Have you ever ended up in a situation where you can't find a place to park your truck for the night? I suppose you could start looking early (maybe 1-2 hours before your allotted hours are up for the day), but that's 1-2 hours of mileage that you lose for the day. To earn the biggest paycheck possible, it would make sense to plan on finding a truck stop (or whatever) when you're close to your maximum hours for the day, but then you might run the risk of finding out that that particular truck stop you were counting on is completely full. Does this ever happen to you? Also, where else do you park besides truck stops/rest areas?

you keep going until you do or hope theirs parking around the place your going to deliver or p/u what ever it may be.

A friend of mine was making a delivery to the Walmart facility in Olney, IL. He was doing a drop and hook, company told him he could stay at the walmart DC. They told him no. The truck stop is less than 2 miles one way or a walmart 10 miles other way.

He went to the truck stop circled for 15 minutes waiting for a spot. Decided to go to the Walmart store. He made a big mistake. He was in a hurry to get there, 14 hour window was gone now. Was speeding 62 or 63 in a 55 zone and met a state trooper. Now has a ticket for speeding and logbook violation. No compassion for the 14 hour rule. Just told my friend he had poor planning and then escorted him to the walmart 3 blocks away.

You have to plan your trips, since truck parking is at a premium. If I need a shower, I will stop early (around 1700-1800) so I can shower and catch a quick nap, then take off after midnight and ride (and of course, monkey with the old coloring book, if required).

And, knowing what is available where you are going is important too. For example, if delivering in Chicago, now coming in on I94, that there are a bunch of T/Ss near the IL line, and I will check my preffered ones, before settling on, say, the T/A in Gary (I have always found parking in the back row, and never been bothered there).
IF that's not a great option, I know of some other places I can bunk down without being bothered (this is where carrying a pee bottle and some food supplies comes in handy).

And yes, sometimes your best laid plans will go awry; I was rolling up I81, (on my way to NJ) and had planned on stopping at the Lee Hi, well, I got there and the parking was all gone (thanks mostly to the rolling truckshow visiting). So, I ended up parking on the get on ramp back to I81 N.

It always helps to know the area. I learned quickly what convenience stores I can get into to have lunch and take a nap on days I get done early before calling in. That way I don't get sent to other peoples' areas to make other peoples' pickups for them.

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Z-Lady's devoted hubby.

Good point, Mack. I learned that lesson the hard way; if the boss is calling you, don't answer the phone, 'cause it's never good news (always more work!).

I used to deliver to the Indianapolis Mixing Center at Lebanon, IN. There is a Flying J across from it and we had a drop and hook usually delivering at mid-night. I soon learned to leave there bobtail, and then I could park at the J, otherwise, you might get a spot at one of the smaller truck stops north of there or you might not. I seldom knew where I was headed the next day, anyway

Plan Your Trip, Then, Work Your Plan....

That trip planning is all well and good, if things are going perfect. We all know that things rarely go right during the course of a day leaving us in a lurch to find a safe place to park.

Good rest is important to me. I don't rest well if I'm worried that I may have parked where I will be hassled. Because of this I try to start my day very early, which in turn, ends it very early while there is still at least a spot or two still open at the TS.

What's tough is going into an area that has no TS, isn't very truck friendly, and you need to sleep over to make a delivery, or, pick up the following morning. It can get scary.

If you run to the same places, a lot, you'll figure out where to park. If you run irregular routes, well, life is an adventure, enjoy it.

I go to the customer and park until morning. This works almost every time. This way you can get the load off and "adjust" your logbook as needed.
Other places I will park as needed is any shopping center in the rear where deliveries are made. Only drawback to this is sometimes you will get woken up by the receiving manager wondering what you have for him (lol). I just tell him I have a delivery in the area and was waiting for 0900 to call the customer and get directions.
Other places to park would be any other trucking company. Many will allow drivers to park overnite especially ones that do not have a security guard checking trucks in and out.
Rest areas are a last resort in my opinion as they usually have limited parking and time limits to park. Seeing it is state property you can and do get rousted by Police/ DOT.

I have slept many nights in the rest areas. I have never been rousted by the police.

I too prefer to sleep at the delivery point. Usually it is because I try to avoid the morning rush hour.