Nevous Backing At Truck Stops

Some of you may know a month ago i hit this rock piller while backing at a loves in NJ and cracked my bumper. Well since then my backing has gotten a lot better, but since that day I have been very nervous to back at truck stops. It's weird. Because I have no problem backing at customers, wide open spaces, tight spaces, trucks or no trucks. It's only when I get to truck stops I get nervous, I can only assume it's because of that event at the loves in NJ.

The more you do it, the less nervous you’ll get. In the meantime, GOAL is your best friend, no matter how many times you need to do it. It’s the only way to be safe & avoiding another incident.

Truck stops are insane and unpredictable. they drive too fast and in places they shouldnt.

to this day i park at huge petros with 300+ parking and go to the back.

never go to pilot or loves if you cant back. some of the newer loves are putting in straight line backs, but i still dont go.

also, try to drive at night so you park during the day with more open space. however the ELD laws now have a lot more trucks parked during the day. even more reasons to look for huge Petros.

i have been making a list for years...one of these days i will finish ut and ask brett to publish somehow.

i keep a list of "parking only" places that just a lot. i have been staying at rest areas and weigh stations more and more these days.

The more you do it, the less nervous you’ll get. In the meantime, GOAL is your best friend, no matter how many times you need to do it. It’s the only way to be safe & avoiding another incident.

Yeah, I'm fine everywhere else besides truck stops. I use G.O.A.L when in doubt, to ensure I won't hit anything. I don't need it most of the time, besides in those tight spots.

i keep a list of "parking only" places that just a lot. i have been staying at rest areas and weigh stations more and more these days.

Yeah I actively looking for rest areas along my route and parking locations. I heard TAs have open spaces too, as pilot and loves normally fill up first. Besides my problem with backing at truck stops, I love rest areas since it's quick to get back on the road.

Also I do a lot of my driving at night or during the early morning hour.

I’m at a Pilot in KY, off I-65 in Sonora, that had spots open at midnight last night. It’s one of the biggest Pilots I’ve been to yet. What was surprising about this stop having spots that late, is cause the Petro & Pilot at the southbound exit prior to this one are inaccessible due to construction. I was going to go back on the northbound side if I didn’t find a spot here. Thankfully I didn’t need to do that.

Petro & T/A are the same chain & yes, they usually have lots of spaces with room to back.

I’m at a Pilot in KY, off I-65 in Sonora, that had spots open at midnight last night. It’s one of the biggest Pilots I’ve been to yet. What was surprising about this stop having spots that late, is cause the Petro & Pilot at the southbound exit prior to this one are inaccessible due to construction. I was going to go back on the northbound side if I didn’t find a spot here. Thankfully I didn’t need to do that.

Petro & T/A are the same chain & yes, they usually have lots of spaces with room to back.

exit 105ish???? its a former bosselmans yes lots of space