Reserved Parking : How Much And Who Pays?

I see reserved spaces at a couple of the busier truck stops in my area. How much does it cost to reserve a space and does the driver or the company pay?

Typically the driver pays; however, some companies will reimburse the expense. I wouldn't go getting reserved every night, but in need, sure.

They generally cost $14 - $15. Some places may be more. At TA, they give you a bottle of water when you pay for your spot. CFI will reimburse us for paid parking as well as paid showers.

Something in found out, TA charges you less the earlier you book and different days of the week.

Its tax deductible and you can use your rewards points.

Something in found out, TA charges you less the earlier you book and different days of the week.

Its tax deductible and you can use your rewards points.

Can't use points at all TA locations for parking. Don't know how common that issue is, but I ran across one that made me pay for it out of pocket. Wish I could remember where that was, but it's been a while.

There's a few places where I absolutely insist on getting a paid spot. The big one is when I'm running around San Bernadino. Our terminal in the area kinda sucks normally, but now they have half of the lot shut down for construction so I flat out refuse to go in there, it's a major safety hazard as they still get just as many drivers coming in. And that area doesn't have much other parking, so if I have even the suspicion I'll be staying the night in the area, I'm booking a spot at TA Ontario. Even with it being a paid lot even for the non-reserved parking(which I then pay extra for), I've still yet to see it not completely full by about 5pm.

Here's a good time to discuss "paid vs reserved".

Some locations are gated and EVERY truck must either buy $60 gallons of fuel (new TA/Petro rule,used to be $50), or spend $20 in non fuel for 24 hours of parking. You can stay two hours to park for free, but after that, you have to cough up the dough. And if you lose the gate ticket it's like $65!!!

Gated locations are in: Wellington CT, Baltimore, Dallas. West Memphis AR, Ontario CA, flying J Detroit...a lot of major cities.

Reserved parking is for the actual spot. If you need to go to one of these gated places and can't get fuel, it might make sense to pay the $15 for the spot close to the truck stop, which are usually wider and easier to get into. Then pay another few bucks on snacks and you got your $20 for the night. Or eat at the restaurant.

If planning to deliver at night and close to a city, it is a good idea to cover your butt.

You will get to know places. Outside of Nashville there's a TA in Antioch that is full even at noon. It's crazy. The TA outside of Portland OR this week was full by 1300, reserved spots only were left.

Petro in Atlanta is gated.

TA in Nashville is really hit or miss at being full. However, since football season is approaching, whenever the Titans have a home game, the TA takes away half of the truck parking and turns it into event parking. They start kicking people out of trucks spots Saturday morning. So if Titans have a home game avoid it for that weekend.

The Loves (ROFL) on Trinity lane in Nashville is just best to avoid all together. Trinity (how appropriate) has its own CDL. Crime, Drugs, and Lovin' (The kind you get stuff that you can't get rid of with soap and water.). Besides, it is a super small cramped lot. I think it used to be a Pilot.

The truck stops in Lebanon fill up by 4. If your not in a spot by then you are paying for one.

If the New Loves in White House, TN gets full the Hardee's on the other side of 65 has truck parking behind it.

TA Franklin gets full early as well.

In Tennessee the truck stops to aim for are The Tennessean. It is on 65 south of Nashville. On 24 The new Pilot exit 86 (Oak Grove, KY) or aim for Manchester, TN. There is a truckstop across from the Walmart in Manchester. The Walmart also has designated truck parking as well.

The gang of truckstops on the west side of Knoxville are kinda hit and miss. Usually you can find parking at one of the 4 truck stops. Which one that day is the mystery question.