Truck Parking
Truck parking, and the lack thereof, has been a point of frustration for a long-time in trucking. It’s a struggle for all of us on most days. Where do we safely park to comply with the HOS rules? That’s one of the challenges we face every day.
And while safety & HOS regulations continue to change, and require drivers to get more rest, there’s never real discussion where drivers can actually safely park. But while drivers can’t create parking spots out of thin air, we can take steps to ensure we’re not caught without anywhere to park.
Finding Truck Parking Tips
Trip Planning – Trucking relies on planning. Drivers must trip plan from the moment they’re dispatched until the load is delivered. Things can change quickly when we’re over-the-road and we need to know where we are in our schedule. This includes where we are going to park for our required rest.
Trucking Apps – Technology is a trucker’s best friend. It’s hard to imagine doing this job before we had all our nifty gadgets. Trucker Path is an amazing app that lists truck stops, travel centres, and amenities for truckers over-the-road. This app also gives drivers useful real-time crowd-sourced information, such as how much parking is available at a location.
Plan Ahead – Getting back to trip planning. Choose at least three potential parking options that you can reach within your HOS. It’s common to find truck stops full or rest areas closed. Try not to put all your hope into one location only to find no parking available. You’ll end up with an HOS violation or parking where it’s not safe.
Ask Shipper/Receiver – Drivers are usually in contact with shippers/receivers. Ask if they allow overnight truck parking. Parking at or very close to your pick-up/delivery can make your life easier on hectic days. Some allow it, others do not. But shipper/receivers get asked about parking quite often and even if they don’t allow overnight parking, they might know of a safe place close by where you are allowed to park.
Finding truck parking is one of the many challenges that drivers face every day. But with a little bit of planning, and some patience, we can make it a little less frustrating for ourselves.
Earn a Good Living with Len Dubois
We are able to ensure good miles and home time with regular Winnipeg-based clients, regular lanes and long-term clients. Our experienced team of dispatchers works hard to ensure that your time off and resets are taken at home, not on the road. For drivers, this equals above-average pay and the ability to enjoy a life outside of the truck.
Ask John About the $1000 Sign-On Bonus for Company Drivers and $2000 Sign-On Bonus for Owner Operator’s
- Must have 2 years OTR experience
- Must be able to cross the U.S border
- 80% U.S miles
- Must have a positive attitude about safety & compliance
Let’s have a conversation and see if we’re a good fit for you! Call John, Safety Manager/Driver Recruiter 1-888-590-2760 Ext 309 today.
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