Truck parking is a huge issue. If drivers had more safe parking options available to them, they would be better rested, more productive, less stressed, and safer – making those motorists sharing the road with them safer as well. Allowing states to add conveniences to public rest areas seems like a good way to expand the available truck parking spaces suitable for overnight parking. But there’s one group that doesn’t want to see even basic amenities like vending machines stocked with local produce added to public rest areas. That group? Truck stop companies.
Back in September, the Federal Highway Administration (the group in charge of providing federal funding to states for the maintenance and operation of National Highway System facilities) asked the public for their opinion on a series of questions which amounted to whether or not states should be allowed to expand the services offered at federally funded public rest areas.
Public rest areas in some states already have good facilities, restaurants, bathrooms and more, but those rest areas are funded entirely by the state and proceeds from customers. In order to receive any federal funding, rest areas must adhere to strict rules.
Since state transportation budgets are so tight, rest areas around the country without federal funding are closing down or falling into disrepair, making it harder and harder for truckers to find safe parking. If rest areas were allowed to expand the services they offer, they could not only better afford to stay open by increasing revenues, but while open, they could provide a better and safer experience for drivers.
The comment period just closed at the end of the year, and a total of 202 comments were received in response to the questions.
Many in the transportation industry supported an expansion of services – anything that would help keep rest areas open and provide more parking for drivers.
One such commenter was Debora R., who wrote that “there is a HUGE need for more parking areas for big trucks,” and that “we, truck drivers, specially those over-the-road like myself are DESPERATE for more parking areas.”
But when asked for their input on the matter, NATSO, the largest trade group representing truck stop companies including Pilot Flying J, Petro, and TravelCenters of America, said it was against adding amenities to public rest areas. Why? It would hurt their business.
“FHWA should not permit any food sales at interstate rest areas that undercut highway-based businesses and localities,” said Lisa Mullings, President and CEO of NATSO, according to Overdrive.
NATSO also argued that “Congress enacted the ban on rest area commercialization to avoid state-approved monopolies on the Interstate System as well as to protect off-highway businesses and localities. The underlying purpose behind the general ban on offering automotive and other commercial services on the interstate right-of-way remains as strong today as it was when the legislation was first enacted.”
Despite NATSO’s apparent concern that public rest areas would take business away from other businesses, some states seem sure that having more commercial-friendly rest areas can only benefit the surrounding businesses.
The South Dakota Department of Tourism submitted a comment to FHWA claiming that “We have seen a great benefit in the ability to promote tourism through our rest areas…” and that the department is interested in “the promotional opportunities that a more flexible approach to commercial activities at rest areas would allow.”
Other industry groups, including OOIDA, encouraged FHWA to explore any option that would help create more safe parking areas by making public rest areas “as self-sufficient as possible.”
Jr says
In northern states they have service plazas. They have been there a long time. Why do we not do this in the south? I personally know it makes my job easier to grab a coffee and walk around for a bit along with easy off and easy on.
John Trembly says
The ones your talking about were originally toll roads. That is why they can have businesses at the rest areas.
Rick Lane says
Funding..would be my first guess. The northeast has alot higher taxes. Verses the South an Midwest. Thesee states have alot tighter budgets and less tax burden, so that is just my opinion. Although, I truly believe it has a correlation.
Tom says
Those service plazas are usually on toll roads. They operate under a completely different set of rules.
Wendall says
Most of those service plazas are on toll roads that aren’t operated by the states.
Groucho says
Now I know what truckstops NOT to buy fuel at
Russ says
Yep me too
Rick Lane says
Absolutely, I agree. They have ruined The Industry in many ways. Kinda like DC it’s all about power
GC says
And money…. greed greed
Sean says
What happened to the free market? Interesting how business doesn’t want competition..Total hypocrisy on the part of the truck stops. THEY are already gauging people. And the truck stops wonder why drivers shop at Walmart or Costco.
Naim says
This is ludicrous that businesses such as Pilot or TA can decide for truck drivers what we’re capable of deciding for ourselves in terms of where we spend our money and how much of it. These truck stops businesses have a monopoly on their customers and shouldn’t be allowed to overly charge the customers that keep them flowing in the black.
Last time I read about capitalism is this type of practice wasn’t allowed yet you might believe that they are not in cahoots together just go and ask any trucker whether he receives any discount on food or gas at any of these for pprofits businesses. He’ll emphatically tell you hell No!
Let these public places at least offer the truckers some ease into their world of stress by alleviating some reprieve ftom these high priced for businesses such as Pilot, TA, and Petrol it would greatly appreciated.
Charles Washington says
Well said, Naim. I don’t think I could have said it any better. And hell NO, we do not receive any discounts at the monopoly controlled truck stops. One would think as repeat truck customers, you would receive some type of discounts.
Charles Cavanaugh says
Pilot gives us a penny a point on food items and fuel it’s about time
Katie Johnson says
And you probably paying $0.25 a gallon more to get that penny a point then that truck stop across the street
Wendall says
How does that help in any way? Truck stops like pilot are over priced.
MrYowler says
It’s aimed at getting company drivers to make the choice to spend their carrier’s money at a specific truck stop chain, out of self-interest, instead of the best interests of their carrier. They have figured out that it’s all about money, to the drivers, too.
Scotty Carr says
I’m a OTR solo driver and would like rest areas with good safe parking. I don’t need truck stops for food but showers and fuel. I cook in my truck more it’s cheaper then the food at fast food places.
Charles Cavanaugh says
And it tastes better I’m sure of it
Rick Lane says
I got Cancer & gother put out of the industry in August of 2012. I would have never eaten in a Restaurant, of I wold have known how much I was gonna need all them thousands of dollars I could’ve saved. Now I am broke with nothing. Just blessed to be alive and living with my family.
Max says
I’d give FJ, Pilot, etc their way…but in return they must double their parking at all of their stores within 50 miles of any rest area they challenge, and all parking at not only their store but all stores of their competitors within the same radial distance must be free.
I understand they are in business to make money but public safety is affected and there is a dearth of available parking as it is.
Jake A. says
Max, and I guess they could just put in a second floor for 50 more trucks? The sad part is these clowns are already making a fortune off of us. You cant park now after 6pm, its pretty much full then. So adding a few vending machines (mainly coffee) would be nice, even if they put in some truck only rest areas with porta johns. anywhere you can just go and know your gonna be able to park. On the down side we have so many SICK DRIVERS that are PIGS and have to crap and piss through the floor of their truck or in a bag and drop it along with their trash out the door when theres a trash can 20ft from them. Also they want to chase crack head prostitutes around then go home to their wives. Any time anybody sees this should video it and send it to their company. These rest areas could get ugly real quick. These guys that just got into this in the last 12 to 15 years have no clue what trucking even is. These gys now want to have their pants hanging off and walk around with a cigar or a vapor bomb to act cool, meanwhile the guys out here that are serious cant stand to be around these idiots. Sad but true, they cant make it with one company for more than 2 months. Oh, and back to the parking thing these new guys cant back in to a spot any more so that could be a problem, lol…
TommyZ says
Jake A…you my friend, are my clone, lol. I can’t add a single word to what you just said and it’s 100% spot-on.
Newbies that came on the scene in the last 10-15 years don’t have a clue how it’s supposed to be…not all, but most.
Jim says
As one if those “newbies” you mentioned….I have to agree. Most of My generation of Drivers can’t park a truck to save their lives. I have been in and around trucks for most of my 43 years of life, and when I decided to start driving as well I made sure I wasn’t one of “THOSE GUYS”. They aren’t really Truck Drivers anyway. They are as my instructor said “Licensed Holders of a Steering Wheel”. And yeah we need more rest areas because there just isn’t enough parking at the average Truck Stop.
Wayne Nelson says
So exactly what the ideal driver to you been in it 15 years make a good and have to put up with guys like you that know better. So please tell me what makes you better than the rest of us?
GC says
Great idea Max. I totally agree they should grow their parking area.
I really don’t like to hear that TA, Pilot, Flying J are this greedy.
I do know however that one TA near Seattle have been trying to expand their lot and WA state will not allow them.
WA are totally against trucks, the staging TA has a huge empty lot next to them and the State is blocking their expansion. while the State and especially the city of Seattle offer no other parking.
There is next to nill space around Seattle, Bellevue to park.
Then again what do you expect : they are liberals… common sense is not their forte
Billy Kimbro says
Bottom line, trucks need more parking, it will make life much easier and less stressful for truckers and the general public. Anything that can make our roads more safe should not be overlooked because of fear the larger truck stops will suffer some loss. Lots of trucks parked on on ramps all night are a danger to eneryone and truckers can’t rest well because of passing vehicles that keep them awake. Trucked need more parking !
MrYowler says
It’s worth noting that trucks ate not the principal source of revenue at commercialized rest areas – 4-wheelers and buses are. If rest areas are allowed to commercialize, we can expect reduced truck parking, in favor of parking for passenger vehicles. We should also expect fee-based truck parking or short-term only, in what spaces remain available, since this permits the rest area to better monetize the space. Further, it creates incentive for states to ramp up creation and enforcement of no-parking laws along highway ramps and emergency pull-outs, to drive revenue to paid parking spaces in commercialized rest areas.
We can demonize truck stop chains and operators for limiting our options, but we should also examine what those options are really likely to be. If we let the states monetize rest areas, make no mistake – it will still be us, who pay the price. Whether you cook in your truck, or not.
SRN says
I am the wife of a driver. We communicate daily when he is over the road. I agree that safer parking is needed and the giants in this industry must provide safer and more parking for the drivers. This parking disparity is affecting families as well. The driver’s spouses and other family members are concerned as well. Money obsession in this area is breaking down the transportation industry to the point of causing experienced drivers to say “enough is enough.” Its bad enough that drivers are disrespected on the road by most common automobile drivers. Now the transportation partners who they depend on see dollar signs over people is just devastating.
Mike Stewart says
When TA stops charging for parking I might start patronizing them again. I cook my food in my truck. I don’t eat fast food garbage at the truck stops and most of the restaurants in the truck stops suck and the prices are RIDICULOUS!
Screw the greedy truck stop industry!
Username*Gordon A says
TA and Petro are not the only ones to charge for parking
Ken s says
Duh it was just an example of certain truck stop companies trying to go against us as drivers first of all we deliver your clothes ,food, every thing , we as a people take for granted on a daily basis! So if you gonna make a comment please stop being a kiss _ _ _ for them because it sounds to me you are either an employee or a non driver so again shoooooh just keep your comments to yourself do us all a favor at the end of the day they are high priced and a ripoff to us as a truck driver.
Daryl G Jackson says
I think all rest areas in all states should be expanded and offer as much needed to be self supporting. NATSO fatso needs to be stuck in a truck and try ‘creative parking’ at 0100 in the morning. I am all for capitalism, I would like to see rest area commercialization open to food trucks and mom and pops diners, not Wendys, definitely NOT ANOTHER SUBWAY (nothing against Subway) not ANY franchise. Let entrepreneurs in to do what they do, limit the eateries to like 5 and expand facilities and parking. There will be more choices down the road, including Subway.
Mike says
There used to be several Mexican food trucks parked between the Flying J and TA on Laredo. The Dennys at the Flying J complained and the city of Laredo made the independent food trucks leave, even though they parked on the street and not within the truck stops themselves. That pissed alot of us off who enjoy cheap mexican food.
Head Games says
The greed never ends in this industry….
It keeps us all down truck stops, trucking companies and especially the driver…
They have no problem parking their cars and simply walking into their own homes at the end of the day all at tax payer expense but they have a fit if the same applies to us.
The cops keep an eye on their homes the maintenance people fix the potholes and the street sweeper cleaned em yet for us rolling piggybanks we don’t deserve the same.
They can’t even keep their lots fixed nor clean half the time nor prices in check and so they should shut their lips up tightly.
Love’s is forcing the big truck stops to build more pay for parking spots because they don’t know how to get their prices under control so what are they crying about?
I for one spend a great deal of money with em on gadgets and fast fat food every year and day respectively and I don’t mind and so they need to find the tightwads Inn this industry and go after their wallets because I don’t have anymore money for em my generosity is at its max!.
Mike says
Truck stops don’t exist to provide services to truck drivers they exist to profit from us. Everything sold on thier shelves is double normal retail prices with just a few exceptions. They once use to provide free Internet but since they have figured out how to restrict and charge for it, they now have installed cellular inhibitors that’s suppress your cell services data access almost forcing you to buy thier Internet to get online things done. There is a federal law already in the books that prohibit businesses from price gouging and forced services by competition elimination. Maybe some smart lawyer should check into their practices.
Steve boyd says
They should definitely expand rest areas. Truck stops only care about their revenue. At ta & petro from 9p-7a you cant even get a hot dog when you get your fuel. With their already being a shortage of parking, truck stops including the 4 biggest cordon off up to a quarter of their parking lot for paid reserve spots. Local trucks take up precious parking for convenience so if your over the road looking for a spot you have to pay for it. If theyre worried about revenue so much they should all charge for parking. At least that way it would be fair. If i get a spot i dont mind buying fuel or food or misc convenience store item to keep them happy.
Tim W says
How is adding more vending machines going to give us more parking? We need SPACE to park safely to rest. Hell, California gave me a ticket parked on the off ramp to a rest area. I was at the top of the ramp and in the dirt…
It’s just all about money anymore. I have a refrigerator and just need a spot to lay my head down without getting a ticket or endangering someone’s life.
Do like Wyoming. Just plain old truck parking areas. Nothing fancy, just lots of space.
Terri says
Well well let’s see how well this plays out;
I have money
I start a business…to make more money
Then someone else opens the same type
Business… to make more money
I’m mad as hell so: I’ll overcharge my loyal
Customers to make a bigger profit. Am I really here to make a profit?? Consider this
Wisely!!!
Sean says
What trucking companies should to is have more terminals where their trucks can fuel up. The railroads don’t need train stops to fuel. They buy their fuel at hundreds of millions of gallons at a time in advance and save lots of money. They only fuel at their railyards and cooperate with each other. They have no problem fueling a locomotive from a rival company when they need to.
Ryan Wilson says
I got fined by a cop in Blytheville Mo for driving off duty in order to find a safer place to park…This cop didn’t care to hear my reasoning for moving…he was just looking to issue out tickets! IT’S TIME WE TAKE A STAND DRIVERS!
Moby says
I am not surprised by this, not at all. And sadly, our gov’t does the bidding of large moneyed interest like the companies that own these Travel Centers.
I understand that they are looking after their legitimate financial self interest, but looking above that and doing what is best for the general public and not just corporations is what the gov’t exist for.
Hopefully, they will get it right this time.
Juan says
I just saying..that without truck drivers…this country falls…….we r the back bone off this industry that drive America!!!!!!..we get more tickets than anyone else out there on the road!! We …the Professional Truck Drivers….should be giving a break!!!!! And yes …..more safe spots for us to park..rest and b well when we are ready to roll!!!!!
Tim says
Ha! Those truck stops sure must have a strong affinity for all the drivers like myself who park overnight and never even set foot in the building. It isn’t that I avoid purchasing their products and services; however, after reading this news story, I might start…
Jeff says
From my observation over the years, the truck stops never have much parking unless you are an overnight driver. And sometimes going to a rest area is much more convenient and a good way to avoid more of the riff raff and steering wheel holders from trying to back into a tight parking spot when its full. At least with most rest areas, you just pull in and park. But needing a snack or drink while at a rest area is needed while the truck stops are at full capacity.
Morongobill says
Or how about California’s “closed for repairs” scam?
Perfect example, the I-10 rest stop at Palm Springs(both sides of the road) has been closed for at least 6 weeks. I have driven by several times and observed “workers” standing around doing nothing.
Seen the same thing on I-40 and 15 rest stops as well. Onething to tear down and make a new one, this long a repair for the same is ridiculous.
Groo says
Truck stop lobbyists can ask what-ever they want of Congress. I would hope the elected members of Congress aren’t so corrupt that they wouldn’t just ignore them when making such obviously self interested requests.
Juan Robledo says
I believe that if each state is allowed to set up amenities on rest areas like the toll road in Kansas, I’ve used those reststops along the way many times, truck stops need to expand their truck stops to accommodate more trucks, or the individual states build bigger rest areas there’s really no other way
A d Enstoss says
PA KS Ok Oh hell yes!
Douglas Edwards says
There is a great shortage of places to park after 5 pm please government fix this problem and make every one more safe . You make more rules making trucks park but make no where to park then have cities making money writing to tickets to truck drivers like shooting fish in a barrel. This is not how government should treat truck drivers it’s completely wrong
GT says
I will not spend a red cent of my money at a Pilot Loves etc and have not bought a gallon of fuel from them in more than 4 years. I realize they’re trying to make money however they are in bed w the big carriers trying to lure as many drivers on to their property as possible. I only buy fuel at independent truck stops and love a good diner to eat at. Pilot wants to corner the market with overpriced diesel and McDonald’s.
Les Gvt says
I will stop at some of the Loves that have Arby’s- Plus they also have real fresh brewed tea now- P/FJ went to the nasty bag in box crap
Username*Gordon A says
Unfortunately it is not all on the backs of the Truck stops. The towns and counties have the final word when it come to building or expanding A political nightmare controlled by greed and fear. More say NO than say yes citing it will bring in the bad element. We all know that is BS. It is already there. Very little has changed in the last 5-10 years in trucking. Same truck stops but a few new ones ,same number of parking spots.
It is the HOS that is causing the parking situation. Not the truckstops. The TS’s just get full sooner now than years ago. If we were allowed to stop the HOS clock like we used to be able to do there would be no shortage of parking. Until the HOS is fixed this will continue to be an issue.
scott hayden says
Imagine that, truck stop operators don’t want the exorbitant taxes they must pay to go toward competing with them. Silly business people. (sarcasm off)
David Petrakos says
In no specific order
1) I often find better quality food at some of the rest area plazas.
2) I often find no parking available to use the amenities at a truck stop, unfortunately if they had temporary parking for those of us that drive nights, there are drivers that would clog it up anyway for their 10
3) why should I pay the extra 20 cents a gallon plus credit price at the big truck stops for their operations that are frequently substandard (hire more than 1 cashier , build more parking, and pilot…you spent 50 million dollar on bathrooms and chose Slippery tile!?!, )
JAFO says
If there were more truck stop parking in the rest areas I wouldn’t have had the accidents that I’ve had falling asleep at the wheel trying to find a truck stop with little to no parking. Some people always trying to ice skate uphill on fresh open lakes that haven’t frozen yet.
Stingray1963 says
BOYCOTT the greedy truck stop companies. I think it’s time for Walmart to start up their own chain of truck stops. They already have the logistics infrastructure in place to do it.
Bob Hunnicutt says
everybody go on strike Feb 1st 2017 , and see how quickly things get changed
MrYowler says
Don’t be ridiculous. Most of us can’t afford to strike, and even if we could, they would just bring in drivers from other countries, or train in newbies who don’t know any better, and are just glad to have a job.
As a group, we are so essential and skilled that our job does not even require a high school education, and we are being replaced by robots.
Pick fights that you can win.
IONO says
So a law is introduced that prevents states from adding amenities to state sponsored rest areas, this to ensure they cannot monopolize on the business model….However, we have 3 commercial entities that have monopolized the truck parking and hospitality business, now high prices and a captive audience ensure their success. I love the toll roads and rest areas up in the NE, yeah they also have high prices, but they seem cleaner and safer then the TA and Petros in the NE….Oh and where are the shippers and receivers in this conversation?
MrYowler says
Shipper and receivers couldn’t care less, as it doesn’t affect them. Likewise with carriers. In a remote, vague sense, they would probably support commercialization, on the principle that it reduces their tax burden to support the highway system – and it represents a new business opportunity – but only in the most general sense of support…
Les Gvt says
Where in the Constitution is the federal government authorized to spend a penny on any rest area? Rest areas should be entirely under the control- and financing- of the state/county/city
Dennis says
Read the Federal Insterstate highway authorization bill.
Les Gvt says
except for the 3-4 times a year I need a scale- I don’t go into any national truck stop. I get my fuel at 7/11, Valero corner Store, or a locally owned stop. Due to the lower prices- I can usually fill up, buy a meal, grab a shower, and still have enough for a pack of smokes for less than I would have paid at FJ or T/A- And 7/11 is a lot less hassle to get in and out of
Les Gvt says
the local convenience store gets their fuel from the same exact location as the FJ- they are literally 1000 feet apart- and yet- the c store is always 20-25/gal cheaper. P/FJ has yet to come up with any way to be competitive for the o/o’s, especially if you only have 1,2,or 3 trucks. Same thing with T/A- only get service and tires done there in dire emergencies- if you are not a big company- you pay almost double what you would at STM or GCR
A d Enstoss says
So we pay double for goods and after a week they take back the showers we earned and want another15 bucks.Now it’s pay to park if you can find one and they want the rest stops to close ,no damn wonder!
Joe says
Honestly I would just like them to widen some on-ramps or make a little paved area at each on or off ramp where trucks can park.
If you are concerned about having facilities, manage your time better and get to a truck stop before 6pm.
I would definitely welcome some high speed wifi at rest areas though…
J. Carter says
Truck stops have a captive audience (us truckers) and exploit it mercilessly. It is past time to give us services that compete against them.
When you’re asked to pay $5 for a bit of bread with sauce you can barely eat, and have to look at these places popping up with ‘PRIME PARKING’ (where they hold out some of their parking spaces for cash), you have to deal with being ultra-aggressively up-sold anytime you make any kind of purchase (yeah, Pilot and Flying-J I’m looking at you), and a significantly large percentage of their employees are extremely rude and/or insouciantly uncaring of you as a person (I’m looking at ALL of the big chains with this one) you know… KNOW they know they have a consumer base that has absolutely no choice but to trade with them.
We are charged exorbitantly outrageous prices. We are treated only like wallets with legs (that they want to empty as fast and as aggressively as they can). And we are told to our faces (with either voice or looks) that if we don’t like it, we can just hit the road.
So yes PLEASE. Can we please get some competition for these truck stops? It is long past overdue. WAY past overdue. If any other business treated its customers the way truck stops treat truckers, they’d have gone out of business before they could have turned around twice. But because truck stops know we have no choice, they are not going to budge an inch in the way they treat us.
And we are flat-out tired of being abused.
Jon says
Just last week, this website reported a Loves wanted to put in a location in MT and local Town does Not want an Evil Tuck Stop !
So we have the “Not in my backyard” problem too.
Brown matt says
Truck stops are mad because drivers are getting smarter every year. I go there only to get fuel and shower some times. I can cook 3 days worth of delicious meal in my truck. Make rest area more convenient and Let them suffer!!
Lisa says
I don’t need amenities. I need PARKING. I need there to be spots available when a receiver kicks me off their property when they finally get done unloading at 2am & I am out of hours. Big dirt lots along the interstates would suffice. Just somewhere I am not going to get woken up by a cop handing me a ticket & telling me to move. It’s a game of musical chairs every night to see who is going to shut down the earliest & fill all the available spots. Those who want to be productive & WORK when they have hours available to legally do so are screwed. if Trump wants to instantly increase productivity in this country he can do so by making the states provide addiquit parking. And before some unproductive smartass tells me to start my day esrlier, let me state clearly that is not always an option when you have odd hour delivery appointments that won’t allow you to enter their property early & make you leave as soon as they’re done. Those who are out here to WORK want to work the jigsaw of appointments & logs in the most productive way possible, but can’t because there will be NO PARKING left when we need it. The states are to blame. Look at TENNESSEE with all of those parking spots sitting empty in the weigh stations. They won’t allow us to use them because the Governor wants to force us into the paid spots at his brother’s Pilot truck stops. Total raquet!
Azzitude says
a cop cannot interfere with your sleep if you are in the bunk …. don’t answer the door or roll the window down ……if they keep pestering you call the us marshals and tell them what is going on …. it is against federal law to harass an off duty driver
Lisa says
Umm. Yes a cop can. And they do, often. If you tell them you can’t because of logs, they will offer to have the truck towed & empounded. Have you ever had to park on a ramp in Indiana or Virginia? Was once on the ramp at a rest area with several trucks. We were all out of hours. We were all forced to move (illegally). And we all received expensive tickets. Not parking tickets, but worse. “Failure to obey a highway sign”.
Michael Goodman says
Major truck stop chains have gone to having a number of reserved parking where drivers will be forced to pay to park. Petro in Atlanta has about 40℅ reserved. The cost of a meal in these truck stops has gone up to o a point that many drivers are eating out of their truck rather than being forced to pay their unreasonable food prices. Competition would help bring down costs and might encourage those who charge to park to stop. Another thing that would help would be to break up the big chains Pilot should never have been allowed to purchase Flying J. Pilot continues to expand through acquisition of smaller chains and independents. Ta and Petro should also not been allowed to merge. By allowing these mergers truckers are paying higher prices for products and services that would have been lower with more competition.
Noneya says
While we are fighting for parking and better pay etc., the technology is being created to replace us. We should be more concerned about that. What will it take to finally shut this country down, drivers?
MrYowler says
Revolution. Hold your breath.
That’s what it will take. It won’t happen until it is suicide to try. We may already have crossed that threshold.
So hold your breath, ’cause it’s going to take more than there is.
Sara says
Amazon should supply rest areas with healthy vending options. 😉
Felix says
If the fed. Would quit trying to regulate us out of trucking and start trying to help trucker to fine parking and not ticket us when we have to park on ramps and not limit us to just stops maybe we can us Walmart and other shopping center that would be happy to have are business
Jamie says
The only reason Walmart and others don’t want trucks parking in their lots over night is because of the nasty, inconsiderate truck drivers that trash their lots. I know it is a minority but they ruin it for the rest of us. I wouldn’t want to come out in the morning and find garbage and urine bottles and other nastiness..
We use to be able to park there until they ruined it
Jamie says
Why not lease the rest areas to truck stops. Let them put in restaurants and other amenities and add parking. States can the make money off the land and taxes rather than paying out.
Sue says
Cut down Israeli aid and make rest area
Mike says
I park at truckstops only to shower otherwise I park in target, walmart, ghetto shopping plazas, pretty much everywhere lets you park i dont have a problem parking.
MrYowler says
Park a truck full of beer in a ghetto shopping mall. Oh sure, you’ll be fine 99 times out of 100. But the one time that you’re not fine, it costs far more than paid parking at the truck stop, a hundred times.
Rodney King.
‘Nuff said.
Lisa says
Be careful. Lots off shopping centers are using truck size boots now. You wake up to find one on your truck. If you can’t produce a BOL to prove you were delivering there, it’ll cost ya $500 to have the boot removed.
Road Jouster says
Of course truckstop companies would oppose any improvements that would hinder their ability to price gouge products, services and fuel. A group of nor an individual operator should be allowed to monopolize parking and amenities for drivers! Big truck stop operators and mega carriers are out of control !
MammaBear says
There’s an even simpler way to have parking for trucks. I’ve seen some on/off ramps that have extended shoulders with garbage cans (But not emptied often enough) So just put in extended shoulders, like emergency pull offs, with garbage cans and 2-3 porta-johns. Support local porta-john companies and have independent’s do garbage collection. I don’t need food at a rest area, though it might help fund their upkeep, some are in POOR shape! I need an easily accessed parking spot, and a place to use a toilet.
I agree with another commenter, don’t franchise things sold in rest areas. Let local small businesses cater them. Or even ALL vending machines! I’ve seen machines with everything from microwavable meals, hygiene products, and drinks like MILK and OJ! (Sick of soda!)
So, expand current rest areas with more parking, and go ahead with something to generate revenue to fix up the failing rest areas. We still have to get expensive fuel at the truck stops. Also, expand on/off ramp shoulders with garbage cans and outhouses for when everything else is full.
Scary G says
If they are so dam worried about losing business EXPAND YOUR PARKING! You do make a hell of a lot of money on fuel I buy from you! And have to go find a place to park on some side street then!