New HOS & Truck Parking

OP, keep a list of places you see along your trip each day that you notice to have truck parking and may be off the freeway out of site. Normally these locations have plenty of spaces available at night because most drivers do not know they are there. Prior to driving for Walmart Transportation, I often times parked at fast food spots like McDonalds that had truck parking. I had a long list of these type places all across the USA that served as my back up plan if I needed to park. Numerous Walmart stores around the USA you may be able to park at too.

Keep your eyes open and take notes. Tons and tons of places to park. Unless I needed to take a shower in the morning, I often preferred the parking at some of the McDonalds locations. It was nice to have quick access to a restroom and breakfast too!

 

I'll take a 30 wherever I need to... Rest area, convenience store, truck stop, McDonald's ... Doesn't matter to me, from what I am picking up, he's worried about a place to park to do his 10, you'll get it kid, you figure out pretty quick that sometimes you don't get the luxury of a truck stop, wherever you have to park, do it. Safely

 

Trucker path smartphone app, it is awesome,
I use it pretty much every day it is really an excellent tool and will save your ### countless times.


Available for iOS and android
http://www.truckerpath.com​

 

Waiting in line for fuel helps out..

 

Yes but just make sure you are on duty while you are fueling... A lot of times at night you can pull a 30 in the post fueling spot after you pull forward when done...

 

Use split breaking. Say they have you starting your clocks at 1000 that means you'll be looking for parking about 2200 or so give or take. Instead park it at 1600 and go for 8 hours sleeper break then drive til 0500 and stop for 2 hours breakfast and shower then keep going til your 11 is done and go back to 10 hour breaks sleeping during the day plenty of parking. Til the next stupid load lol.

 

I've been split breaking like it's going out of style lately. Lol

 

Going on two years that small truck stop book hasn't failed me yet.
Call me lucky, but I find parks at the truck stop every night/day.

Staying out of the NE definitely sky rockets my odds of grabbing a spot for a 10, though.

 

If I'm waiting to fuel, I'll log my fuel time right off the bat then switch to off-duty to minimize my wait time.

There's no way I'm going to be off duty 10 minutes, log on duty to fuel for 10 minutes, then have to wait another 30.

 

I haven't had any real problems finding a place to park, but I have noticed a lot of selfish ########s taking their breaks at the fuel island. I used to plan on a 5-15 minute fuel stop, but that has climbed to to 30-45 minutes over the last year. I'm sure the increased usage of DEF plays a part, but mostly it is people like this:

Do not take your break at the fuel island!!!