Driver Lifestyles

You want to park where?

People just don't like trucks.  We're sure that this comes as no revelation, but the simple fact is that the general public doesn't like trucks, whether they're sharing the highway with them or when they're parked where they can be seen.

They don't like truck stops - witness those news stories that pop up on a regular basis about another community that's fighting a proposed truck stop in their area.

And, for those big trucks that begin using another area to park, well....

From the St. Petersburg Times, December, 2004:
'But the rigs sitting in the parking lot of a now-defunct Kmart on U.S. 19 near his Timber Pines home have become an unsightly aggravation.'

Local residents' comments include:

"It is a blight to the area."

"It looks like a truck stop.  I think it's an eyesore. It's just not the right thing to be having out there."

"Commissioner Rowden said she has heard that people at times sleep in the trucks at the Kmart site, which could present all manner of health and safety problems."  No kidding, those drivers actually sleep in those things, huh?

Admittedly, a small percentage of truck drivers have sullied the profession by acting irresponsibly - throwing out trash and urine bottles, parking haphazardly on highways, etc. 
But, as we all know, the majority of professional drivers (expediters) are conscientious citizens who are just trying to do an important job.

Truck parking has been a problem for many years and it doesn't appear to be improving.  In compiling this article, we took a look at a few government studies dealing with the truck parking problem.

After looking at the pie charts, scientific tables and equations, we discovered that the government doesn't seem to have the answers either, except to say that "we need more parking availability."

"As of 2000, approximately 500,000 interstate motor carriers operated in the United States, and projections for the next 20 years estimate continuing growth. including the demand for truck parking spaces."

From a Federal Highway Administration report:  "Another significant change in the movement of goods and services was the advent of just-in-time delivery.  Just-in-time delivery places new demands on truck parking facilities as trucks use these facilities as staging areas to better meet their delivery requirements."

So, expediting's to blame?  Not really, just part of the equation.

What are the options?

Of course, we've got the truck stops, right?  Yes, as long as you make it in before the rest of the crowd arrives.  In those busy freight areas of the U.S., finding a space for your tractor-trailer at a popular truck stop might not be possible. 

If and when you do find a spot, you might spend part of the evening fending off the commercial company or other intruders and hoping some other driver doesn't take off one of your fenders.  And you might be asked to pay for the privilege.

Expediting straight trucks might be able to squeeze into a slot if one's available or, depending on the truck stop, you could park in one of the RV spots in the front.  Cargo vans usually have no problem finding a parking space, but all three truck sizes are at the mercy of the high prices of the C-store, restaurant and any other services found in your typical truck stop.

How about rest areas?  Even though many states are refurbishing their rest areas and adding big truck parking, the lack of services available is still the main drawback to a layover on the side of the big road.  And, when it comes time to depart, hopefully you'll be headed in the right direction.

So what's the alternative? 

For many expediters, the answer comes from Wal-Mart, or more to the point, Wal-Mart's parking lots.  The world's largest retailer now has a store or stores in just about every city and many of them are 24-hour operations.  Also, quite a few of them are located, if not just off a big road exit ramp, then nearby. 

Of course, there's a minimum of services suitable to a truck driver's needs, but at least a rest room is available, a fast food restaurant and, to be sure, shopping at discount prices.

Of course, many of the lots are posted with no truck parking signs, and that's why we would not suggest that expediters violate local ordinances,
but many expediters have found that this prohibition is not widely enforced.
 
The tractor-trailer expediter will probably have the most difficult time because of their high profile   trucks, but straight truck and cargo van drivers have found refuge in these lots.

Let's hear from several expediters about their parking solutions:

Cargo van expediter Terry O'Connell says that for security reasons, he and wife Rene prefer to park in the truck stops' lots at night "because the truck doesn't look out of place, like it would if parked in a department store lot.  If I need a nap during daylight hours though, I'll park on the outer edges of a Wal-Mart, Home Depot or Lowe's parking lot. I've also used Sam's Club and CostCo lots because I'm a member of those stores and I figure they can let me grab a little sleep in their lots."

Terry says that in the case of an inner city delivery located in an unsavory neighborhood, he'll look for an "upscale hotel that's not too far away and use their lot."  He adds that another alternative is the parking lot of a hospital emergency room.

Rich Moore says that he is reluctant to park his straight truck in truck stops unless he can "park up front with the RV's.  I just don't park around back." 

"I've always used the Wal-Marts, but lately I've parking at 24-hour supermarkets like Kroger or Meijer.  You can park in the corner somewhere and nobody will bother you. I generally park under a light and even if there is security present, they just figure you're there for a morning delivery."

He continues, "I've only been kicked out of one place and that was a Wal-Mart in California.  I've found that parking is at the discretion of the manager in those stores.  When I told one Wal-Mart manager that I was not delivering, just parking, she said, 'that's OK, we figure you'll  drop at least $10 in the store, right?'"

Rich sums up his parking preferences:  "I like to park in a place where there's activity."

Wanda and Roger Sanders say that they'll park their straight truck anywhere they feel it's safe and that includes some unconventional parking spots.

"If we're around Dallas for example," Wanda says," we'll hit a Wal-Mart and pick up groceries and a fishing license, then head to a campground or even a boat ramp."

"We're self-contained in regards to cooking and I prepare about 95 per cent of our meals."

Wanda says that family and friends are spread out across the country and that she and Roger try to visit if possible.  "We've got folks in Detroit, Sacramento and the Chicago area along with friends in Texas and New Mexico.  We'll stay with them in the case of an extended layover."

"We'll also use Wal-Marts or maybe if a new store has been built, we'll park in the lot of the old store or maybe an old Kmart.  We also try to get to the shipper early for a morning pickup and we shutdown on their lot overnight."