Parking on the ramps

[Home Again]

If you ever park on the ramps - be careful. A car slid into the back of a semi parked on the exit ramp of the interstate. This happened on an interchange near where I live. I hope it's ok to post a link to the story (if not please remove).


JG-TC.com > News > Car slides into semi on I-57/Route 45 ramp

 

[OntarioVanMan]

If you ever park on the ramps - be careful. A car slid into the back of a semi parked on the exit ramp of the interstate. This happened on an interchange near where I live. I hope it's ok to post a link to the story (if not please remove).


JG-TC.com > News > Car slides into semi on I-57/Route 45 ramp

That is just one of the reason states are starting to make ramp parking illegal....and I happen to agree....it is dangerous for everyone...some of them rigs leave their butts hanging out, park too close to the shoulder line....

 

[Dakota]

That is just one of the reason states are starting to make ramp parking illegal....and I happen to agree....it is dangerous for everyone...some of them rigs leave their butts hanging out, park too close to the shoulder line....

I agree it's not safe, but when these trucks run out of time and are attached to Qualcomm, they need to stop. With alot of states shutting down rest areas and or barring trucks it's getting tough for them to find a decent place to park. Ever been to a truckstop in the evening? They are full!!!

 

[dieseldiva]

That is just one of the reason states are starting to make ramp parking illegal....and I happen to agree....it is dangerous for everyone...some of them rigs leave their butts hanging out, park too close to the shoulder line....

You are correct, Ken.....BUT....and you knew that was coming....look at the pic of that car.....the story says she "lost control", by the looks of the thing, she must have been traveling pretty fast on that exit ramp.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

You are correct, Ken.....BUT....and you knew that was coming....look at the pic of that car.....the story says she "lost control", by the looks of the thing, she must have been traveling pretty fast on that exit ramp.

By definition...the lose of control is usually attributed to speed vs road conditions....

Actually I thought lack of parking spots was going to be tossed at me.....

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Opps..I just seen Dakotas post...*LOL*

Better planning on the part of driver.....some are just lazy about finding a spot....they drive right up to the last minute on log book and pull over.....

 

[bluejaybee]

Opps..I just seen Dakotas post...*LOL*

Better planning on the part of driver.....some are just lazy about finding a spot....they drive right up to the last minute on log book and pull over.....

Better planning ya say?
I spent my last hour and drove 36 miles trying to find a spot in Texas last week. I finally wound up sandwiched between 2 semi's that barely left me room to open my doors and I certainly was sticking out further than they were. I had a light post behind me that prevented me from going all the way back. Now, you van guys & gals can dart in just about any place. It is tuff for a straight or semi to find a place. About the only time you can count on finding a place is during the mid hours of the day. Anything after that depends on where you are. To me, Chicago and Atlanta are the hardest places to find truck parking. I am sure there are lots of other places I haven't been. But I can never find a place in these towns.
Back to original thread theme, I would never park on a ramp no matter what.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Better planning ya say?
I spent my last hour and drove 36 miles trying to find a spot in Texas last week. I finally wound up sandwiched between 2 semi's that barely left me room to open my doors and I certainly was sticking out further than they were. I had a light post behind me that prevented me from going all the way back. Now, you van guys & gals can dart in just about any place. It is tuff for a straight or semi to find a place. About the only time you can count on finding a place is during the mid hours of the day. Anything after that depends on where you are. To me, Chicago and Atlanta are the hardest places to find truck parking. I am sure there are lots of other places I haven't been. But I can never find a place in these towns.
Back to original thread theme, I would never park on a ramp no matter what.

Yes it is next to impossible to plan in our occupation....but a lot of these OTR guys run the same routes all the time....

 

[guido4475]

If I remember correctly, Landstar has a policy against their BCO's parking on any ramp,exit or entrance. They call it their "sitting duck policy" and is properly named.I tried to sleep on a ramp a few times, and couldnt sleep too well, with traffic whizzing by, and the fact that ramps are rarely level places to park.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

If I remember correctly, Landstar has a policy against their BCO's parking on any ramp,exit or entrance. They call it their "sitting duck policy" and is properly named.I tried to sleep on a ramp a few times, and couldnt sleep too well, with traffic whizzing by, and the fact that ramps are rarely level places to park.

Like lean left, roll right?...

 

[Yesteryear]

Chicago and Atlanta are the hardest places to find truck parking. I am sure there are lots of other places I haven't been. But I can never find a place in these towns.
QUOTE]

There are lots of parking in Atlanta as long as you aren't trying to park right in the city. Calhoun has the Hess, (a mile from my house) it is really nice, Resaca has the FJ, Cartersville is a little closer into the city with the TA and Pilot, then of course there is Jackson, it has a wide variety of truckstops. The Atlanta area also have extra nice large rest areas. There is one on I-75 mm 308 by Cartersville, it is exceptionally nice, then there is rest areas I-20 mm 72, I-85 mm 114. The I-20 and I-85 rest areas are the closest into the city. But I'm predjudiced I think the I-75 rest area is the best and there is always parking at the FJ in Resaca, it is were we park when we go home.

 

[ebsprintin]

In the never do it, but if it's an emergency catagory, I'd rather use the entrance ramp than the exit side. The oncoming traffic should be going slower. --eb

 

[OntarioVanMan]

In the never do it, but if it's an emergency catagory, I'd rather use the entrance ramp than the exit side. The oncoming traffic should be going slower. --eb

I don't know about that logic? If a lot of trucks use the interchange I think I'd go with an on ramp...they come off pretty hot at times....and thats where a lot of roll overs happen...

 

[greg334]

exit ramps are the most dangerous of the two. I can't park on a ramp, I will lose my contract - period.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

exit ramps are the most dangerous of the two. I can't park on a ramp, I will lose my contract - period.

Thats what I thought and said.... and some of them potholes on the shoulders you need a map to get out....I can see that as another reason to keep trucks off the shoulders...the cost of upkeep.

 

[ebsprintin]

Thats what I thought and said.... and some of them potholes on the shoulders you need a map to get out....I can see that as another reason to keep trucks off the shoulders...the cost of upkeep.

That's what I said too. Or at least tried to say. --eb

 

[Jack_Berry]

i tried to sleep on one of those pa road side pull offs. the road noise kept me in an in-between rest for the hours i was down. not a lot of fun.

 

[Slo-Ride]

To me, Chicago and Atlanta are the hardest places

bluejay,,,there is a ford plant in the chicago area with secure parking.noone bothers ya,, even if ya aint dropping or picking up there

I cant rember where,,I think its the mustang plant,,we talked about here on of the threads a few weeks ago..Im sure ya see the thread???If i had a better connection I would go looking for it,,,but this connection takes me hours to read thru things

To me if ya haveta or gotta park on the ramps,,,use the on ramps not off ramps

 

[arkjarhead]

if i have to choose between sleeping on an on ramp or going to sleep behind the wheel I will choose the on ramp.

 

[spacer]

Sometimes ya kinda get backed into a corner. I usually try to find a spot while I still have some time left, but it doesn't always work out that way. Fortunately I play it on the conservative side, so I've rarely gotten caught out.
Once, though, I was driving (OTR TT) through TN, looking for a place to park for the night. Three exits, several truckstops, no parking at all. Even the spaces you weren't supposed to use were crammed with trucks.
Finally, I noticed a line of trucks parked on a really wide ramp shoulder, and I pulled over. No time left, and my eyelids were in open rebellion, so I went to sleep.

Four hours later, there's a knock on my sleeper. I clamber up front to see that all the other trucks have gone, and two state troopers grinning at me from beside the truck, ticket book out.
I wasn't aware of it when I pulled over, but one of the other trucks had been between me and the "no parking on ramp" sign.

Sometimes, you get caught between a rock and a cop. "Good" news was, folks were pulling out of the truck stops and I was able to finish up my sleeper time, though technically the trooper who'd just chased me off could easily have written me up for driving over hours to get to the lot.