Had My First Run Yesterday In Four Months!

So I haven't pulled a load in four months (well, technically I have but five miles doesn't count..) and finally pulled one to Denver yesterday--a little more than 200 miles round trip. I was a little rusty but it all came back a lot easier than I thought. After about five minutes I was cruising down the road like I'd never had a break. Well...almost. I curbed the trailer twice on the way to my delivery. No damage, but still--I'm better than that.

It was also super enjoyable! By the time I started working in the yard a few months ago I had gotten to the point that I didn't really enjoy driving anymore. It was refreshing to see that all I needed was a little break. I should get to do this every week now--at least one or two runs.

Oh, and people still park at the fuel island haha. I thought maybe I'd come back in a few months and it would be better--nope!

Welcome back to the road, Pianoman!

My trainers would park at the fuel island. If I'm just going for a pee and coffee I pull thru to the yellow line but not sit at the pumps. Once or twice they had me take a 30 at the line. I didn't like that and thought it rude.

Did you try to exit your tractor through the rear? I can "see" how that could happen...

I'm not afraid to do a 30 at the yellow line, but I do constantly watch behind me to see if someone pulls up to fuel. If they do, then I'll just simply pull around and go back through the fuel island again. I don't have time to mess with backing into a spot (unless it's a straight back). That's why I try and do a 30 at a rest area.

My trainers would park at the fuel island. If I'm just going for a pee and coffee I pull thru to the yellow line but not sit at the pumps. Once or twice they had me take a 30 at the line. I didn't like that and thought it rude.

If you leave the truck it's rude, I once waited 30 min to fuel and after that I pounded at the truck and started to walk in for management, he came out and I passed him so he went in the passenger side LOL.

If I take my 30 in the fuel island I'll pull up and circle back if someone finishes pumping behind me, of your elogs won't let you circle just take your 30 on the off ramp ffs

Thanks Errol, good to be back!

Did you try to exit your tractor through the rear? I can "see" how that could happen...

LOL. The regular driver of the truck I used left too much crap on the floor for that to even be an option. Welcome to the wonderful world of slip-seating...

Ok, so I leave for four months and now my fellow Truthers are justifying parking at the fuel island? SMH

All right, yeah I've done it, but in the middle of the night when practically no one was fueling and you're hard pressed to find a parking spot anyway. During the day, I just don't do it. People are fueling and it's rude and inconsiderate. The guy I'm talking about left his truck while fueling, so he took forever. Then afterwards he pulled forward and parked there forever too. If you need to go inside and buy a sandwich, use the bathroom, get donuts, and browse the truckstop's selection of gps units, just park..

I wouldn't dream of not parking in a legal parking space for a 30 minute break, or if I'm going to be inside more than 10 mins or so buying food at a restaurant. Taking a break at the fuel island??? Like those who take a shower while blocking a fuel island. Those are what I call complete ******bags.

The "All about me" and "I don't give a **** about others" is exactly what that kind of behavior says about people who do those inconsiderate types of things.

If your backing is so awful that you take your breaks at the fuel island, you obviously need more practice. I can say this because when I went solo, my backing was appalling. However by making it a point to back every chance I could and to not nose into a parking space (a rant for another day) eventually my backing got a whole lot better.

Act like the professional you are.

Congrats on the run, Pianoman. That's a tough stretch of road. Back in the 90s I commuted on that stretch every work day for five years, Springs to Denver and back. It hasn't gotten any better.

As far as people taking 30 minute breaks in the fuel islands -- Pssssh! Amateurs! I take 10s there. A handwritten "out of order" sign, a tall skinny cone, some.yellow tape, and it's bunk time!

Unholychaos is not afraid:

I'm not afraid to do a 30 at the yellow line, but I do constantly watch behind me to see if someone pulls up to fuel. If they do, then I'll just simply pull around and go back through the fuel island again. I don't have time to mess with backing into a spot (unless it's a straight back). That's why I try and do a 30 at a rest area.

Totally JV.

So it's easier to spin around once or twice than it is to back into a spot? Who are you trying to kid? If the fuel bays are that empty, likely plenty of open and "easy" parking spots to choose from. I don't see the logic at all...

Spinning around is a waste of time. A silly exercise you'll learn nothing from it. Struggling to back into a tight spot at a TS is far more valuable and it sounds like something you need to improve upon. Might take you 5 minutes to get the truck parked but at least then you can relax for 25 minutes without having to worry about doing laps around the fuel bays.

It's supposed to be a break...use it wisely.