Something I can't fathom

[AMonger]

Why would somebody spend twice the cost of a Sprinter or even substantially more to get out on the road in an RV to park in a truckstop parking lot, get out the lawn chairs, and sit in the urine-stained parking lot and sit there like it's a campsite? I see this all the time. It's like building a nice house next to a cesspool.

--

You know the problem with bad cops? They make the other 5% look bad.

 

[layoutshooter]

Why would somebody spend twice the cost of a Sprinter or even substantially more to get out on the road in an RV to park in a truckstop parking lot, get out the lawn chairs, and sit in the urine-stained parking lot and sit there like it's a campsite? I see this all the time. It's like building a nice house next to a cesspool.

--

You know the problem with bad cops? They make the other 5% look bad.

Kinda like when my son was deployed at the airport in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The Canadian commander of that base put the US troops next to the open cesspool. GOOD TIMES! EH? Great camping trip! Fancy tents those guys had!

 

[scottm4211]

At the J in London Ont the other night was a Class A Prevost that must've cost a million bucks. Sure was purdy.

 

[ATeam]

Maybe they are retired truckers who miss the road and the truck stops. Diane and I were off the road for two months in January and February this year (vacation). It actually felt good to visit a truck stop after being away from them that long. See this blog post.

 

[micaGS]

Ask them next time. I'd love to hear the answer.

 

[layoutshooter]

This is JUST a business. It pays that bills. I would not miss the truck stops for one second if I ever hit the lottery and regained my life.

 

[xiggi]

Allthough I have seen countless rv's at truck stops I can only remember one time seeing the occupants sitting outside in chairs
In the last three years. I think the majority are simply on their way somewhere and parking for the night.



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[The Enemy]

Like Xiggi said most of them are traveling to their vacation destination and know the truck stops will let them park for free and take up 20 car spots. Why would they pay $50 + a night to stay at a campground when they can occupy the front lot of the truck stops.

 

[golfournut]

Like Xiggi said most of them are traveling to their vacation destination and know the truck stops will let them park for free and take up 20 car spots. Why would they pay $50 + a night to stay at a campground when they can occupy the front lot of the truck stops.

Seen them in the back lots too!

 

[paullud]

Allthough I have seen countless rv's at truck stops I can only remember one time seeing the occupants sitting outside in chairs
In the last three years. I think the majority are simply on their way somewhere and parking for the night.


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A lot of the ones I have seen are actually just transporting the RV to a final destination. I met one in TX at a Flying J that was there because they cater to the RV crowd with water and dump stations.

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[blizzard2014]

Why would somebody spend twice the cost of a Sprinter or even substantially more to get out on the road in an RV to park in a truckstop parking lot, get out the lawn chairs, and sit in the urine-stained parking lot and sit there like it's a campsite? I see this all the time. It's like building a nice house next to a cesspool.

--

You know the problem with bad cops? They make the other 5% look bad.

That's exactly why I refuse to invest a lot of money in a sleeper in my can. You can have the best sleeper in the world - a rolling hilton - bus every day you open up that door you will be looking at a nasty parking lot! Great view, great smell, and en even greater bunch of weirdos to deal with while on your expediter vacation. I don't like to play truckstop diaries anymore. Also, I see a lot of people who have these elaborate sleepers still get hotel rooms on the weekend. I say just keep it simple and if you need to live it up - Motel six is way better than the truck stop!

 

[blizzard2014]

Maybe they are retired truckers who miss the road and the truck stops. Diane and I were off the road for two months in January and February this year (vacation). It actually felt good to visit a truck stop after being away from them that long. See this blog post.

If you miss truckstops when you are on vacation you might need to have your head examined! Well, it is a little bit better if you can park in the back away from all of the nasty four wheelers chirping alarms, barking dogs, slamming their car doors into your van, and reving up their engines all night while thumping rap music. I personally do not miss the truck stops when I am home. I prefer to stay busy and not have to deal with the truck stop soap opera!

 

[OntarioVanMan]

That's exactly why I refuse to invest a lot of money in a sleeper in my can. You can have the best sleeper in the world - a rolling hilton - bus every day you open up that door you will be looking at a nasty parking lot! Great view, great smell, and en even greater bunch of weirdos to deal with while on your expediter vacation. I don't like to play truckstop diaries anymore. Also, I see a lot of people who have these elaborate sleepers still get hotel rooms on the weekend. I say just keep it simple and if you need to live it up - Motel six is way better than the truck stop!

Agreed...Mine is a "work truck"....besides Motel expenses are a good source of tax reducing benefits....

 

[blizzard2014]

Agreed...Mine is a "work truck"....besides Motel expenses are a good source of tax reducing benefits....

I did the whole sitting in lounge chairs talking to other expediters all weekend in the flying J parking lots. I used to be so enthusiastic about running into fellow expediters and scanning the parking lots for parked vans after each load - but now i'm just reclusive, cynical, and kind of reclusive!

Everytime it's the same old line "how many miles are you running, who do you run for, are you busy, are you making money, can i see your fleetvision, how do you run for multiple companies, are you an independent" and so forth. I should just record a long diatribre to answer everyones questions and just have a tape recorder installed on the side of the van that has a button that says "press here for an answer to all of your routine questions!"

Oh, and one definite thing for sure, when I retire from this gig, or just decide to stay in the office full time, I am never going to travel the country - not even when I retire. I've seen the country so many times - when I retire or win the lottery, i'm gonna baracade myself inside my house on a nice lakefront property and only go out when I need food or propane. lol

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I did the whole sitting in lounge chairs talking to other expediters all weekend in the flying J parking lots. I used to be so enthusiastic about running into fellow expediters and scanning the parking lots for parked vans after each load - but now i'm just reclusive, cynical, and kind of reclusive!

Everytime it's the same old line "how many miles are you running, who do you run for, are you busy, are you making money, can i see your fleetvision, how do you run for multiple companies, are you an independent" and so forth. I should just record a long diatribre to answer everyones questions and just have a tape recorder installed on the side of the van that has a button that says "press here for an answer to all of your routine questions!"

Oh, and one definite thing for sure, when I retire from this gig, or just decide to stay in the office full time, I am never going to travel the country - not even when I retire. I've seen the country so many times - when I retire or win the lottery, i'm gonna baracade myself inside my house on a nice lakefront property and only go out when I need food or propane. lol

Besides the Load1 yard....I do the same...stay away from TS....tired of the same ole same ole....it gets tiring fast...think my time is short in this business....sit on my porch and shoot prairie dogs! LOL

 

[tenntrucker]

Besides the Load1 yard....I do the same...stay away from TS....tired of the same ole same ole....it gets tiring fast...think my time is short in this business....sit on my porch and shoot prairie dogs! LOL

Better be nice to those prairie dogs.



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[gospelriders]

That's exactly why I refuse to invest a lot of money in a sleeper in my can. You can have the best sleeper in the world - a rolling hilton - bus every day you open up that door you will be looking at a nasty parking lot! Great view, great smell, and en even greater bunch of weirdos to deal with while on your expediter vacation. I don't like to play truckstop diaries anymore. Also, I see a lot of people who have these elaborate sleepers still get hotel rooms on the weekend. I say just keep it simple and if you need to live it up - Motel six is way better than the truck stop!

oh i don't know,throw out some artificial turf a few tiki lamps,scented candles and a blender and you've got parking lot paradise.

 

[ATeam]

That's exactly why I refuse to invest a lot of money in a sleeper in my can. You can have the best sleeper in the world - a rolling hilton - bus every day you open up that door you will be looking at a nasty parking lot! Great view, great smell, and en even greater bunch of weirdos to deal with while on your expediter vacation. I don't like to play truckstop diaries anymore. Also, I see a lot of people who have these elaborate sleepers still get hotel rooms on the weekend. I say just keep it simple and if you need to live it up - Motel six is way better than the truck stop!

Different strokes for different folks.

While Diane and I have a big sleeper and sometimes spend nights at truck stops, the creature comforts the sleeper provides enable us to be truck stop independent. Because of the sleeper, we do not have to rely on truck stops as many others do. We woke up this morning, for example, in a quiet parking lot in a retail area.

You may see our truck parked in hotel lots once in a while, but I cannot remember the last time we rented a room at our own expense. There is no need or desire. The sleeper provides everything we need.

Oops! I just rememberd a time we did stay at a hotel at our own expense. It was when we wanted a full break from the road and truck, a retreat if you will, to move into a hotel for several days to do some research and focus our minds on an important business decision. That was not so much of a break from something, it was a break for something; in this case we got away from the interruptions of the road and the ongoing task list any truck is so we could focus our thoughts.

 

[ATeam]

If you miss truckstops when you are on vacation you might need to have your head examined! Well, it is a little bit better if you can park in the back away from all of the nasty four wheelers chirping alarms, barking dogs, slamming their car doors into your van, and reving up their engines all night while thumping rap music. I personally do not miss the truck stops when I am home. I prefer to stay busy and not have to deal with the truck stop soap opera!

Be careful about reading things into my blog post that are not there. I was not talking about spending nights or weekends at truck stops. I was talking about the joy I felt when we pulled into a fuel stop and saw sights I have not seen in a while.

While we often avoid them when we are on the road, truck stops are fascinating places nevertheless. It is always fun for me to view the trucks and their loads and see before my eyes the American economy at work. While there is no shortage of opportunities to be disappointed in or angered by an individual trucker who does not bother to use the bathroom or drives his truck into another, I cannot help but marvel at the big picture truck stops present. It is amazing and fun for me to see American truckers in action, moving the goods that keeps this country running.

As far as staying in truck stops goes, the best part is the camaraderie and learning opportunities we often find in visits with other expediters. Safety, cleanliness and noise issues often keep us out of truck stops but the opportunity to mix and mingle with other expediters sometimes draws us in.

 

[mxzane933]

The slice of heaven can be were you make it. No matter were i am when i park and put my curtains up im in my owm slice of heaven for the night then i wake up and take the curtains down n remember im in detroit etc lol

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