Truck Parking A Growing Concern For America's Truckers

That is the big question, were do you park your rig when you have to pull over. I know that in New York it is illleagal to idle your rig. Is it legal to park on the side of an exit ramp?

 

What is going on out there? No parking, anti-idling laws, changing HOS, demanding shippers, whats next? At what point does it reach critical mass and things start to change for the better?

 

Here's something I've found...it's not that there's no parking anywhere, so much as there's no parking at the national chain truck stops. Of course, this is dependent upon where you are in the country. There is usually parking, it just might not be at the most convenient location. For example, let's you've got a load going from the NYC/NJ area to Chicago that is picked up on a Tues. and delivers on Thursday at 5AM. You get to any of the 5-6 truck stops off of 80/94 around Gary and Lake Station, IN at about 8PM on Wednesday. Good luck finding a parking spot. And forget about utilizing any service plaza in Illinois on 80/94 or 294. However, you probably passed up 200 parking spots before you shut down. I realize that shutting down as close to Chicago as possible is the smart thing to do, but that's exactly what I mean by it's not that there's no parking anywhere. Just no parking where it's most convenient.

 

As I understand the situation, the desk drivers are trying to run the show. They conduct surveys, mostly to gauge how many other law-makers will agree with their assessment.

They have access to data compiled to assist them in determining what's best for those whom they haven't a clue how they get 'er done on a daily basis.

When they receive complaints from Big truck drivers concerned about the lack of Big truck parking,....................
The desk drivers consult the official statistics reports for parking spots for Big trucks all across the fruited plain, and from sea to shining sea.
They make a note of the official number of reported parking places.

In another file, they access the total number of Big trucks on the roads on any given day.
They make a note of the official number of Big trucks on the roads on a given day,.................
And the answer to the alleged problem becomes apparent. Big truck drivers, in general, don't know what they're complaining about.
The OFFICIAL statistics clearly indicate that there are FAR more parking places available than there are actual Big trucks to fill them.

Of course, in the fine print and clearly hidden in plain sight, betwixt the lines, swept under the rug, are statistics that the desk drivers over look, or can't understand in the first place.

What they can't seem to grasp is, if, on any given day, say 20% of this country's Big truck drivers are on the east coast.
Thirty percent of the drivers are on the left coast.
Twenty-five percent are running the southern roads.
And 15% are running way up north
That leaves 10% of the Big truck drivers running the central, mid states.
Wyoming,
Kansas,
Nebraska,......................
Places that usually have ample parking for easily 30% of the Big trucks.
Says so right in the official statistics.

Unfortunately for the 50% of the drivers who find themselves in areas that can only support maybe 15% of the Big trucks parking requirements on any given day, it becomes obvious that location, location, location, is paramount.

Twenty-five empty parking places at one truck stop in Wyoming, and six hundred empty Big truck parking places in the three states I mentioned above, won't satisfy the needs of a Big truck driver in New York City, or Los Angeles or Sandy Eggo, California, where parking places are few and far between.

But the official statistics don't bother taking all that stuff into account. Mind boggling stuff.
Waaayyy too much information.
Confusing too.
And it doesn't help matters when actual Big truck drivers and their companies confuse the desk drivers with the facts, which, I'm sure the desk drivers find informative and entertaining, but waaayyy too time consuming to even TRY to digest it all enough to consider their comments valid.

So, the desk drivers narrow their information gathering to a few select groups who they can depend on to get them the information in a way they CAN understand. Organizations like M.A.D.D., P.A.T.T., C.R.A.S.H., and other such special interest groups who have the Big truck trucking industry all figured out, and are anxious to force their ill conceived ideas onto an industry of vital interest and importance to this country. Insightful information gathered from other special interest groups with absolutely no experience in the trucking industry, and probably have no clue how a trucking company operates, or why, is used as study material as they join forces to fight for a common good.

Being in tip-top physical shape helps those members of special interest groups a lot too. The groups raking in the most contribution monies are the ones who have the first and biggest knee-jerk reaction to a select situation. They're experts at confusing the facts and blowing things waaayyy out of proportion, in a most convincing manner. If they put the right spin on it, they can ride it all the way to the bank.
And back.
Several times.

Those monies seem to find their way into the election or re-election campaigns of politicians looking for a cause to ride into the headlines,and ultimately, elected office. Maybe just a stepping stone on their way to the top. But hey, the end justifies the means.
Right?
If they find it beneficial to "step on" on a few "stones" along the way, .... so be it.
Things need changing, ---

So,...........................
Big truck drivers make many suggestions as to the best overall solutions.
And they're ignored.
Special interest groups, who contribute to politician's election funds get undivided attention when they go off, half ####ed.

Our elected leaders shoot the messengers and just hear what they WANT to hear,.............and disregard the rest.
All under the guise of "helping us".
I wish they'd define the word "helping" (us) as it applies to their efforts.

I know, I know ---
It all depends on what the definition of "is", is.
And simple "yes" -- "no" answers become convoluted explanations cleverly devised to avoid the obvious answers, which the powers that be, by choice, choose to ignore.
If they can't dazzle us with intelligence, by golly, they'll try to baffle us with bovine excrement.
I think they call it "alternative fuels."
But mostly, I think, it's all just a bunch of hot air.
Flatulence?
Hmmmmmmmmmm

One way or the other,...........during shipping, ...... placard the load,

S hip
H igh
I n
T ransit.





And hold your nose.

They say, "the squeaking wheel gets the grease."
Unfortunately, in the trucking industry, the squeaking wheel gets
replaced.
:smt075

 

Werner Enterprises never allowed us to park on an off ramp was aginst company policy was really tough sometimes

 

What a company "allows", and what drivers actually DO, can be two entirely different things.
If an act is illegal, my bet is that ALL companies would consider that against company policy, especially if something negative were to happen as a result.

Big truck drivers are human, and humans by nature tend to push the envelope. So too, do the Big truck trucking companies. Unfortunately, they often push in the opposite direction. The same holds true with the Hours Of Service rules and regulations. One size does NOT fit all.
The best one can do, is the best one can do --- under the circumstances.

The current HOS rules and regulations should give us a clue that the powers that be, who write those rules and regulations, haven't a clue. If their main concern actually IS "Safety", then they've missed their target by a long shot.
If their main concern is gathering campaign monies for their election, they're probably closer to the bulls-eye.
When things don't seem to make sense,
follow The Money Trail.
That's where those elusive answers are usually located.

 

This all makes sense when you put it that way. But what are us newbies to do? I know we need to pay our dues and learn a lot by doing, but if I plan my route and HOS and then cant park?I'll know better the next time but what about now? Are you saying to just stay away from any big truck stop? Thanks for any help.

 

What are newbies to do? Back up and punt. :smt102 Seriously, though, what I've found that works, and it'll work for you too after you've been out here a bit and learn what areas are the worst for parking....
Don't wait til your hours are up before you look for a parking spot. If you wait til you've driven 10.75 hours, then look for a spot at the only TS within 100 miles, you just sank your own ship. Or shot yourself in the foot.
Another thing that works for me...drag your posterior outta the bed early in the morning, so as to work your HOS in a smarter way. If you start at say 3:00 AM, you'll be looking for a shut-down spot WAY before everyone else, which is usually right around sunset.
But mainly, it jsut comes with experience, a little forethough, and some common sense.
But I agree that something needs to be done with the parking. I see so many weigh stations and rest areas that are closed down and blocked off that would otherwise make great parking for big trucks. But I guess that would make too much sense for the bureaucraps.....