Time To "park Up" Questions #rookieblues

As a new solo driver I find myself always getting to the truck stops at the wrong time and when I do make it(surprisingly)at a decent time I find myself caught between parking beside two drivers who can't keep it between their lines.(super tight parking spots)What seems to be a good time to park up for the night? I usually run until my 14hr clock is about to run out. Anyone have any tips for me? I'm adamant about parking at a truck stop because I'm not too keen on the idea of parking for ten hours on the side of the road....

I prefer parking around 3-4 pm myself. The parking is wide open - you could play a football game on the lot in some places. Of course, then I start rolling around 2am. And traffic in the wee hours is also non-existent. I remember once driving completely through Cincinnati, OH at this time. 20 minutes!

For more "normal" hours, try to get situated by 6pm. That's about when the slots start filling up, and late comers begin parking nearly anywhere.

Advanced Course: Many city lots fill up sooner than those in less urban areas. So calculate your time. It's better to stop earlier out of town instead of driving that extra 2 hours, meaning parking later, and closer to a city.

Finally, the five national chains (like Loves and Pilot) fill up faster than local truck stops. I'll use the reviews* of a place to help decide where to stop.

*You know about online reviews! But you can get the general drift anyway.