Parking For The Night To Sleep (or During The Day )

Where can a trucker with trailer park for sleep/ break / etc ? I have seen some say it's ok to park on an exit ramp . I have also seen it stated that you can park at a warehouse. I am confused as to where a drive with or without her/his trailer can park, please help explain... thx , Arifani

Truck stops and rest areas are your best bets if your shippers or receivers don't allow drivers to break on their property. Parking on onramps or offramps is EXTREMELY dangerous and should be avoided except in absolute emergencies. Some areas will allow on street parking for commercial vehicles, but those are pretty few and far between, and usually only in the immediate area of a warehouse...and subsequently quite popular.

You can also try calling nearby Walmart stores and asking the manager if they allow trucks to park. Some do, some don't, and the worst way to find out you're at one that doesn't is when you get jolted out of bed as the wrecker is dragging you out of the lot.

Weigh stations, casinos, some hotels, and even adult books stores like Lions Den. There are some fireworks stores, restaurant too.

and even adult books stores like Lions Den.

Rainy D - now that's funny Girl, maybe that Trainer Gal can find herself a job at the Lion's Den.

Many companies make it a FIRING OFFENSE to park on an exit ramp/entrance ramp.

Many states make it a citation/towing offense to do so also.

DO NOT PARK ON AN EXIT RAMP!

Rick

At Stevens it's a firing offense to park on a ramp. Sitting duck. The only time we are to be on the side of any road or ramp is if the vehicle can not move.

I arrived at my delivery a little while ago and am parked here for the night. My delivery is 0800. Some customers are kind enough to let drivers park on site. It's up to us to be respectful and responsible so we don't lose the privilege.

Do OTR drivers spend most nights at truck stops or shippers / receivers? Is it 50/50?

I see mention that truck stops fill up pretty quick in the evenings. When is the worst time to find parking at a truck stop? Is it better to stop early or late?

Do OTR drivers spend most nights at truck stops or shippers / receivers? Is it 50/50?

I see mention that truck stops fill up pretty quick in the evenings. When is the worst time to find parking at a truck stop? Is it better to stop early or late?

Things have a way of working out when you plan and can adjust. Get the free truckerpath app. That'll let you see truckstops, rest areas and parking locations.

If you're always going to different locations, you'll probably park at truck stops and rest areas. If you're regularly going to the same shippers/receivers you'll learn who will let you park on-site.

I used to spend almost every night at a truck stop. Drove early and parked early. Now I often enjoy the peace and quiet at a shpper's lot and stop off during the day for a shower.

Good luck!

Depends on where you are. The closer to a major city, the faster and sooner it fills. I try to park 50 miles outside of a city.

I'm in Portland OR and by 1430 the TA was already filled. I paid for reserve parking cause we had to deliver and needed parking afterward. In St Louis, the Loves was filled by noon.

There are some huge truck stops where you can find a space even at 0300, yet other places even a place that big will completely fill up by 2200.

There's a Pilot near Atlanta that two days in a row at 1000 was completly filled. I never went back.

Trying to park in rest areas at night is the same way. Some places you could be the only one...others about 50 trucks will squeeze into the space for 20 and they park up and down the rest area ramps. You can usually tell if the past couple rest areas have been completely full, chances are the next one will be too.

As already stated. Use trucker path and read the reviews. Things like "huge lot, always have parking" and "really tight but you can get in" are good indicators. I always go for huge lot...even if no other services. Lol