For truck drivers, finding a safe and secure parking spot for their rig is a crucial part of their job. However, with the increasing number of trucks on the road and limited parking spaces, finding a suitable spot to park at the end of the day is becoming more difficult. Not only is it frustrating for drivers, but it can also be a safety concern if they are forced to park in an unauthorized or unsafe area.
This article will discuss options that might be available to find parking even when the truck stops are full.
Rest Areas
These are honestly one of my favorite places to park, and I often parked at them over parking at a truck stop. Full-service rest areas usually offer easy bathroom access and limited food and drink choices from vending machines.
The parking spaces are also usually pull-through, which is arguably nicer than trying to back into a spot in a tight poorly-lit truck stop late at night when you are tired from a long day on the road.
Most of the time, they also offer some green space if you want to get out of the truck and stretch your legs for a little bit. Some will even have a few short walking trails. These amenities are especially nice if you have a pet in the truck. If you want to give Fido a little off-leash playtime, a few even have fenced-in dog parks.
In most cases, I have also found rest areas to be cleaner and quieter than most truck stops, which also adds to their appeal.
Weigh Stations
Many weigh stations also offer the option for overnight parking. Many drivers avoid parking at weigh stations, but they have always been among my top choices. If your equipment is up to snuff, you run legally, and you do your pre-trip before pulling out, you will have nothing to worry about, even if they are open when you leave.
You won’t find much for amenities when they are closed. A bathroom or a Porta Jon is about the best you can hope for, but they are among the safest places to park at the end of a long day.
If you are worried about getting inspected, your odds of that happening are pretty low. I parked at weigh stations on about a weekly basis, and never once was I inspected when leaving or disturbed by the DOT while on my 10-hour break.
Company Terminals and Drop Yards
These can vary from company to company and even from different locations at the same company. They might be a dirt lot full of potholes, a corner of a lot leased from another trucking company to a terminal with all the amenities.
They can be fantastic, though, for finding parking if they are available to you in cities that don’t have much truck parking. I used the heck out of one in Chicago while driving OTR. It didn’t have any actual amenities., but it was a quiet, safe place to park in an area with limited options.
Shippers and Receivers
This was honestly my preferred parking option if it worked out when I was driving OTR.
The time savings off your clock can be huge if you plan this out the right way, and it can help you to make more miles and, thus, more money as a truck driver.
It was so valuable to me that I always noted if I could park there, even when I was not planning to stay there overnight. A few times, I even slipped into a spot at one that I wasn’t delivering or picking up at when I was short on hours and in a bind.
Industrial Parks
These can be another hidden gem. Some industrial parks allow you to park on the street with your truck and trailer. I always made notes about available street parking when I saw it. I’ve got spots in Chicagoland, Minneapolis, Dallas, and Charlotte, to name a few, where I know I can find safe, quiet parking any time of the day or night.
I have used Google Maps satellite and street views to find and check out prospective industrial parks to take my ten-hour break if I am going into an area that I am unfamiliar with.
Large Retail Stores
Many large retail stores will allow overnight parking, especially if they are located a little ways from the interstate.
Walmart’s and Cabelas stores often allow you to park and take your ten-hour break. However, if you are unsure if you can park at any of these particular locations, call ahead and ask first. Some will let you park and shop, others will let you take your break, and some will tell you no.
There have been instances of previously truck-friendly locations having trucks booted or towed, and you surely don’t want to wake up to either one of those situations.
Ask Your Coworkers
This is honestly one of the best ways to find hidden parking spots that are always available. Most medium to large companies will have a Facebook group that you can utilize to find parking options or find out more about the customer location you’re going to.
If you’re headed to a regular customer of your company, you can bet that somebody has a well-hidden spot to park nearby. Even if there is no parking in the area, they can often give you insights on which truckstops on your routes you might find parking at and which ones to avoid.
Other Things to Consider
When parking in these out-of-the-way places, especially at retail stores, and when street parking, make sure to be considerate of others. Don’t park in a way that impedes traffic or blocks driveways. And especially do not leave trash lying around. In fact, if you see trash go ahead and pick it up.
It is essential to keep a relatively low profile when parking in places the public might visit. If you trash them or irritate people with the way you park, all it takes is a few phone calls and complaints for these parking options to be taken away from us. I have seen this happen with one of my formerly favorite street parking locations on the south side of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area no longer allows truck parking due to drivers leaving trash everywhere.
I would also advise moving on as soon as your break is over. If your truck sits around too long, people will begin to notice and might start to complain. Let’s do our best to keep these parking options open for our use in the future.