Is It All About No Parking And Impossible Docking Situations?

I'm strongly considering a second career in trucking... if I get laid off as expected in January. I've been hungrily devouring every article, blog, and forum post on this site for the last week. It's all been awesome and eye opening. However, all this reading does bring up one nagging question: How much of the job has to do with not being able to find overnight parking and hard to impossible (backing up) docking situations?

I've read a number of posts where drivers say all the aggravation is worth it... "it" being the open road, the time alone, meeting new people, etc. But exactly how often do you deal with the inability to find a place to park for the night and rest, sites that won't let you in till a certain time, and the dreaded nigh impossible docking situation? Is it 1% of the time, 10% of the time or 90% of the time?

I'm genuinely interested in the career but I'd also like to have a rough idea of what to expect. I imagine I'm only hearing the horror stories followed by the reward, but I'd just like to make sure.

I'm strongly considering a second career in trucking... if I get laid off as expected in January. I've been hungrily devouring every article, blog, and forum post on this site for the last week. It's all been awesome and eye opening. However, all this reading does bring up one nagging question: How much of the job has to do with not being able to find overnight parking and hard to impossible (backing up) docking situations?

I've read a number of posts where drivers say all the aggravation is worth it... "it" being the open road, the time alone, meeting new people, etc. But exactly how often do you deal with the inability to find a place to park for the night and rest, sites that won't let you in till a certain time, and the dreaded nigh impossible docking situation? Is it 1% of the time, 10% of the time or 90% of the time?

I'm genuinely interested in the career but I'd also like to have a rough idea of what to expect. I imagine I'm only hearing the horror stories followed by the reward, but I'd just like to make sure.

I have been lucky and have only had 1 night out of these 6 months where I had to be creative with parking. When it comes to parking you have to make sure to run at times where you don't have to worry about finding a spot at the truck stop, rest area, etc. This is a big reason I like night running because when I pull into the truckstop in the morning there is plenty of spots. Over time you will figure out certain cities and areas where parking can be a pain. Denver, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Atlanta, just to name a few.

I would like to say no to your second question but I would be lying. Again I am still a rookie with 6 months experience but I have had a few backing experiences that were pretty tight, funny thing is sometimes those spots can be easier than one where there is plenty of room haha. Backing is scary at first but if you are willing to look dumb and have patience you will figure it out.

I had the same concerns as you, but as time has went on out here I have gotten better at backing, don't let it scare you. It is a skill that can be learned. I reccomend doing as much research as possible before jumping in. Life on the road can be rough if you got family at the house.

I will address those 2 things separately.

No overnight parking: Thankfully most of my receivers have parking or allow you to line up in the "driveway". I have run into the occasional place. Like the place I am delivering to right now in Birmingham. Luckily the wharehouse across the way was kind enough to let me park inside their complex up near the fence out of the way. Complete luck, I guess, because I pulled in last night and they were the only place open.

Tight or horrible backing situations: I deal with this on a nearly daily basis. After delivering to a paper product distributor or food service distributor; I always go to a recycling center to get loaded for my return run back to SCA. Nearly every recycling center has tight backing and/or little to no setup room. My best example of a place would be West Rock/Rock Tenn in Nashville, TN. It sits of an alley between 2 railroad tracks. After you scale in, you go into their back yard where there is a giant paper pile and a L-shaped row of trailers. You have to turn around between the 2. Basically you run over the corner of the pile, then jack knife around keeping the edge of your tractor inches from the trailers. You cross the outbound scale, turn left down the alley, then setup on the railroad tracks. You really don't have a choice about the setup. You could drive past the tracks then come back over them, but you won't have much room to try turning your trailer into the dock. By setting up on the tracks you give yourself more of an angle to work your trailer in. Btw, every recycling center requires you slide your tandems to the rear before you dock.

You just get used to the hand you are dealt. Just have to make use of what you are given.

Drive Safe and God Speed.

To answer your first question about parking, that will actually depend alot on where you are running and how well you plan. In most of the US, it's not hard to find parking before dark. The key is learning to manage your clock properly. If you plan well, you can almost always avoid parking issues. In the Northeast it's much more difficult to find parking but we have several drivers on here that run that area frequently without issues. Again, it's all about planning. Download the Trucker Path app. It tells you where truck stops and Walmarts are, how many parking spaces they have, and if there is parking available. I just switched to a regional run, but I used that app daily when I was running all over the country. In ten months of otr I only had to make up a spot two or three times--every time, it was because I didn't plan properly.

About tight backing situations, that's really going to depend on how quickly you pick up backing. Once you get the hang of it, most places are pretty easy I think. Nobody wants to talk about the easy places though, which is why you hear so much about the the tight places and the times people had to back in off the street. For an otr driver, backing in off the street doesn't happen that often, at least not in my experience. The toughest places are the truck stops, but you can avoid difficult backs there by choosing to shut down when there are still plenty of spaces available.

To me, the most difficult thing about trucking is just getting used to the lifestyle. No one thing is really that hard--actually alot of it is really easy. It's everything put together that makes trucking tough. A good trucker knows how to manage everything--his clock/time, his speed and space, his attitude, his emotions, his fatigue... That's why we say it usually takes three to four months before people start to really see results.

Good luck getting your career started!

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the replies. And Paul (awesome name btw), I'm going to copy and save off your last paragraph about managing everything and giving yourself time. I have a feeling these words will help me one day in the future.

The parking issue is really up to you. You'll find a schedule that works best. Hint: most major brand truck stops start filling up around dark. Plan your day so you knock off early.*

For "impossible" backing, yes some assignments are crazy. But remember, many other drivers have already backed into that spot - you just haven't had the privilege yet. Do a Trucking Truth search for Backing Practice™. (Include that little TM.) You'll find some interesting but not impossible situations.

* Generally your work and sleep times are up to you. You are only bounded by your pick-up and delivery appointments, and many of those have huge leeway, from two hour windows to all day.

The parking is all about planning. Always try to plan ahead and know if your customer has parking or if your company has a nearby terminal or drop yard. Truck stops can begin fcilling up early but if you can't get there early you can often reserve a parking spot.

The backing gets easier as you gain more experience. I always found it helpful to watch to see how other drivers set up to back in more challenging locations. Also never be afraid to say "hey, I'm pretty new at this, do you mind spotting me in?" Believe me, experienced drivers will already know you are new and most are more than willing to assist by watching your blindside etc. and help verbally guide you in docking.

It's really not that bad, and i do enjoy the challenge most of the time.

Paul, you got some great responses. Allow me to add just a little bit to the discussion.

If you developed those anxieties from reading this forum, you should realize that this forum is mostly comprised of newly licensed, first year rookies. We have as our purpose to help those who are just getting started out at this, and many of our discussions deal with the problems that rookies face on a daily basis. This whole career is one long learning process, and the whole journey of it is what makes it so rewarding.

The two things you mentioned, parking and backing, are every rookie's night mare for the first month or two, and then you will soon start to figure it all out. Honestly it takes a good solid year to even begin to really feel like you know what you are doing out here, but those who hang on for that long are able to look back on their journey to that point and feel a truly rewarding sense of satisfaction and professional growth.

I run mostly in the Northeast parts of the country, a populous and concentrated area with multiplied issues for truck drivers. I really don't have many problems with the two issues you mentioned, but it is only because I have grown familiar with the area and when and how to handle it. Most issues in this career that seem to have a negative effect on you will, for the most part, be mitigated with time and exposure. There are many trucking companies that will only hire experienced drivers, and part of the logic of that approach is because the years of their exposure to the issues has taught them how to handle those things professionally.

You have every right to be concerned with those two issues, but only because it is all new to you. The arduous task of developing as a professional driver, is for some such a difficult task that they throw in the towel and complain vehemently on internet forums about how a bunch of low lifes are running the trucking companies, and happily treat their employees with disdain every chance they get. Then there are the quiet professionals who find the whole process of learning to be rewarding each step along the way. Milestones of achievement become the comforting pillow they peacefully rest their head on each evening, while tucked away in their sleeper which was confidently backed into a nice tight spot at a local truck stop.

Don't start sweating the small stuff before you even get a taste of this life. Making big things out of little things is a career crushing habit in this field. You are gonna be just fine. You will be overwhelmed at the beginning, we all were, but take those baby steps slowly and patiently, and soon enough you will be out there "running with the big dogs!"

You will be overwhelmed at the beginning, we all were, but take those baby steps slowly and patiently, and soon enough you will be out there "running with the big dogs!"

Well said, Old School. It made me think back to when I started reffing soccer 19 years ago. I didn't jump right into the big matches, I started out small and built my confidence. I guess it's been so long since I started something new that I forgot I was once new at my current job. Haha. Thanks.

As far as parking at night, most places truck stops have reserved parking where you can pay around $13 or use the points on your card if all else fails.

Out of the 7months I've been driving I've paid for parking once. I've had 2 or 3 "oh crap" moments of panicking for parking due to My own terrible trip planning which i have no one to blame but myself.

Parking at night might seem like a daunting task but as long as you plan your trips it should not be an issue.