One bad@$$ expedite truck
- Thread starter mxzane933
- Start date
I like it :thumbsup:
I'm sure you are unaware of this, so I'm going to tell you. Tractor/trailer drivers can have a terrible time finding a parking spot at night. I understand that your van looks cute parked among the t/t's and I understand (hope) that you may not have been there long, but please do not make a habit of taking up a parking spot that could be desperately needed by a t/t or straight truck driver.
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
What Rocketman said!! And you could very easily find that some of those TT drivers that can't find a place to park while you have your van in the only available spot, can be really ill tempered....
gotta go
Veteran Expediter
Reminds me of the driver who was late getting to the 2nd day of orientation at Panther. The fleet owner had delivered a brand spanking new Sprinter to him at the end of the 1st day. Driver proudly chose to park for the night in the truck parking at the T/A. He was awakened to a semi backing into his Sprinter. 
Well, I thought it was funny. Looked like a little dog standing in between two big dogs.... Some folks are just wrapped to tight around their axle to get the joke.
Figure it any way you want to... makes no difference to me. But, when he does that and the right guy comes along, he will get it explained in much better detail. I was just trying to point it out (for HIS benefit) as a newbie mistake that he shouldn't do. In my ST, I actually look for short parking spots like that one. If it is deep enough for me to park, I can avoid taking up a t/t spot.
mxzane933
Seasoned Expediter
Id rather hear it on here than from a fat old grumpster who hasnt sleept in days but the reason being there was simple for the pic. Yes i ended up sleeping there cuz i loved the sound of the idle while i sleep. Mayn i should of stood at the pumps and shot the pic then it would of showed all the other 30 some spots empty. First time i stayed in truck parking. Everyother time i park where i should.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC
Sent from my DROID BIONIC
Sorry if I resemble that fat old grumpster your talking about. I haven't slept in 3 days cuz you and others like yous park your 4 wheelers in spaces reserved for trucks. Park out front, in wal mart, in your driveway when your home.
mcavoy33
Seasoned Expediter
Nothing against the OP but I do the same, if I can take up one of those short spots, I do it so I don't have to take up a main space.
Unless its daytime and I'm lazy, then I park as close to the building as I can. No wonder I'm getting fat.
mxzane933
Seasoned Expediter
Actually i havent parled in a spot reserved for big trucks because it was painted on the ground no parking because it was 30 ft to short so if a tt parked there it would be a safety concer because he would be sticking out in the lane of traffic
Sent from my DROID BIONIC
Sent from my DROID BIONIC
You did ok. I wasnt trying to belittle or harrass you. Ive seen your previous threads and know that your just getting started. Like you said... lessons are easier learned on here than in a parking lot with an ill-tempered driver.
If thats the worst thing you do, you will be well ahead of the rest of us.... i would guess.
If thats the worst thing you do, you will be well ahead of the rest of us.... i would guess.
Even if there are other available spaces, parking a cargo van where the big trucks, bobtail tractors and straight trucks typically park can turn quickly into an ugly situation.
- Additional spots may be available at the moment but truck stops fill up and empty out at different times of day. The one of many parking places you take now may be one of few later.
- Regardless of the number of available spots, it is a courtesy to the big trucks, for which parking is always a challenge, to leave the big places available. You will notice that where bobtail parking is available, bobtails and straght trucks tend to use those places first.
- Truck stop security may take issue with a cargo van in a big truck or bobtail spot. I saw that very thing happen last night at the I-80 truck stop in Walcott.
Diane and I were parked in the front row near the building with the big trucks. It was Saturday night and there were dozens if not hundreds of empty truck parking places available (this "World's Largest Truck Stop" has 800 truck parking places).
As we were getting ready to turn in for the night, I saw a Sprinter van parked in our space, in front of our truck, blocking us in. It had no company markings of any kind. It appeared to be a newly purchased van. There were big trucks on both sides and behind us. We had no plans to leave overnight but you know expediting. The need to move can rise at any time for business or other reasons. Not liking being trapped, I went to the van to ask the driver to move.
The lights were on (literally) but no one was home. No one came to the door after several knocks (polite at first, louder as time progressed). Looking in as many windows as I could, it seemed that no one was in the van.
I went inside to ask security for help. The clerk at the counter paged a woman by name and she came to investigate. She got irritated and purposeful when she saw the van. She was less troubled that we were blocked in but visibily irritated that a cargo van parked among the big trucks. She said "That's just not right. He should have parked over there (pointing to the car lot)."
She told me she would use the PA system to page the driver. If he or she did not repsond after a few minutes, she would page him again. If no response came, she would call the police and have the van towed.
The first page came over the PA system a moment later. It was serious. The clarity, volume and tone of the announcement got people's attention. I saw two drivers stop in their tracks to listen as the announcement boomed through the building. I imagine that the big-rig drivers liked what they heard. A Sprinter van was in one of "their" parking places and the truck stop was doing something about it.
I returned to our truck. The van driver appeared a few minutes later, got in his van and left.
Security or management repsonse at truck stops will no doubt vary from truck stop to truck stop but in general, van drivers who park in big-rig and bobtail parking places at truck stops are just asking for trouble. Whatever upside one sees to doing this, the downsides are greater.
- Additional spots may be available at the moment but truck stops fill up and empty out at different times of day. The one of many parking places you take now may be one of few later.
- Regardless of the number of available spots, it is a courtesy to the big trucks, for which parking is always a challenge, to leave the big places available. You will notice that where bobtail parking is available, bobtails and straght trucks tend to use those places first.
- Truck stop security may take issue with a cargo van in a big truck or bobtail spot. I saw that very thing happen last night at the I-80 truck stop in Walcott.
Diane and I were parked in the front row near the building with the big trucks. It was Saturday night and there were dozens if not hundreds of empty truck parking places available (this "World's Largest Truck Stop" has 800 truck parking places).
As we were getting ready to turn in for the night, I saw a Sprinter van parked in our space, in front of our truck, blocking us in. It had no company markings of any kind. It appeared to be a newly purchased van. There were big trucks on both sides and behind us. We had no plans to leave overnight but you know expediting. The need to move can rise at any time for business or other reasons. Not liking being trapped, I went to the van to ask the driver to move.
The lights were on (literally) but no one was home. No one came to the door after several knocks (polite at first, louder as time progressed). Looking in as many windows as I could, it seemed that no one was in the van.
I went inside to ask security for help. The clerk at the counter paged a woman by name and she came to investigate. She got irritated and purposeful when she saw the van. She was less troubled that we were blocked in but visibily irritated that a cargo van parked among the big trucks. She said "That's just not right. He should have parked over there (pointing to the car lot)."
She told me she would use the PA system to page the driver. If he or she did not repsond after a few minutes, she would page him again. If no response came, she would call the police and have the van towed.
The first page came over the PA system a moment later. It was serious. The clarity, volume and tone of the announcement got people's attention. I saw two drivers stop in their tracks to listen as the announcement boomed through the building. I imagine that the big-rig drivers liked what they heard. A Sprinter van was in one of "their" parking places and the truck stop was doing something about it.
I returned to our truck. The van driver appeared a few minutes later, got in his van and left.
Security or management repsonse at truck stops will no doubt vary from truck stop to truck stop but in general, van drivers who park in big-rig and bobtail parking places at truck stops are just asking for trouble. Whatever upside one sees to doing this, the downsides are greater.
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There are some truck stops that make us vans park in the rear...you big guys take that up with management...Waterloo J is 1 example....and on the flipside...maybe them very same TT'S that park on the car side of rest areas should be ticketed...
As I said, response will vary from truck stop to truck stop.