At a meeting of the National Coalition on Truck Parking, a group of industry stakeholders which meets to discuss and find a solution for the truck parking shortage, the National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO) warned that creating more parking could hurt truck stops and might actually cause a reduction of available parking spaces.
The second meeting of the Coalition was held on July 12th and heard some promising ideas from some of the members which include the Federal Highway Administration, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, the American Trucking Association, and other industry groups.
Among the ideas was a proposal from OOIDA Director of Regulatory Affairs Scott Grenerth, who noted that since parking is an issue now and “we’re not going to have a million truck stops pop up overnight,” there would need to be a way to find more parking spaces using less traditional means. Grenerth proposed retrofitting or improving industrial parks (where truckers tend to park anyway) to allow for safe and legal truck parking.
Seemingly to counter this proposal and others which were put forth, representatives from NATSO warned that existing truck stops are “a critical part of America’s transportation network.” NATSO also claimed that “any proposal that makes the business environment more difficult for NATSO members would be counter-productive.”
This apparently anti-competition mentality makes some sort of sense. As long as NATSO members are the only ones able to provide safe parking for truckers they won’t ever have to worry about not having enough customers.
NATSO warns that if competition increased and made their “business environment more difficult,” their businesses might struggle and truckers might find themselves with fewer places to park.
Unsurprisingly, NATSO is pushing forward with parking solutions such as a smartphone app which tells truckers where empty parking spaces can be located, presumably since this would drive even more business to their members.
Jeremy says
I call b.s. on this because the only reason truck stops don’t want competition is they’re making money off of their new profit center – paid reserve parking. In the last year almost every big name brand truck stop has carved out a portion of their lot, some up to half the lot, and made it reserve parking for a fee. Parking alternatives would threaten this profitable new scheme so of course they’re going to oppose any alternative parking solutions.
Bill says
Amen Brother, I’m with you on this one.
Max says
you nailed that one!
Sean says
Totally correct. The sad part is that phone app will probably be the solution they put forth to solve the parking issue. Allowing truck stop to become even more of a cash cow. The stuff the working people have to put up with to support their families by driving a truck now days.
Laura Wade says
I really don’t see a real time update on spots available on the app. The truck stops won’t even hire enough fuel desk workers let alone have someone count spots & post them.
Jim says
Great point. Their response is so obviously selfish and doesn’t give a darn about trucker parking problems. Thx
Scott says
Exactly Jeremy.
Its no surprise that instead of companies wanting to solve and fix problems in the trucking industry, they are still looking for ways to make money and profit off it.
John says
That is there only concern they want fully paid parking,
Paula says
I agree, they don’t want to lose their new revenue stream. Additionally, the App they mention is not accurate. My husband and I have been testing out the TA/Petro app it only gives an estimate on what may be available. Plus, that is encouraging distracted driving with drivers trying to check multiple apps looking for a place to park.
Mike says
Reserve parking is why I haven’t fueled at a TA, Pilot or Flying J in 1.5 years. But, I’ll gladly use up their “free” parking just to nail home the coffin…
Ray Britt says
So true the people who are making up these new schemes for truck parking has probably never drove a truck and never been to a truck stop where 10% of truck driver you can’t back up so they park on the edges to make it difficult for the ones that can but what about the ones of us who don’t like spending our money that we worked hard for at the overpriced truck stops in there some of us who don’t like parking at truck stops because the same fact people can’t back up and we get our trucks hit so I prefer to park somewhere different than a truck stop and as you say the reserve parking at $20 a spot why do I want to give my money up four spots that used to be free!!!
Ron says
Yea. This doesn’t make sense. We need more parking because the Lord are full. If the Lord are full , then the truckstops have plenty of business…building other places for us to park will help with our safety and the safety of others on the road and it will take the truckstops’ overflow.. not ruin their business; that’s just ridiculous thinking.
Ron says
Lots are full… damned autocorrect.
Evergreen says
A full Lord is a happy Lord. lol
Bob says
Talking about the reserved parking spaces was the first thing that popped up in my mind but you already did it. IF the government wants to do something that will actually help how about using what they’ve done on the Ohio Turnpike as a model. It has businesses and parking and actually free showers. Whenever I’m up there I make sure to spend some money in those Service Centers. I don’t mind spending money when they give a place that is safe, always has parking and actually treat truckers like we are valuable to the rest of the society.
PickUp YourPeeBottle says
Nicely put
Chris says
Amen. They are not a solution to the no parking problem! They cause it. Any way to keep up with their price gouging of the very people that keep them in business.
sudon't says
Not only that, but if the trucks stops offered something more than a parking space and fuel, they wouldn’t have to worry about drivers choosing to park in a rest area. As it is, the handful of truck stops left offer either crappy food, or fast food, which amounts to the same thing. Once you walk inside the place, it’s difficult to tell which of the five trucks stops you’re in. They all look like the same candy store.
Also, these people ought to get out at night more often. Every driver is aware that, if you hit a truck stop after 22:00, you’ll be lucky to find a spot. A lot more parking could be added without making a dent in truck stop business. The trucks stops simply want no competition, which is of course why they bought up all the independents. They treat truck drivers like the captive audience they are.
neil Pawelczak says
I completely agree. I don’t always look for the truck stops either. They don’t want to make more parking available but they have no problem turning us away once their lots are full. In some areas of the country its difficult to find parking as early as 6pm. And some states are even putting a ban on overnight parking for trucks. Its why more and more of us are stuck on the side of the road or ramps from time to time. Its not a choice. At times its our only option.
I also agree with the food selections. It wasn’t bad when they had their own food. But so many have given in to fast food. Ive gotten to the point I only cook in the truck. I have struggled with weight all my life and fast food just won’t do. What would help is if more truck stops had a better selection of groceries as trying to park at a grocery store isn’t always the easiest thing to do.
Bill says
Simple solution for this dilemma. Trucker enters the parking lot of a NATSO truck stop, no parking available. Trucker is given a slip that states no parking available. The slip contains the Name, Truck Stop Number, Address, Date and Time. If the driver is pulled over by DOT or any State COP and HOS becomes an issue, then the Truck Stop where the driver attempted to stop and conform to the FMCSR, HOS Rule is given a violation/ticket by the DOT or State COP. After a few healthy citations by DOT and State COPS, NATSO will stop worrying about competition between Truck Stops and do what is necessary to assist the Drivers in making our highways and interstates safer by providing adequate parking spaces.
james says
Best idea but prolly won’t happen…and since we know that to be true about truck stops how about spending less money there as well….no more pilot pizza or $2.00 can of soda. Or demand they stop charging all that money for drivers to rush into diabeties with $1.99 candybar
Anthony says
Right on the money!!
Plato Easter says
I have seen a few rest areas that are partially supported by businesses, there are signs to that effect.
Which brings me to two points:
1. All stakeholders need to sit down at a real or virtual table and create a consensus plan that takes in the needs of the real world users, us and the TS hunger to make more money. Part of the TS problems is their restaurant participation has dropped – witness the removal or downsizing of a lot of them. Yet, the Subways and other fast fooders have lines waiting. So is it price? No, it is time. TS restaurants are operated by chains; chains scrimp on good help; chain restaurants serve a lot of poor food and take a lot of time to get you in and out. SOLUTION to increasing restaurant usage is blue plate specials: good, simple basic food that is ready NOW and for a reasonable price. Fast food is NOT cheap. And good restaurants don’t seem to have problems attracting customers, even tho a lot are tourists.
2. Parking overall: It is the responsibility of all states to create and maintain “safety rest areas”. The name says it all: SAFETY. But we see a lot of waste in the creation of these areas. Some states have created glass and stone palaces – just to pee?
I offer an alternative that is feasible. First, forbid commercial entities from any voice in the creation of public rest/parking areas. Their arguments are clearly self serving and contrary to the focus of the problem: safety while parking and safety in the ability of the drivers to rest and avoid fatigued driving. This is a public safety issue. Years ago, we had a resort in southern Wisconsin. As an alternative to flush toilets or (porta potties) in our camping and cabin areas, we investigated composting toilets. We discovered a public park in Rhode Island that used these composting toilets exclusively and were completely sold on their viability. There are also some rest areas out west that we have seen them at. Using them in public rest areas would reduce costs of both water and sewage removal. Paying for public parking/rest areas for truckers should be approached as a public/private venture. The mega trucking companies have a vested interest in having rested drivers. The insurance companies have a vested interest in safe rested drivers. So our efforts should be aimed at solving the parking problems and not to allow vested interests to deflect the discussion into a self serving dead end.
Summing up: Public private cooperation can help create more and safe parking. Vested interests should not be allowed to have any input because their interests are not safety but profit. Vested interests, truckstops, need to reexamine their profit center items: they need to look at successful restaurants and ask why they cannot be that way too. Part of this examination must include going back to the old restaurant offerings that focused on quick in and out service at reasonable costs.
Parking is going to get worse. The governments, the drivers, the companies that employ the drivers and the general public have a massive interest in us being Proactive rather than reactive in solving this shortage. FMCSA is screaming safety, safety, safety but does nothing to emeliorate the parking/fatigue problem their short sighted mandates are and will increasingly create.
Jim Estabrook says
Wait just a cotton-picking minute here… I thought there was a shortage of drivers in the trucking industry! If there are not enough spaces to park, how the heck can there be a shortage? And if NATSO members are worried about”losing business”, how about taking better care of the ones who make your living or you instead of pandering to the general public? Quit allowing RVs to take up parking spaces. Quit allowing cars and pickup trucks to take up parking spaces. Quit offering free meals for kids at a certain truck stop chain. Quit selling items that mommy and daddy, grandma and grandpa want to buy for little Johnny and Susie! Make them go to a big box store. Make them go to a local restaurant. Keep the word TRUCK in the word TRUCK stop. Get rid of the general public and you would be amazed at how many more spaces would be open for TRUCKS!
I know, it is just a pipedream. The money hungry predatory truck stop operators will not only continue to entice the general public to their facilities, but to continue to raise meal prices so drivers won’t eventually be able to afford to eat.
dking says
Don’t care for fast food chain crap. Give me real sit down food with normal pricing instead of decent chain having to pay exuberant rent and jack up a meal.15 bucks at petro for supper , I pass to find thruk parking to get real food
sudon't says
I couldn’t agree more. Truck stop food is awful. But you know how hard it is to find good food near truck parking. We’re basically a captive audience most of the time. They whittled the competition down to a handful of corporate truck stops, and they’re all happy to serve the same quality of food, since we have few other options.
Tim says
“I thought there was a shortage of drivers in the trucking industry! If there are not enough spaces to park, how the heck can there be a shortage?”
It’s a humorous observation, but sorry, the logic doesn’t hold up: it’s precisely because the amount of truck parking available does NOT bear a strong enough connection to the number of drivers out there, that there is a such thing as a parking shortage in the first place.
Ron says
Ummm. No… your logic is flawed and so is his. He was saying there is supposedly a DRIVER shortage. You’re saying basically that it is precisely because there is not enough parking that there is not enough parking. The truth is that the fact that there is not enough parking has no bearing whatsoever on wether or not there is a DRIVER shortage. They’re two separate issues. They are only related in terms of the fact that as we get more drivers to fill the driving positions we need filled ( supposedly), we will need even more parking. But the fact that parking is insufficient already doesn’t mean that we don’t need more drivers.
Kelly Downey says
It’s what you choose to eat cheaper is not healthier and healthy doesn’t have to be expensive. I’m out 3 nights a week dedicated. I eat a healthy breakfast everyday at Subway for less than $5. Less than $5 is for all three meals not just one. I eat a good lunch or mid afternoon meal for $7, and a healthy snack till home, another light meal on my night out. I spend in the $80 area to eat out in 6 days, that’s less than $15 a day, mainly fresh food. What most of you probably pay for one unhealthy meal plus tip.
Keiler says
Care to elaborate what exactly it is that you eat for that cheap? Curious because I want to lose weight and if it’s that cheap I don’t see why not.
Richard says
We need laws mandating a set number of parking spots for each fuel pump. Pilot and Love’s tiny little convenient stores with diesel pumps are the problem. No place to park but by giving the large companies fuel discounts they drive real truck stops out of business.
Max says
Trouble is truckers don’t spend money like grandma and grandpa.
Just add a provision to the Federal Highway bill that requires all towns of 100,000 or more to have X amount of truck parking spots. Make that number based on population. Don’t comply? Cut off federal highway funds.
Kevin B says
That’s an angle I hadn’t seen before you mentioned it. That would actually be a great help. If the town has that big of a population, you know it has a bunch of delivery trucks everyday. Heck, if the town has 500 people, you know they get 2-10 truckloads of goods and commodities a week. Base the available truck parking on population. Excellent solution Max.
VoorTrekker says
That is an excellent idea and one that addresses the demographics and logistics of the industry. So is another post about truck stop app compliance and citations.
It seems that few corporations want to control everything as if it were their manifest destiny. We must stop that by influencing our companies to fund the parking. They’re already funding fraud by using national accounts with certain chain truck stops.
cptdragn says
Nice idea but you forget one thing, you’ll never get it passed. There have been numerous stories of this truck stop or that one wanting to either enlarge the parking they have or build new ones. You then have these towns that it is going to happen in, get their panties in a wad and start crying NIMBY. ( Not In My Back Yard ) More often than not they win and the truck stop gives up. end result, no extra parking. So while I do agree the NATSO is/can be greedy. its not always their fault.
Andrew H says
I got out of OTR trucking because of the parking issue. The stress of not knowing where to park on a day to day basis while on electronic logs was really taxing.
I’m sure I’m not the only one.
A C Deck says
You are not the only one. I would almost have a panic attack at the prospect of making a New York, or New Jersey run.
Jeff says
While I agree with some of the ideas above, I have to say that some of the truckers these days are making these truck stops a horrid nasty place to go. Dumping trash and piss bottles in the lot instead of holding onto it and throwing it in the trash while fueling. The whole industry has gone to shit and we as truckers have been as much of the problem as these businesses.
Vince says
I agree, truckstops have become greedy and a large portion of them have turned parking into pay parking, not to mention some of the name brand truckstops are so small you can’t even find parking to take a shower or get out the way for a 30 min. break or to sit and eat a meal…it’s especially bad in North and South Carolina….the aren’t enough truckstops and most are small with little parking!
Peter Morse says
Thank Gawd you all hate paid parking, I use it as needed if i make so little money OTR that $10 makes a difference I better get off. Ontario CA the land for those 2 truckstops is more valuable then any amount they charge. In fact there you get reserve parking it goes against the $20 you pay to park anyway Win Win The only people that can’t find parking are the people that are not looking
Douglas Kirk says
You know better, Pete. Any available spot you could park has a restriction of some kind. No truck parking, no parking at night, no parking from 12 to 6, etc. Even in warehouse and industrial areas with big wide streets. Nope, can’t park here.
Robin says
Also, it’s not enough that people are forced to reserve a spot when they are coming in late and know the lot will be full…but how about all the places that charge to let the trucks back out. I’d say most drivers spend some money when they park for a ten, but they force them to spend a fixed amount, either in services, or cash upon exiting. Serve the greedy truck stops right if there were more alternative FREE spots! Maybe they would go back to catering to the drivers again! A little competition between truck stops is a good thing (for the truckers), so of cour$e they don’t want any free parking for them…they would have to stop making them pay to park!
Charley says
Well, most truck stops offer spots while you do business. Wal-Mart was generous knowing there customers are home while drivers sleep and opened there doors. Need more businesses to be friendly like this. For truck stops. We did not have near the choice of products and goods till Johnnie vacation came on board. Paved lots came about the same time at a price. The problem is so many young drivers that do not remember when. Ramps were filled with trucks. And places not even considered today that I still use. The truth is, parking will always be an issue of Who pays. My issue is. You want me to buy fuel, then parking to shower. Otherwise, I’m gone. Officer, you ask me to move. Sign here and tell me where to go. You are now responsible for violation. Or granting permission to violate. I also use the two and eight to get me in parking before others. If DOT would make hours more flexible. Parking lots would and could be used for more drivers. Allowing me in early and out before packed and back when some of them have left.You will always have them day drivers crying for a spot. There seldom happy.
Sean says
The hours of service point you made is right on the money. Truck parking can be fixed by HOS reform. Allowing drivers flexibility in their schedule will allow more traffic flow at truck stops. NATSO should be lobbying the feds instead of trying to extort drivers.
Curt Scissons says
Wal-mart is phasing out letting trucks park overnight at their lots. And it’s mostly our fault. I’ve seen trucks parked in the silliest configurations imaginable, taking up WAY more space than needed, sometimes right near the front doors. Not to mention throwing trash and piss bottle everywhere. Not to mention places like Deming NM where cops have to routinely come in and get trucks away from the loading docks where thy park preventing the Wal-Mart delivery trucks from unloading. A little common courtesy would have prevented most of these problems
Craig says
NATSO is just as helpful to truckers as the ATA is. When I started on the road in the summer of 93 I just looked for a big 76 ball for my place for the night. That quickly changed. I still go to the ones that are left after the sale. I just wish T/A might work to improve them 20 years later. Being from Michigan I just don’t expect a lot out of truck stops.
Mike Debord says
I guess that is why we see the later generation of truck stop sighns saying travel plaza in place of truck stop. The worst thing ever happened was when travel centers , fast food and fuel island’s all got included at one location . Go back to Truck Stops , get your fuel , go park take a nice little walk set down enjoy a home cooked meal . Who knows you might even indulge in some conversation . Oops I forgot I’m having another brain fart . That’s what happens when you been trucking for 38 years.
Username*Gordon A says
I have yet to pay to park in a truck stop.Lets go back a few years when if you bought fuel you got to park, You now can spend thousands in the shop and still have to pay to park in a reserved spot. The shame of it all is , if you need 30 min and the only parking left is reserved. $12 to $15 for a 30 min parking? Not me. Need to take your 10. You either pay an outrageous rate or block the fuel island or fire lane. A simple fix . Allow us to stop the clock. That way we stop when tired, When hungry, when we dont want to be in rush hour traffic. then the parking is available. Until the FMCSA got on this we are in control kick we really didn’t have a parking issue, We, if you remember didn’t have the ghetto dwellers behind the wheel like today that are sloppy unkempt foul mouth steering wheel holders. If the FMCSA would let us decide when we are hungry, need a safety nap and when we need to take a whizze. Stopping the clock will eliminate much of the trucking industries driver and parking problems. I for one am not a robot and doubt any one is,but that is another subject for another day. But wait, doesn’t the ATA and the FMCSA complain or better yet TELL us that there is a driver shortage. ?? Why all of a sudden is truck parking not available.? . It is due to stupid HOS given to us by the unknowing, ignorant, unwilling to listen anti truck bozo’s in suits in DC and in the ATA and they dictate to the FMCSA. Naw !!!! it couldn’t be that. That would be unfair.
Sean says
TESTIFY!!
dking says
Wait a minute, paid parking fee would be only income lost. You still stop for fuel, food, and drinks, (except for Loves where you can get free drinks, love Loves). Showers are usually free and all this is gaining to only happen at a Truck Stop when you stop for fuel. No matter where I Park I still have to visit the Truck Stop daily, so where are they loosing money except from paid parking section. Remember Petro and TA (some) you can only park for two hours unless you by 50 gallons fuel or 20 store products which we usually do. Gist is provide us with safe legal parking and we will still visit the truck stop. Exception under paid drivers whose company tell you to shop Walmart and eat can, cold food.
MIKE says
If truck drivers are federally regulated then the GOVERNMENT needs to supply us with proper work places to comply with their federal laws. They make all these rules and enforce them to collect fines however they do nothing to facilitate a solution.
Plato Easter says
Mike. Please read my reply above: Summary: Summing up: Public private cooperation can help create more and safe parking. Vested interests should not be allowed to have any input because their interests are not safety but profit. Vested interests, truckstops, need to reexamine their profit center items: they need to look at successful restaurants and ask why they cannot be that way too. Part of this examination must include going back to the old restaurant offerings that focused on quick in and out service at reasonable costs.
Parking is going to get worse. The governments, the drivers, the companies that employ the drivers and the general public have a massive interest in us being Proactive rather than reactive in solving this shortage. FMCSA is screaming safety, safety, safety but does nothing to emeliorate the parking/fatigue problem their short sighted mandates are and will increasingly create.
Tony says
Hey, there already is such an app. It’s called, “Trucker Path.” 🙂
Username*Gordon A says
so may fail to understand that a truck stop no matter the brand is in business to make money. Too bad id inconveniences some but that is life. Being an enterprise they can set the rules, eliminate the rules or charge for parking. They are going to make money off the RVer, The traveler,the locals. and the trucker. That is why they are in business. Personally I would rather a RV park nest to me than a truck. They don’t have straight pipes dont leave trash or dump their P jugs on the ground.( as a rule).But to not allow anything but truckers is a fail in short order. As has been said many time . times are changing keep up. I too have issues with change because not all and in fact most changes to trucking and related areas are not good changes. so may dont have a clue how we came to this juncture in the life of trucking. Even fewer wearn’t there, know nothing of the struggels drivers went through. No showers, We did have real food tho and gravel parking. someone else fueled your truck for you and parked it. The one important thing we had then that is missing today is respect. Common sense was every where but like the dinosaurs SHTF and is was bred out of the industry. That is a distant memory.
Don’t like trucking in it’s present state?? Do something to change it in a positive manner. Wear real clothes, ( a belt would help) talk like you have an eduction and your mother is next to you. Want respect? You have to earn respect. Complaining just doesn’t get things done. Leaders just wrinkle their noses and walk on. Want positive changes? Don’t expect someone else to do that for you.
JJ501 says
Respect?You prefer an RV parking next to You than a truck?You need to respect your fellow Drivers because most of the Drivers are decent Persons.
Red says
I don’t really understand how creating new places to park (like rest areas) would even hurt a truck stops business because drivers will most likely park at the truck stops first since they have restrooms, showers, fuel, food, etc. and park in the overflow lots or rest areas as a last resort when everything else is full. Another reason is simply that even if we don’t park at a truck stop overnight, we still have to stop sometime during the day for the same reasons; fuel, food, 30-min break, etc.
Jeff Pearson says
Ohhh phoey… All natso is worried about is their truck stops being able to CHARGE you for parking.. Having apps on your phone? So what will you do? Drive through the parking lot looking on your phone? And not have your full attention on whats going on while your driving through the parking lot? How about getting rid of the dropped trailers that are dropped by swift knight etc and they use it as a yard.. Or how about MAKING all of the bob tails park in an area that arent taking up truck and trailer space.. But truck stops really dont care.. They dont care if a guy does 40 through the parking lot.. They dont care if somebody pulls up on the fuel island and goes to lunch.. They dont care if you cant find a parking place.. And most dont care about your safety when your trying to rest.. All truck stops worry about is that almighty dollar… They dont even care if trucks arent there… They arent a truck stop any more.. They are travel plazas… That just happen to allow trucks to buy fuel… And you really think they are worried about you finding a place to park?
Mark. Smith says
You hit it on the head… BINGO!! We have a winner … There are NO ” Truck Stops ” anymore. Anybody that’s been out here long enough remembers when there were
Kevin Vance says
You’all are right. I’ve been out here since 86 and ALL the real truck stops are long gone.
I still have a few favorites but these pilots, Petros, TAs, and Loves are a joke to the real hands still out here.
Robert Allard says
I had to find a truck stop near Sacramento ca on my way to another small city where there was no rest area or parking spot , so had no choice but to use the truck stop 49ers of 80 and never been there and found out it would cost me 50 dollars if i do not spend that kind of money in their store or if i did not get I think was 100 gallons of fuel.
So it was. And had to pay 50 dollars to stay overnight due to be out of hours, otherwise i would of had to park alongside highway ( NOT SAFE AT ALL).
this is sad to see what is happening to the trucking business.
Am past retirement time and work part time since my retirement at 69yo have no choice pension too litle to make it.
Bobby says
As usual no one asked the truck driver!!! All of them t/a,petro,pilot,flying j, and loves took away 1/25 to half of parking spaces and charging us 16.50 to park is the real reason!!! They also built separate fuel islands for natural gas trucks and we lost 10-20 parking spaces do to that. Loves has been wide open building tire shops at all locations in the middle of our parking lot and again lost 10-20 parking spaces there also. Another year or two there won’t be 10 parking spots available at all truck stops they will be charging 100/hr.. But we need parking bad and Quit!!!! Quit treating us like animals and put fully functional restrooms at them with showers!!!!!!!
Kelly Downey says
Lol those tire and repair shops don’t come close to taking 20 spots. Most are built off parking on what would have been lawn. Even if not they might account for 5 or 6. They try to do something to provide additional services to help and make extra money, provide additional jobs a plus. Then you whine and snivel about it.
crapola says
These large distribution centers should be required to have parking. End of problem.
tammy says
Yes i agree. Just absolute greed! Paying for parking is just greed! The states charge trucks unbelievable amounts of money for fines, tolls ,permits, fuel , etc……the states should expand rest areas with the money they take out of the truck drivers pocket.
donald says
https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/TA/profile….
Mr. Thomas M. O’Brien Chief Exec. Officer, Pres, Managing Director and Director.. yearly income 2.86M
Haslam family… owner of 67 percent of pilot flying j and majority owner of the cleveland browns….forbes extimate..#49 on forbes richest familes in the usa.
Thomas love, owner of loves truck stop forbes estimated net worth, 4.1 billion
John says
I have seen some decent suggestions, but one I have thought about for some time that would either give more than enough parking for all trucks. The government to force all states operating weigh stations to have on-site parking for at least 250 trucks. When operating temporary inspection sites, the state must have minimum parking for 100 trucks within 5 miles. If the state fails, they either lose all highway funds or they permanently shut down all inspection sites. This came to mind when I hit New Jersey, directed into an inspection site, nearing the end of my hours and see the sign that says absolutely no overnight parking, even though they had room for 40 trucks.
Plato Easter says
Now you’re on to something. Good idea for parking at scales. And modern composting toilets would cut down costs as well.
Josh says
I’ve never had a problem finding good parking running nights.
Never paid for it, usually got a pull through or straight back spot.
I think they should just widen on and off ramps to accommodate three to five trucks at any ramp that’s feasible.
Definitely helps when you’re going to a customer that doesn’t have truck parking anywhere nearby, and you have to cut your day short and start an hour or more earlier the next day.
You can max out your hours without worrying about not finding a place to park if you can just start looking at ramps in your last 30 minutes.
Plato Easter says
Another good idea. PA has wide areas on I70. Good lighting and frequent drive bys by cops could work.
Joe says
Like it or not, truckstops are a business first.
Anyone with a plan to build their own truckstop idea is welcome to enter the marketplace.
Trash collection costs money, Do trash collectors work for free?no, they don’t .
If you don’t like what’s available, go on down the road or start your own, soon to Bee famous, truckstop
Michael Goodman says
Since more carrier’s are moving toward blogs there is more of a parking shortage. Major truck stop chains have responded turning at least part of there parking lots into paid parking. Some have as much as a third or more of their available parking as paid. Chains have also increased costs of their food and other offerings significantly in recent years. It was a mistake for the government to have allowed the mergers of Pilot with Flying J and TA with Petro. It has resulted in less competition and higher prices for driver’s, independents and fleets. Parking fees are high and drivers could simply get a motel room for not that much more cost. These parking monopolies need competition. It is a safety issue. Drivers either cannot afford to pay the high cost to park or choose to find a place that may not be safe. It would be great for driver’s to have more safe options to get their required rest.
Michael Goodman says
Since more carrier’s are moving toward elogs there is more of a parking shortage. Major truck stop chains have responded turning at least part of there parking lots into paid parking. Some have as much as a third or more of their available parking as paid. Chains have also increased costs of their food and other offerings significantly in recent years. It was a mistake for the government to have allowed the mergers of Pilot with Flying J and TA with Petro. It has resulted in less competition and higher prices for driver’s, independents and fleets. Parking fees are high and drivers could simply get a motel room for not that much more cost. These parking monopolies need competition. It is a safety issue. Drivers either cannot afford to pay the high cost to park or choose to find a place that may not be safe. It would be great for driver’s to have more safe options to get their required rest.
Darth Vader says
Oh you people have no idea what 2018 is going to bring if laws stay in place? I don’t see how the new devices are going to not put people in violation for leaving a dock, on the customer’s property, and not trigger the drive line status!
The new mandates are not just that you got to have elogs, they want to know what the motor is doing, etc. Better talk to Congress and tell them enough is enough? They say you can move ‘2 miles’ and not trigger the drive line status, lots of big customers out there with huge parking lots.
We want to keep our jobs, we can’t afford $1500 or more fines.
Mike Danaher says
What I find shocking is that the large truck stop chains are lobbying for less competition yet mega carriers are allowed to balloon in size and drive the price of freight into the basement. Yes I’m talking to you ATA!!! So basically the mega truck stop chains have smaller competition and lobby successfully for it but, the truck drivers take it in the shorts with high competition and low rates. This is all a very large disaster. Truckers make less money spend less money=less parking. Way to go politicians!!! Just my .02$
Tony says
Drivers will still need truck stops, regardless of where they park for the night. Drivers still need fuel, showers, food and other supplies that they can only get at at truck stop. So I’m inclined to agree that its the reserved parking that’s driving that particular argument. I’m suspicious anytime a business group says something is a bad idea. It s usually a bad idea for them, but only because they’re looking at the short term. If I’m driving past a truck stop and there’s no parking, I don’t even fuel there because I have to make the most of my time.
SAMUEL LEE says
Greedy,incidious thugs.
Do not park at Pilot in Milford CT over 24 hrs…you will get towed.
It’s about their bottom line period.
Angie says
I also call BS. OOIDA proposed retrofitting places where drivers are ALREADY parking. Sometimes drivers HAVE to park at these places because of our hours. Yet, parking at these other places has not hurt the truck stop business. We still need to fuel, take showers, do laundry, and buy things. So how, exactly, would retrofitting some places to allow for additional and safe parking hurt the truck stops? I mean, other than the paid parking spot scam?
JJ501 says
That’s why I only fuel at Love’s.(free unlimited showers, drinks + money in your loyalty card,and also free parking?
Ron says
Our local truck stop would charge $20.00 per night ( must be parked in the back row ,and have no load on the truck ) if you lived in town,and wanted to leave your truck there for the weekend. Well I just parked my truck at a business close to my home that was closed. Some even parked at a local school parking lot. (if they were leaving on a Sunday night or early before the school opened on Monday.
MpG says
I would love to take a survey to see how many of these truckers complaining about ‘big business’, regularly stock up their trucks at the local walmart/equivalent.
Don’t get me started on the growing number of truckers parking their rigs for the weekend at truck stops and going home.
I don’t particularly like the paid parking phenomenon, but when you have hundreds of trucks in the parking lot, and less then a dozen sitting down to breakfast in the restaurant the next morning, can you blame them?
Donald W says
Seen the prices of breakfast and dinners at these truck stop lately compare too the price per load…ouch
Edward C. Swope says
Paid parking is not a phenomenon by any stretch. Almost every Petro stop used to charge. They had a little attendant shack in the middle of the driveway. A lot of other stops used to charge. Had to take your parking ticket in to get it validated for free parking if you made qualifying purchases on site. Really surprised me that model faded in the 90’s. I looked for it to expand.
Rick Mitchell says
And why shouldn’t that driver leave his truck for the weekend? If you drive for a company in Idaho, but live in Louisiana, where are you to park? I read all the comments, and complaints, and I will tell you, I will park for week if I am at home. Wether you or anyone else likes it or not. I’m an owner op, and I have to park away from home, because where I live doesn’t accomadate my truck. So should I move, because I can’t park at my house?
John says
I hear you there my friend. I live in a tiny mountain town that has slowly and systematically taken away what few areas we have to park. We are down to one small C-store with a few spots. Yet we have quite a few drivers who live here. All the other places we use to park have either blocked us off, or told us we can’t park there anymore. So, when I’m coming home for my time off, it’s a crap shoot whether or not my usual space is available. The nearest alternative is a Walmart nearly 30 miles away.
Donald W says
Actually, by having a shortage and government regulations that requires drivers too stop, they can now start charging for those parking space. Already happening with less and less free spaces.
Corky Freeman says
NATSO is nothing more than bottom feeders. There’s a formula used for determining amount of parking space that correlates to size of their facilities. They’re not going to put one additional parking space in unless it matches their formula. If they do then they will charge for it. There are plenty of places that can be utilized for truck parking without being dependent on these clowns.
Edward C. Swope says
Many of you are under the mistaken assumption that these truck stops are out there to serve us. They are not. They are a business. They do not owe us a place to park. The government, whom we pay taxes and fines too, is who we should demand fix this problem. It is the government’s regulations causing the parking issues. They should be required to expand rest areas and weigh stations parking lots, and allow uninterrupted and unharrassed parking. No waking drivers up mid break for silly inspections. There are many potential solutions to the parking problem that would be relatively inexpensive to impliment without placing an unfair burden on private industry. These mega carriera could rent land and provide for much of their own parking if they would, for one thing.
John says
Talk about shameless greed!!! Here’s what I see as the be all, end all of the bottom line of this self serving BS story. Based on the NATSO commentary, they would rather keep the status quo as it currently exists. With that being said and obvious, here’s the huge BS factor. 1.) If more alternative safe parking were created, the number of trucks parking in their establishments would not likely change at all. As things stand, you have to get in rather early or risk not finding a spot at all overnight, so their capacity is maxed out. Alternating like in industrial parks would not impact them during the night because they are full anyway. During the open parking hours of daylight, drivers will still use their facilities as primary parking over alternative locations with little to no driver facilities. So, again, they aren’t losing a dime. 2.) Next is their complete disregard for our safety. They would clearly rather us continue parking on entrance/exit ramps, road shoulders, sketchy side streets and the limited stores parking lots that won’t kick us out. 3.) If they truly had both their bottom line interests, and our safety and security at heart, instead of arguing yet again over alternative parking for drivers, they would have been aggressively engaged in building more truckstops in high capacity areas. But, and let’s be 100% honest here, how often do you see the main players in NATSO building new truckstops? Yes, occasionally they do make a new one. But the Pilot/Flying J people focus mainly on buying out other facilities, tearing out nice restaurants , and giving us yet another Subway to eat from. TA/,Petro isn’t really much better, although they at least build a new place once in a while. The only standout in the big 3 Truckstop chains, as far as trying to build us more facilities as fast as they can, is Love’s. It wasn’t many years ago that they were pretty minor players. But now,a nd for the past few years, they are building new places as fast as they can. I only wish they were bigger in the parking category. But they at least are making a serious effort to give us more parking. Which, in the bigger picture, means less drivers parking in questionable, or alternative parking, which the other NATSO members are so against. If you build the facilities….we will come. If you won’t, you need to stop whining about your bottom line and disregarding our needs for date and legal parking!!!
kurbie says
Yes the truck stops look at us as they r the only place for us to buy r stuff at ta person told me once that we r can’t think of the word but basically we must shop there it’s the only place 4 us to go I won’t use ta or Petros any more they screwed me once so I won’t support them any way look at the price of stuff in them compared to wal mart witch I can fit my truck in case of water inany truck stop is 5 dollars plus I get it at wallmart 4 less then 3 dollars oil is like 7 dollars cheaper in walmart only thing I try and buy at truckstops is fuel even the restaurants r higher then stopping at regular fast foods so go broke is wat I say
Ziegmont says
Seems an easy to include part of a solution would be to have State & Fed construction of lots up to about 150 – 200 slots near to all Interstates at borders between states. So many of these areas have land nearby that’s doing nothing (state or private) and it may not be hard to get owners compensated for a good usage to help the industry. Just a thought (imho).
Anthony says
It is a little bit arrogant to think that truck drivers keep truck stops in business. The convenience store is what keeps the truck-stop open it is where they make their money. It is not the fuel and it is not the parking lot. These are just additional sources of income for the truck stop. It is almost a guarantee that the people driving four-wheelers purchase just as much stuff in the convenience stores and more frequently than Truckers. What is more and the most important thing I believe is that there are far more four wheelers that fly through a truck stop convenience store per day than there are truck drivers who will come in and buy something and then go out and fill up a parking space for 8 or more hours not buying anything else. In 8 hours how many four-wheel and RV drivers pass through the truck stop while the truck driver sits out in his bunk and watches TV or sleeps for 8 or more hours at a time. Just saying that the truck stop is a money-making facility and truck parking is just another Avenue of making that money. I do agree that they are trying to Corner the market on parking and gouge the truck driver as he is limited on where he can park and purchase the things that he needs. Just keeping it real calling a spade a spade. Truck drivers aren’t as important to a truck stop as a lot of comments would suggest.