw frack drivers performing oral on each other in the parking lot at the J. I saw feces smeared on the walls of the bathroom by frack drivers. I also saw disgusting filth everywhere because of the frack drivers. I understand where the councilman and people of Midland are coming from. I understand their contempt for the type of trucks and truck drivers they see everyday. The frack drivers have no one to blame but their dirty selves. And the rest of us pay the price for their nastiness.
Typical get rich and screw the little guy screw Midland TX. I agree boycott that dust bowl
Apparently this moron has no idea where freight comes from. Don’t push truckers off and let them be someone else’s problem, come up with a solution. Give tax breaks and incentives to companies who build up commerce infrastructure so that Midland is a place worth going. A few truck stops can employ hundreds and generate revenue for your city.
It really is a double edged sword. Truckers need places to park. The city needs to keep the city from being over run with trucks. Sounds like one or two more truck stops would help solve the problem.
..or less people.
Eat more baby.
The Mayor’s solution is a non-starter for the simple reason that neither the town Council, nor the County will ever issue a permit to build a truck parking facility. Trucks after all “are disgusting” to these people. Remember, when people say that they don’t just mean the trucks. They’re thinking about us drivers. From my understanding this is an oil town. So the hicks think they are above us working men. I wish the truckers who go there wiuld stop. That would help in adjusting the town’s folk attitude.
I had a driver not familiar with San Diego didn’t know where to go after unloading ask a local cop where he could find a truckstop the cop replied we don’t want that kind of trash in San Diego. I quit sending my trucks to them.
Good on ya, mate!😀
have THAM
bld. a DC CENTER WITH PARKING
That’s right truckers, don’t go to Midland! BOYCOTT! I am not a trucker, but I know the industry and truckers deserve some respect. It is funny how they want their products or goods, but they don’t want to see how they got there. There is way too much over regulation and excessive taxing on truckers, and now you want them to hide. Everything you own or buy has been transported by a trucker. Show some appreciation!
Thank you Sherri.
I live in Midland, lacy is the Commissioner for the airport. So people who live near the airport elected him. My solution would have been along the lines of Morales solution, but for all those companies in Midland that use their den as an office and park their trucks at truck stops. Long haul should be given the parking at loves or the j not these guys that go home every night but refuse to purchase land for a company they operate out of their house. That’s the problem they should be addressing, not trucks in general, but oilfield service companies that buy 5 acres and 10 trucks, then tell their drivers to park at the truck stops
100% right. I stop at Market Street off exit 126 alot. Most guys come in park truck and leave. 8 to 15 trucks from same company.
Rite on Bobby
You hit the nail on the head. There is no infrastructure to support the trucks that are there now and no one wants to invest in it because when the oil busts these fly-by-night operators sell off the trucks or move. They don’t want a long-term facility. And because they run trashy trucks and don’t provide their employees with facilities you have dirty trucks and dirty drivers parking wherever they can find a place and using the bathroom on the sidewalks. It makes all of us drivers look bad.
Midland needs to bite the bullet, procure the funds and level out an area for oilfield truck parking, keep it accessible, bring in portable toilets and have the police cruise it. Like you said, leave the TS parking to the long haulers. After all, isn’t Midland making $$$’s off these oilfields and the people that work them? I know the oilfield towns here where I live go belly up when the oilfields aren’t booming.
😡 I’ve had to use the restroom badly when close to Midland. Tried to stop at a TS in that town, of which there is 6. All were overrun with oil field trucks or dropped trailers.
I now plan my route to not get caught having to stop in Midland, and if I got to “emergency” go (y’all know what I mean 😉) I have no problem doing it on the side of the road. That’s my opinion of Midland!
Thanks for the local insight Eric D. Too bad your comments can’t get pushed to be read first.
Seems the truck problems in Midland are a local issue and not from OTRs.
Seems some sort of park and drive is needed for the local truckers.
Maybe the mayor should purchase 10 acres out of his own pocket. He’s prob making more money than any of us on this forum anyway.
When are we as truckers going stop being a bunch of pussies and stand up against stuff like this! Not one disgusting truck should be delivering any products to midland! Please someone organize a midland boycott! Power to the truckers! ✊🏽✊✊🏾✊🏽✊🏿
Well you came up with idea . Why don’t you quit being a puss or ( as you put it ) and organize it yourself. It’s easy to point fingers at others , but you came up with an idea and then asked someone else to do the work you thought of .
Its not just the drivers when are the companies gonna tell places like this to go get bent
somalians are glad to be here driving instead of dodging bullets and bombs.
Maybe when they drove by the Walmart the lot was littered with trucker trash and piss bottles. A lot of you are disgusting slobs. Look in the mirror.
Many drivers are trash themselves. I’ve picked up bags of garbage thrown on the ground by ignorant drivers. However, I wont touch a piss-bottle ….
I’ve watched a few drop their trash and been able to get back on their truck on the cat walk. Once dropped an open pee bottle up on the cowl to odorize his ac system.
Stop going to Midland truckers and let J. Ross Lacy explain why all the business is closing with out trucks no town can survive. Please truckers stand together for once. If we had stood together there would be no ELD’s get it.
Midland doesn’t like trucks, lets see how long they survive without any products being delivered there. If it weren’t for truck drivers hauling freight across the nation, we’d be in sad shape.
Let the county buy the land and develop it since they can spend all the money they want and the tax payers will fill there pocket again. We trucks don’t end up with much and we go broke there is no tax payers there to pick us up.
I would stop all trucks from going to Midland, and watch there store shelves and gas pumps go dry, DITTO BRIAN
Any jurisdiction that receives federal funding from the dept of trans. Should not be allowed to have no parking to commercial vehicles. I will go a step further, any jurisdiction that receives federal funding and has industrial areas such as Warehouses and factories should be required to also supply parking for commercial vehicles that are legally out of driving hours .
What a wonderful, utopian idea. That being passed as law would be a miracle.
The mayor could propose a tax free zone for people to build new truck stops, what I have seen with truck stops is if you build it they will come.
That is exactly correct. What’s funny to see . There has been a parking problem in the trucking industry since I’ve been driving that would be the past 25 years . Now DOT forces a mandatory elf’s and 10 hour breaks , but doesn’t make a regulation concerning the problem of no place to park . Simple solution provide parking or don’t enforce shut down regulations.
Eld not elf haha
Why doesn’t the FMCSA or local government offer property tax breaks for businesses that allow trucks to park on their property as this seems to be the biggest cost for truck stops.
Large vacant lots could become legal lucrative parking areas for the the property owners.
Than I suggest not delivering anything to Midland with a truck.
Hell I’ve blown my log by 30 or 40 min because I didn’t want to spend 10 hrs somewhere.
I am now looking for other work thanx the morons like this and having real trouble finding it but that’s what happens after 20 yrs of Bering on the road. The only way children like this learn anything is when u take it away, so don’t deliver in Midland.
Well that is an easy problem to fix….. just don’t deliver products to Midland. If they want their products, let them go out of town to get it. If your dispatcher tries to give you a load going there, tell him “sorry I can’t do it” . What orher loads you got?? Dispatchers can’t force loads on their drivers!!
They need to build a Walmart for trucks only, problem solved. That’s an issue all city’s need to be addressed.if it wasn’t for us truckers they would starved. That asshole need to be removed from office. I’m sure that dick head lines his pockets with a lot of Mula from the oil&gas
Ah come on… You know the car drivers won’t honor that, the police won’t enforce it, and it’ll cost too much for a security force with the authority to do the enforcement. An example is the “truck only” lanes on interstates and the “truck only” rest areas. You don’t see trucks in the “car only” places. 🤔😒😡
The problem with parking in Midland or Odessa is all the bulk sand and oilfield trucks taking up all the spots, those guys have numerous locations with unlimited space to park but they want to take up legitimate truckers parking spaces
What this is, is Midland TX is trying to be a big city like NYC but just doesn’t have the infrastructure. I’d say “Boycott, boycott, boycott!” but what trucking companys should do is, just like NYC, crank up the rates to an unreasonable amount. Make it universal. Doesn’t matter what trucking company they request service from, the price will be the same, high, unreasoanable amount. Hey I make a killing delivering freight to the NY NJ area. On the same spectrum, DRIVERS, refuse to go there unless the run is ultimately paying better then .75c a mile.
Large trucks “Disgusting” in TEXAS of all places ! ! !
Lacy is another of those politicians who dont know their place…Public SERVANTs…and truckers are a necessary part of the public.
Time for that politician to get a REAL job and actually go out and MAKE a living.
Time to elect someone else.
Drivers, it’s simple, DON’T GO TO MIDLAND and let the local drivers worry about how to bring in the freight. We all know they don’t go far enough and that there isn’t enough of them. Let the Town dry up. 3 to 7 days should be about right. Hell, go 30.
Boycott, Midland TX.
They dont want Truckers there in that town then no Truckers will be in that town.
No groceries, no clothing no gas. No construction equipment, no nothing.
Back to the dark ages with them.
Truckers have to stand united against this bull crap. If you drive dont deliver Midland TX. It will hurt the pocket a bit but there is enough freight to other places to make it up .
The city should provide a designated parking area just as simple as a rest area with at least rest room facilities. The showers are a good idea too but the whole problem is the small percentage of drivers who are complete slobs. Thank the big companies who bring in all the foreigners over here who throw there waste out in the lot for you to step in
I was right along with you until you scapegoated foreigners for all the problems in the industry.
I have never seen a 600lb minority lumbering from where he’s parked in the fuel island to get Wendy’s on my time. I’ve seen dozens of home grown slobs pissing on the fuel island while they fuel up their tanks, in broad daylight.
Hey now. I’ve seen plenty of American drivers who do the same thing you blame the foreigners of doing. No one group is at fault for the lack of decency and hygiene.
Boycott!! LET THEM STARVE AND GO WITHOUT! SIMPLE. yes their are drivers who make it difficult for the rest. But Midland just going to FAR, So trucking needs to respond on the same childnish level. BOYCOTT & LET THEM GO WITHOUT. gas, food, clothing,medical, everything. But with that being said drivers need to straighten our act up too.just don’t think of yourself include others.
BREAKING NEWS: SBTC aka Truckers. com Files Federal Coercion Complaint Against Midland, Texas. Add your name to the letter of complaint here: https://t.co/4cmzA85GfM
We drive through it and keep on going. Our drivers will spend their money, and ours, in a town that appreciates and supports the trucking industry.
“BOYCOTT MIDLAND”
Everyone in Midland and elsewhere with the same sort of problem should be made aware of the controversy as most often it is a story hidden deep in the local paper(s) and never mentioned on radio or TV news. I have spent several nights in Midland and the next morning there was a lot of pee bottles and stuffed plastic bags left behind and that must of been the disgusting aspect of the reporters remark? And I concur, it can ruin a good thing for truckers. In other locales I have been asked to move by managment at Walmarts and other stores for that disgusting reason. But on several occasions they were kind to let me stay when I promised to not leave any trace of my stay. But there are other Walmarts who have put up 10 foot bars over their entrances to stop the truckers from entering their proberty. The first one I noticed to do this was in West Memphis, Ar. It’S a shame to face reality and complain when you lose a right by your own actions. Police up the area by not making a mess, leaving your trash behind for another to clean up after gets old too quick. That, I know is only part of the issue in Midland, but truckers can help by stopping this unsightly and filthy, and possible health risk, by leaving your waste of all kinds behind. That goes for everwhere you park for the night. Take a good look at the areas around the on and off ramps the next time you utilize one! They’re becoming a hazard to all, including the wildlife.
Read the comments by Eric D. It’s the local trucking companies that are clogging up the t/s at night because they can’t park their rig at the house any more.
I like the city’s nonchalant discrimination. Where is the enforcement against that now?
Well theres 1 more reason to bypass Midland. Wont cripple your economy but everytime i bypass it i wont be alone. Wait less truck traffic??..naw lol..support my fellow drivers..boycott Midland then again im also totaly down to boycott the whole damn state..
Drivers just need to quit whining clean up behind themselves clean themselves and all will be good in the trucking industry remember that you pigs
So this guy comes up with a solution…he wants YOU to buy property ..to put up parking.. showers etc?WHY DOESN’T THE CITY OF MIDLAND PUT UP THE MONEY..AND SET UP TRUCK PARKING..YOU MADE THE PROBLEM..YOU GET THE TAXES OFF THE OIL MONEY THAT MADE MIDLAND IN THE FIRST PLACE..SO YOU CAN FIX THE PROBLEM AND BUILD TRUCK PARKING AREAS..PROBLEM SOLVED…ORRR you can’t because your pockets are lined with money that was ment to build projects like that?
Boycott sounds easy enough until mega carriers with forced dispatch get into picture. Not saying we shouldn’t all avoid the area but the shelves won’t go bare unless all companies boycott which just isn’t gonna happen.
The problem in Midland is of their own making. It’s oil field work out there and there is nothing clean about it. The major problem is that there is the few disgusting drivers who don’t respect other people’s property and they trash it with there filters, piss bottles, and truck trash thrown all over the place. There are even some abandoned trucks left anywhere because the owner never took care of the truck just killed it and leaves it on someone else’s property. I’ve been there and that’s why I don’t go back. The city is too blame for the mess.
Just so funny that a butt-ugly place like Midland, Texas can complain about trucks ruining their town.
stay out of midland,problem solved,
Tyler Durdan the Mayor’s balls.
Isnt Walmart considered private property? So how would they be able to tell someone what they can or cant have on their property?
Buy some acres and park trucks there? Huh?
Isnt that the exact same thing that’s going on at the Walmart?
Yes and no. Walmart says they don’t want truckers on their property. City ordinance says you cannot be parked in a business parking lot in town not designed for drivers. Even if Walmart let you park there, city ordinance overrules that.
most walmarts your supposed to ask permission to park there
or at least let them know your there, most of us ignore the signs
it’s not your rite it’s a privilege.
Midland is garbage, its always been disgusting. I have choices, Odessa/Midland sre piss stops, nothing more.
Nothing will happen…business as usual becuase no one in this industry has any balls.
That I agree with. So it appears we need a better representation for our industry that has the courage to lobby and solve this concern in every community including places to park for 34 hour break
The majority of goods bought by truckers at Walmart is alot they should let us park there. They oh us that much since we deliver there products
I’ve been working West Texas oil for about 6 yrs on and off as an owner op. The oil field jobs go up and down and does not let you trust to invest in land. Alot of the trucks taking up parking in midland/Odessa are single owner operator’s. When the boom goes away which I’ve seen and left to Colorado. The trucks are gone and alot go for sale. Midland/Odessa needs to appreciate these drivers and small business owner op. The market street off of i20/1788 has the rv park next to the truck parking with a fence thats made to let these guys walk to the rv. Of course people gonna park the trucks there. These gas stations are guaranteed these guys will fill up everyday there and buy their groceries there. Its just great for the local enconmy. The city should worry more the flood problems with the current unproper city drainage system fixing the roads they have
I’ve never seen that huge dirt lot full at the gas station on exit 136. I guess people just don’t want to get their shoes dirty.
Sorry fellow truckers we are not dealing with this serious concern. Parking on the side of feeeways etc is a sign of poor planning. But I will say we need more parking places and unfortunity this is our problem. So let’s offer solutions.
Solution: raise price of shipping so it affects the product price. Create a special fund with these funds and create parking lots for only truckers. Not campers etc. Everyone pays for this and Everyone benefits.
Solution 2. Take .02 cents from fuel tax paid now and create a fund only for creating parking lots. Invite vendors and charge a fee. This is a positive reasonable solution
Just pass right on by don’t bother stopping and don’t deliver there until they come up with a better proposal than that insult of why don’t trucking companies purchase more land and help make Midland even more money from what they’re already making off of the trucking industry
How about instead of stop going into Midland,Tx. All trucks go into Midland and jam up the roads. I mean if you get 1000 trucks in there and they all have nowhere to park maybe the Mayor and the councilman will unglue their eyes and realize the need for adequate truck parking. I’ve been through Midland I’ve run out of fuel in Midland (that’s a long story) and it wasn’t pretty. But I say go there deliver their products and get out as fast as you can or as fast as your ELD will allow you too given the slow ass lumpers loading and unloading trailers. However since the local administration wants to make money off of you we kill them with kindness and smiles it will take a long time but shiferbrains will come around and figure out what side their Texas toast is buttered on. Bless them that curse do good to them that hate you pray for them whom despitefully use you and persecute you.
Force all the sand trucks and tankers that use the truckstops as terminals to our base land. A lot of those guys are big companies like Stevens or 1845. They can afford a terminal. Leave the truckstops for the OTR guys.
I like to park in WalMart’s…typically, by the time my day is done, there is NO room left to park at a local truck stop.
Ever try to deliver in a big city like Chicago? It is almost impossible to find a truck stop to begin with, let alone one that has room left to park!
Go to Detroit…when I used to go, it was $10 a night to park at the FlyingJ south of town.
Nice part of parking at WalMart is, there is a bathroom inside, their is food, usually there are some restaurants within walking distance, and prices are REASONABLE for just about any kind of item I need for my truck or myself. You’ll go broke buying stuff at a truck stop.
I never understood the ban certain WalMart’s put on truck parking. It is like “Hey, you guys like it when I come in here to buy stuff each time, right?”
So, the Mayor’s solution is, buy a piece of his garbage property and put a trucker hotel on it? How is that a “solution”?
I’m one guy, with one truck. Am I supposed to buy land in evey town I stop in just so I can have a place to park??? That is ridiculous!
Why not talk to the local shippers, convince them they need to make ample room for the trucks they ordered to park overnight? How often do you get to a shipper and they say “no overnight parking”? It happens ALL the time. There in lies the real problem.
Truck stops and road-side truck parking should be for the truckers who are “passing through”. Get off at an exit, go a few feet, park, wake up, keep heading to your destination.
If you have a PU or del in a town, park at the company who ordered the truck, not force everyone to park miles away at some truck stop.
The problem is with the oilfield drivers taking all the parking spaces at the truck stops when they should be parking near their job sites. So why not look at what caused the problem or are you people so over educated and better than everyone else that pay your salaries…
It sounds like an industrial town , and that tells me that even those trucks in the town are not welcome because someone who doesn’t know how to do his job is against those disgusting trucks as he says . I take it they don’t need deliveries to or from Midland Texas. And I take it that the Mayor doesn’t eat drink or use anything at all. why not solve the problem with Him and illuminate him from his job and find someone who does know how to be mayor. The only title he has is mayor and that tells me that he isn’t too educated at all. I hope those Midland residents aren’t proud of him . He is not good for their town. and Siting TRUCKERS only. Doesn’t the officers work for the state law. Since when does the Mayor tell them how to do their job ? why doesn’t Walmart tell mr. mayor to get off of their property and mind his own business. I see the solution pay per trucker. a cot and water bottle portable shower and toilets . sounds like the army only we have to pay them. I don’t think so. we spend our money on food there and support the truck stops. Its not the fair grounds. Simple they go without everything. Im sure the mayor can go get his needs else where. while he pretends to be the Dept of Transportation and the FMCSA, and the CSA. Looks like Christmas will be poor there for Midland , Texas who knows Santa could be sited for his sleigh Ive seen towns go under sounds like this ones going fast . If I was a business owner Id move to another town. How does he imagine his town was build ? Answer; by trucks bringing in supplies. That mayor needs to be investigated he sounds greedy . Truckers should not pay for a lot to park in the companies we pick up and deliver from should provide one for us. we are hauling their products . we don’t owe them.
City cops work for the CITY. The mayor runs the CITY. CITY cops enforce state laws and LOCAL ordinances.
I thought Wal-Mart parking lots were private property, belonging to Wally World. Is that different in Midland, or just in the twisted minds of their politicians? I’ve only seen a few Wally’s here truck parking was posted as prohibited.
It is private property, but until this was passed the police had no way to remove trucks from the lot. The South Walmart has signs up saying no truck parking. They parked there anyway. That Walmart has a huge parking lot that’s at best 1/2 full, has plenty of extra space, but Walmart doesn’t want them. Now the city can fine them for parking in no truck parking zones. It made the problem worse because of the wording of the ordinance.
Put these so called Government officials in a truck for a week and drive them around then let them see what truckers have to put up with on the road.
That would be a true ROAD TEST
I’m in on the Midland TX boycott!.. You won’t see me driving around like an idiot looking for a place to park
Come on everybody!! Boycott midland!!! Let’s them starve!
James Lamb. Hmm. Doesn’t seem like a very nice fella. Guessing he probably doesn’t know that everything he can see there in Midland was brought by a truck. Personally I think he should move somewhere there’s no truck traffic to bother him. Midlands ok. Just got the one asshole that needs to leave so we can keep this country fed & watered & running. Probably the runt.
Midland Runs on trucks, period.
As drivers, I’m frustrated by the lack of consideration by other drivers particularly when it comes to trash and bodily fluids.
I’ve considered putting together a pamphlet for a trucker code of conduct. A small booklet that has things we all know causes the publics lack of respect and appreciation.
It could for the most part easily be translated into multiple languages. Thoughts?
Stop and think for just a second here. WHAT DO YALL EXPECT?? Most drivers nowadays are slobs. Do you like parking at a Walmart with your wife and kids getting out and all you smell is piss? Knowing you’re walking through it. Do you like seeing bottles of piss laying every where? Tires, trash laying everywhere. This new breed out there has completely ruined this industry. When I 1st started trucking drivers were respected. How about next time you see some driver pissing beside his truck or throwing his bottle of piss out the window make an example out of him and make them straighten their a$$’s up. Maybe things would change for us. I doubt it though, this industry is too far gone…. As far as anyone in concerned we’re all just a bunch of “disgusting truck drivers”!!!! Wake up!!!
Midland mayor should buy land so his truck drivers have a place to park.
Shame on you mayor of midland.
I am a female truck driver and if I am attacked because of this me mayor I will be putting a law suit against your town
The politicians all the way down to the local level should understand that without Trucks America Stops!
Buy land. Well the truth be know the mayor family will do th it s just to make money. I go through their but will not stop. After I leave Dallas headed west I don’t stop at them over price fuel stops.
Why has no one suggested not going to Midland yet?
If they provide the parking area then they could also come get the products right there themselves.. No more trucks parking in town problem..
They want a no truck zone , give them a no truck zone—- turn it in to a ghost town , then they wouldn’t even need police to write tickets !!!!!
I’m thinking that the majority of the trucks that this councilman has a problem with are oil field related. EVERY truck stop that’s near a large oil field is inundated with oil field trucks so that there is NO parking for OTR drivers. You drivers say “boycott” Midland but it’s the truck’s that are working the oil fields that are taking all the parking, so yeah, I agree with the mayor. These oil field companies have the money to buy land to be used for their trucks, but are to cheap to buy some. You can’t Evan pull in in the middle of the day and the lot is full of oil field trucks, so ya park in the fuel island, get a drink, snack, use the restroom and mess around long enough to get your 30 minute break and get the hell out.
Nobody seems to be putting the blame where it belongs
the oil company’s, their the ones who invite the problem
and should be at least partially liable for the increased
traffic they’ve brought in, the parking problem still remains
here Texas DOT should of increased parking areas from
the start the city should have gone to the state with this
problem instead of blaming the drivers who have no choice
but to be there.
Truckers and trucks help build Midland Texas. Sounds like he is not wanting to be mayor any longer. Without Truckers and their trucks the towns new name will be Mudland Texas. BOYCOTT MIDLAND TEXAS!
As bad as it sounds the city’s feelings on truck parking is well-deserved and well-earned. There is not enough parking in Midland for all the saltwater, Frac and sand cans that operate in the area. I know better than to try and stop in Midland, so I do my best not to stop anywhere between Sweetwater and Monahans. you can’t find parking in between there anyhow for all the other trucks. There is no easy solution for parking in that area. There is so many out of town’rs working local in Midland that do not have a physical “yard”, they just park where ever. Hence the city councils feelings. I don’t agree with the city council but I can’t blame them either.
Here is a novel concept… when it comes to WalMarts…
Seeing as how you can never find a completely full Walmart Parking lot any where you go. I say for the price of a contribution to construction, those companies that want to advantage themselves of it, have built an area specifically for truckers and be done with the issue Let the polititians work out the details. It’s a win – win for everybody. Stop blaming the towns and cities for adopting policies to hasten the crime and sanitary conditions and just solve the problem. The problem isn’t the Truckers… it’s the criminals that decry the truckers after taking advantage of the victims of crime.
I don’t think the problem is consumer goods from foods to products because these truck have docks and terminals to go to, its the oilfield trucks that don’t have yards to go to that take up parking and create dangers in traffic zones due to size and streets not equipped to accommodate large vehicles in residential zones.
I also (same as Jude), thought that Walmart as well as other businesses bought or leased the properties they where using for business. This should make them having ” Domain ” over said property, if they allow trucks or whatever they choose to utilize the same , then how can the city or any government agency dictate otherwise? However, I have moved shopping carts and picked up refuse that was left behind ( not saying that it was truckers only ). I Figger , that if the owner or agent of , was kind enough to let me roost there , I should be courteous enough to park out of the way best I can and not leave debris . It is up to each of us to keep these areas as clean or cleaner than we found them , I should think that the property owner would appreciate it greatly and parking may not be as scarce ! I always try to ask if I may park , worst they can say is NO.
Well, it’s private property so they can do it like or not. No parking sign? Dont park there. Not rocket science. I don’t see why you’re all whining. I drive myself. Don’t go there then. Or trip plan properly. I’ve been doing OTR for years and don’t have problems parking. Why…I trip plan responsibly. Simple.
Cots ?
I hope yall starve. Like everyone else said. Take Midland off the list.
Time to block the roads in and out of midline with semi’s.
A wall of tractors side by side just outside the city limits.
All them dropping in Midline, wait a couple weeks and the gas and food get scarce and they will gladed do things are way.
There were truckers that blocked a major highway to protest a raise in the toll.
Now Connecticut was to live off our backs buy tolls.
Rhode Island is another one , tools on outside truckers coming through.
enough is enough. My DM wants to know why I won’t go to maine to Penn state to S carolina.Would rather haul Laredo to Florida any time.
Yep when I come home to visit my broker wants me to take a load there but I refuse to do it so I come home I am not worried about going home empty.and believe me the load that he wants to deliver is very in portion to the people of Odessa and Midland have they forgot who built America trucks brought the goods in the building materials to build the town’s so keep on Midland Odessa we can stop hauling this up to you and then you just go broke are starved to death doesn’t make any difference to me I have food at least I know that I moved out of this state because of the way you treat truck drivers I went somewhere where I’m appreciated and here I’m not appreciated don’t get me wrong I like Odessa for brute being born here but doesn’t mean I have to live here and live with your dumb rules.
Maybe the trucking companies can help repair the streets they help tear up!