It’s no secret that parking is a major problem for OTR drivers, especially in certain parts of the country. That problem has major influence into where I decide to operate. Thank goodness there are people trying to make things better for us and we need to participate in order to help the cause. Hope Rivenburg, wife of Jason Rivenburg who was fatally shot while parked at an abandoned gas station in South Carolina, is urging professional drivers to complete a
short survey that can be found here. I completed it and I want you to do as well as she will present the results to the appropriate authorities later in the year to begin the slow process of changing things for the better.
As for me, I will not park in a crowded truck stop. When I have a $50,000 Mercedes hanging off of the back, there’s nothing stopping a tired driver from backing into it. With that weighing on my mind, I cannot rest. I also see drivers sleeping on the shoulder of an interstate. I don’t know how they can rest when trucks blow past them all night. I know with E-logs, some people don’t properly plan their trips and have to find a place to park in a hurry if their “Plan A” doesn’t work out. Many times, the truck stops are full around 9 pm and a driver is just about out of hours and doesn’t have a “Plan B.” Those are probably the drivers who are lined up on the shoulders of the interstate. Don’t be like them, plan ahead so you’ll have a safe place to park and not be a hazard to the rest of the motoring public.
Sometimes, I’ll get a motel while out on the road and I use
hotels4truckers.com There is a small membership fee, but well worth it as they’ve done extensive research in showing properties that have REAL truck parking for tractor trailers. I also obtain permission to park in some of the auto dealer lots that I service. If you’re a professional, the decision makers will more than likely let you park on their property. If you’re wearing pajama bottoms, flip flops and a tank top, chances are you’ll be told to leave. It’s strange; the better I dress, the luckier I get… Hmmmm…