Are Truck Stops Less Crowded Now Due To Slowdown?

Michael often parks at Flag City (I-5 and Highway 12) here in northern California but it is often very crowded and he made a last minute decision to stop there in the early evening instead of going on to his company yard (we were in the area and he asked us to take his dog home, he will be coming home tomorrow). He was surprised and said "this is a record, there are 23 empty spaces plus reserved spots open". I had not heard of this being the case from others here but was curious if you're finding conditions to be similar.

On a side note, the Flying J at this location is poorly maintained for cars. Half of the pumps don't print receipts and today about 75% of the pumps were out of order. I imagine a much bigger percentage of their profits come from selling truck fuel but why even put up these pumps if they aren't going to maintain them?

The ones that are busy, like anywhere around major cities are still full when I come through. But Ive been in LA and Vegas, SLC as well, all of those routes off 15 are pretty packed most of the time. Some of the outlying ones seem a bit more empty a little bit later in the day, but its really hard to tell. Also depends on what day it is. I noticed the rest stops and places will be packed on the weekend, it seems like most drivers take their 34s then. Most also seem to have an aversion to driving after dark, which aside from not finding much in the way of parking, I prefer. The DCs are usually mostly empty, there is less traffic and its easier to get to places late at night. Bout the only downside is that many smaller customers are not 24 hour, so it usually involves a morning unload.

I dont think capacity has been reduced enough, nor will be for a while to see a dent in the amount of trucks on the road. I do think its coming though.

Hardly, but maybe worse. I got a statistic from OOIDA that there are 13 trucks for every one public parking spot.

The truck stops that I’ve been to over last two weeks are still packed. I try to use customer parking or rest areas whenever I can.

Truck stops near major cities are often full all day.

It could also be that drivers are having to park longer waiting on load assignments. This takes up space.

I delivered early this morning near Richmond, VA. I’m parked now in a rest area waiting for my next load assignment. No pre-plan this time.

I saw Steve Cortez on Bannon’s War Room yesterday. He showed a chart from Packaging Corp of America covering 15 years from 2008 to 2023. The current business is as bad, if not worse, than during the 2008-2009 Great Recession.

This company makes the cardboard boxes and containers that our freight is packaged in. So it is a leading indicator of the freight downturn that is going to get worse.

He also showed a statement from UPS saying that 2023 will be the first annual decrease in revenue since 2009.

Okay, thanks for the replies. This is a very busy truck stop area with Loves and Flying J and one other lot (Sinclair?) with a constant stream of trucks coming in and out. Maybe was just a lucky day as this normally is filled by early evening. He usually reserves a spot there if he plans to park there. As others have commented, I've seen that lots with used trucks for sale are full and others have reported a slowdown in their companies so there must be fewer trucks on the road, I figured.

I parked at the Flying J, I80, exit 142, Altoona, IA, last night. It was packed as usual. Fuel island was very busy when I got in about 16:30.

Where I have seen a lot of empty space lately is in my trailer. Two recent loads of 3700 and 5790 lbs. Both loads went approximately 1000 miles each.

Just on a side note, when I was at the truck stop yesterday, I saw a driver in a high visibility vest and wearing camouflage pants.

I couldn’t help but note the irony. Lol

Just on a side note, when I was at the truck stop yesterday, I saw a driver in a high visibility vest and wearing camouflage pants.

I couldn’t help but note the irony. Lol

Maybe he is a pheasant or upload bird hunter! :) Even when on the job some people like to show their other pursuits.

I have a truck stop right next to me...full as ever. All the truck stops are still completely full here at peak times. From my perspective, nothing has changed.