A city in Kansas is increasing fines for illegally parked trucks by an eyepopping 1,600%. The change has been made to “send a message” according to the deputy city attorney.
Olathe, Kansas sits on the Southwestern side of Kansas City, KS. And according to their police department, they have a problem with trucks.
“Our concern is safety,” said Police Chief Steven Menke according to the Kansas City Star. “We don’t want these large vehicles parked adjacent to high-speed off-ramps and roadways. It’s a recipe for disaster.”
Olathe’s current $30 fine wasn’t seeming to do much to deter illegal truck parking along roads and highway ramps, so the city council voted to raise it to a $500 fine for a first-time offense.
“We want to have a high fine,” said Deputy City Attorney Chris Grunewald. “We believe it was the council’s intent to send a message, and this sends a message that this is important, don’t make this the cost of doing business.”
Grunewald admits however that part of the problem is that truckers sometimes don’t have many options of where to park. Sometimes the closest truck stop is miles away, but drivers are at the whims of regulations and receivers’ tight delivery windows.
The $500 fine will go into effect on August 29th.
Source: kansascitystar
dale ellis says
Any town, city or township should go without their goods if they won’t allow the truck to bring it unless they make a law that states “all businesses must stay open 24 hours a day”!
dale ellis says
Any town, city or township should go without their goods if they won’t allow the truck to bring it unless they make a law that states “all businesses must stay open 24 hours a day”! Or,… Allow parking for delivery!
Tom says
This is BS!! Are they going to make parking areas for us!
James S Scotland says
Brilliant idea! Olathe, at the least, has two major truck based businesses…Tyson and Trans Am…If it wasn’t for the business and jobs these two places bring to Olathe, I’d bet the town would look like that ‘great’ mall of theirs…a wasteland. So, good job alienating the entities that cause you to exist Olathe…the trucking industry.
Douglas Kirk says
Make the trucks go away and see what becomes of your stupid town. I’m tired of seeing houses and cars and businesses, so maybe we should start a movement to just ban towns and cities….
Chris Ahart says
Olathe city idiots need to show proof from past disasters that this is in fact a serious issue that needs fixing, and not just another money grabbing scheme,
Perry Keener says
Send them a message.
DON’T go there anymore.
Problem solved.
Deaconblues62 says
Some people who are allowed to drive a truck just don’t have common sense, it’s the trash pick up and you know what else they do, You may have 25 drivers who get it, but there’s always that one idiot that screws it up for the rest of us every time.
Samuel gallezzo says
What you have here is a local politician who hasn’t been properly bribed. A little grave on the proper gears will make things better.
Avi says
Simple solution? Don’t park on the onramps and offramps.
Kelly says
Evidently you know nothing about what it’s like sometimes to find a parking place.
Paul Zozak says
clearly your not a truckdriver or perhaps you at best haul local and youre home every night which makes your opinion about as valuable as poop.
Joe says
Who pays for the highways and off ramps? The people. Let them decide.
Steven says
So u know there’s a problem here’s a dumb idea why doesn’t the city build a truck parking lot even if it was pay to park for some stupid fee $1 to pay for the trash guy. Trust me no one likes parking on a off ramp. It’s loud and ur always worried about getting hit. Instead of screwing over some poor out of town guy that’s sol you help him out and give him a safe place to park.
ANNOYED says
Yep…excellent idea. In a perfect world the politicians would actually do that which is the most beneficial.
john says
another idea how about truckers cleaning up after themselves,, why does it always have to be filthy where trucks park? garbage and mouths and here come the hookers and dope,,,nope i just can,t imagine why no one wants them around
Barry Wood says
How many 4 wheelers have you seen throwing trash and lit cigs out onto the highway???? Maybe they should clean up also and pay higher fines !!! Truckers are a small problem but not all of us do that!!!
Stephen Harris says
Everything you are was delivered by a truck. From your birth till your death, a truck has delivered everything.
Paul Thomas says
All I can find is one ONE truck stop with maybe 30 spaces in Olathe. If they don’t want anybody parking on ramps then make parking lots for drivers. It’s that simple.
The is a ton of truck commerce in Olathe every day but without parking it makes it no fun to come here.
Charles says
Olathe, KS, what a joke of City Council and Deputy City Attorney. Get a grip, build a truck only parking lot with facilities to accommodate drivers. Too much like common sense, huh?
Mack says
I guess the town’s council does not trust its citizenry to be intelligent enough not to drive into the back of a parked truck.
James C says
There’s no town that should trust their citizenry to not do that…
Majority of four-wheelers is dumb, yup.
Trouble is, we’re too often called upon to pay through the nose to protect these dumb four-wheelers from themselves.
Jason says
With the personal conveyance interpretation now allowing for seeking parking even when loaded, shouldn’t really be an issue to find legal parking. Unless the local shopping centers disallow parking. Been a long time since I’ve been in that area, so I don’t remember what’s around there.
Laser says
Have you ever tried to find safe legal parking anywhere around the Kansas City area? Not much for truck stops and even less that are safe. Had to wheels stole of my tractor while I was in getting a shower one night down there. Police come look and say “We are not doing any report since it is private property.” Not official police report my insurance would not cover my wheels. Ever priced out 10 wheels and tires?
R.J. says
In the name of safety horrible abuses occur.
Bo says
Drivers ,
You have to look at the whole picture as it’s not the towns fault, it’s our great Government for making all these changes on HOS and then You have Truckstop like Petro and T/A charging for all their parking spots ! They say we have a driver shortage and I agree because as a driver you use to be able to make a living but now with all the charges that we have to pay out of our pockets , it’s getting harder ! So Drivers are finding other ways of making a living
Shorty Trembath aka "The Wyoming Mountain Man" says
This is why I got out of the Trucking Industry after 52 years,….. to many games are being played
Frank says
Maybe it’s time to stop all incoming and outgoing freight in this town. After all, if they can’t provide legal parking, then why do any type of business there. Put everybody on welfare. Maybe the town will prosper then.
steve says
I agree with you,Frank boycott Olathe and surrounding cities.the problem isn’t the parking,it’s the speed in which their traffic enforcement cops who are not doing their jobs and ticketing these flying monkeys!
Dale says
Or at the very least, deliver 10 hrs late plus the time to get there so that you are fully rested. That town would have a hay day if they were out of fuel and bread and milk , beer etc for 10 plus hours. Businesses and the public would demand a change then or they would leave this crap town.
Jack Bukowski says
It is the miss use of parking that causes the problem. Drivers need to learn to manage their time and pre-plan their trips. You know there is no parking there, so stop with in range of you delivery and not worry about a ticket.
Simple drivers wake up and quit the stupid things that cause all of us to have trouble with the general public .
C. Smith says
You know what, all you moron trolls making this claim of driver time management. Obviously you don’t drive a truck outside of your city. You cannot PLAN for a 4,5 or 6+ hour delay at a shipper or receiver. If you say you can ill call you a liar to your face. Do I personally park on on/off ramps, no. But I also don’t park in scalehouses. My choice. But that being said there are dozens of scenarios that will tear up the best laid pre plan. There is a resolution, shippers and receivers opening there empty lots, or not scheduling 50 trucks at same time and can only deal with 5 of them at a time or even the city planners build a lot, charge a low fee such as 5$ for 11 hours. The revenue from that alone would pay for cleanup with a surplus for new bike trails that everyone seems to want but don’t use. Bottom line time management can be destroyed by dozens of issues.
Tony says
A lot of these towns and cities have empty vacant lots they could make into truck parking but they just want us to deliver goods then beat it. I’m sick of it. Now they wanna take 500 bucks out of your pocket. These trucking companies don’t have your back in this ongoing battle either. A driver can’t win for losing anymore.
Scott says
I believe its just the off ramps I agree with them.way to many people are using the off ramp as a rest area
Donna Johnson says
I have said it all along if us Truck Drivers would all shut are trucks down for 1 week and lets. See what they buy when shelfs run out and well everything including medical supplies lets let it run out and see if we get to park then what do you think????
Reuben Titus says
message received, you hate trucks, witch by extension means you hate what trucks carry, you hate life. Bite the dust then.
Tony J says
That city Attorney needs to visit those truckstops at 8pm and see how many spaces are available!
My rate to Olathe just increased by $500. Thanks for the info
David Jones says
I live a few miles from OLATHE and I drive a truck for a living. I have seen all those trucks waiting to get in to Aldi. It’s pathetic, Aldi needs to step up too. If we have to “receive messages” from local government, then it’s time we “send messages” to local government and these businesses. We have to take a stand on this crap or it will spread like a California wildfire. Most politicians are losers in the real world, which is why they go in to politics where kissing ass actually pays off for them. The problem is the asses they kiss are of the whiners and complainers of underachievers. See how this works?!?!?
ANTMO1969 says
So if their sending a message to truckers, well then it’s about time that truckers send a message to them and refuse any load in or out of that town unless they Shipper or Receiver can guarantee parking or include that new $500 fine in the rate
steve says
If the speed on these off ramps is an issue,which high speed is a major problem (10-20mph)over the posted limit,then the city and state Needs to start doing the job they are overly paid to do and start popping these speeders. I come thru there every now and then and estimated around $5,000-10,000 in moving violations in about an hour of rolling thru your city.K.City metro start doing your job and hold your traffic cops accountable for their performance. I have seen too many of you napping on ramps and medians.NO MORE!!!!!!!!!
Tom says
Hope they post signs on exit ramps, road sides and other areas were truckers aren’t aware of this high dollar parking spaces.
Bruce says
Well I’m glad I can choose my own freight. Just marked another place not to go along with upstate Indiana. The politicians are making my decision making a lot easier 😂
Andrew H says
South side of Olathe has a crapload of warehouses, and no place to park for appointments. Where do they think we can go? Kansas City doesn’t have squat either.
Maybe if they slap down a big 400+ space Petro or TA at the intersection of 175th and Clare Road, would help out a ton. But I’m sure they’d complain about that too.
TexasJester says
Here’s an idea: plan your trip a bit better, so you don’t have to park on an off-ramp or on the side of the road.
33 years driving, and I’ve yet to spend a night on a ramp. The only time I’ve stopped on a ramp or the side of the road is for a load check or I’ve got a strap flapping badly, or I’ve had a mechanical issue.
If you park in a store lot, be sure to visit politely with the manager first. If for some reason they can’t allow you tompark there, they can usually help you find a spot. Visit with the local police as well – they frequently know of places, and I’ve found they’ll cruise by and check on you throughout the night, once you get parked (with their help).
ANNOYED says
In 33 years you have not yet learned that the “plan ahead” isn’t guaranteed? Put your bead back in the toilet.
Al says
Sorry we arent the great planners with all the free time and freedom to drive 20 miles out of the way all the time like you do hoping to find something..bet you made squat those 33 years..
Tupac says
The only message any trucker will get is don’t deliver to that city no more!! Screw your fine!! Trucks will just stay away!!
Groo says
It is immoral to crank parking fines like that without adequate public parking.
Joe says
“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.”
– William Pitt, Nov. 18, 1783
ANNOYED says
Idiots…! Not that driving beyond hours of service is unsafe…parking to rest is! The geniuses haven’t solved a parking issue, just forced those to park elsewhere. I hope they all choke on the taxpayer funded meals that they are enjoying.
Barry Wood says
So Federal Law says take a 10 hour break , the Interstate Highways are under Federal rules so if Federal Laws says you must take a Break then if you can’t find a spot the Federal Goverment should build more Truck ONLY Parking areas for us!!
Big Al says
You know when I started trucking I ddint have to worry about where u was planning to sleep,aside from that fact I looked forward to doing my job I absolutely loved my job. Now it’s where am I gonna park and am I gonna make it to the delivery point now I’m racing against the clock. So besides having to worry about that B.S. I have to deal with I have to worry about getting half my wages for the week because God forbid I’m tired and looking for a break. Just build more safe havens then instead of shutting them down like we see now a days. My Love for Trucking has slowly but surely grown to be a disappointment… I can almost say I hate it now.
Steve Duggan says
None of you will stop delivering loads there because you’re either a good boy company driver that’ll do exactly as you’re told or you’re too desperate to turn down the money. Only a very select few have the ability or the stones to follow through
Kaiyla says
I make more money driving local with a company then I could as dealing with every day to day operating cost of running a truck. I prefer my nice house and a 60 to 70k a year salary driving locally and home every day and off on every weekend.
Nuk says
Very true. Im blessed to drive for a two horse show.
Kaiyla says
This is why I stay strictly local. otr was never going to be the way to go with trains able to haul all the freight at a fraction of the cost anyway… Only ones that are faster is a team operation running 24-7
Jeff Pearson says
If the buck doesn’t stop there..many more will follow..this could possibly be a constitutional problem with excessive bail..the 4th ammendment..if they don’t want trucks.. They say for safety…then you want to be safe and not deliver there..the shippers or receivers can go to the city limits and load or unload the trucks..right now today..YOU HAVE THE POWER …USE IT..
Mad Jax says
NICE AND TRUE.
Lori Pondelick says
No wonder you have higher food prices and such! There is definitely a shortage of truckers in this country. Along with D.O.T. making it impossible for them, they aren’t making much more than your average factory worker! Divide the hours they are gone by their gross pay and my husband actually makes less to drive than working at a TEMP SERVICE! He went back to the temp service! Everybody needs something but truckers have been made out to be the VILLAINS on the road! We lived in Florida and D.O.T. requires 80 hours a week there! When all was said and done he was driving at a whopping $5.00 an hour! We left Florida and trucking behind! Good luck getting your goods and services Kansas! As well as the rest of this country!
Nuk says
Not a problem. Any city that “chooses” to enact such ordinances can deal with drivers that “choose” to not deliver there. They want the goods, then they can learn to accomadate. Simple.
Queen 👑 Trucka says
As a former truck driver, parking on the ramp was a last resort. Have you ever seen the ramps that get parked on all the time though? They get rutted, littered up, it blocks traffic, and the soot from your stacks pollutes the air. $500 is a hard pill to swallow and is a bit overkill, but I don’t blame them for the fine.
I’ve seen signs knocked over, guys peeing on the side of the road, etc. Plan ahead and respect property truck drivers. You wouldn’t want someone trashing your front yard.
mousekiller says
I agree with you about planing ahead but todays new drivers lack the ability or desire to do so. blaming the ELD for their short sightedness. Far too many lack work ethic, personal pride and it shows after they leave a parking spot or enter the customers office. If paper logs are to hard for them, What else is too hard for them to do correctly? I recently retired after over 50 plus years of pushing a CMV around this beautiful country. The drivers of today are destroying our industry by getting the towns and companies mad and against us.. We are our own worst enemy. We are looked upon as a necessary evil and to be dealt with accordingly.We have lost the title of Knights of the Road.
Jeff Swenson says
So darn well said……. I’ve spent the last several months reading these blogs, listening to drivers, researching and doing my best to understand the multiple issues facing the industry today. I haven’t quite solved the puzzle but I know have pieces of it put together. My personal mission is to figure out a way that not only can we reclaim the “Knights of the Road” reputation, but deliver solutions that eliminate some of the most key troubling issues that don’t require government intervention. Let’s face it, the government will continue to do what they do. However, the rest is up to the industry participants – all of them – manufacturers, shippers, receivers, distribution centers, retail stores, fleet owners/carriers, owner-operators and drivers. And, it all comes down to $$$ in the end – who is willing to pay for it. Understandably, each participant thinks it’s someone else’s responsibility to fund “that” expense. This will take some careful thought and planning, but there IS a way to thread the needle and create a solution that delivers a much better experience on the road for the person we all count on the most – the driver.
DJ says
I’m not sure if there is anywhere it is legal to park on an interstate ramp.
If Aldi is causing most of the problem, stop taking those loads. If you go there the first time and it takes 12 hours to get unloaded that is their fault. If you go in there a second time it’s your fault.
Barry Wood says
Don’t buy Food, Fuel or anything in any place that does this crap!!!!! What happen to equal proctection of the Law????? People don’t think about all the products that truckers bring to their city for them to shop and buy.
Darrell B. says
If they want to be like that I think we should boycott Kansas. When the rest of the state of Kansas suffers because of one cities actions the Governor gets involved and things happen…
Mad Jax says
ALL OF THE U.S. IS FULL OF CRAP WHEN IT COMES TO US . I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HOW THEY WOULD DO WITHOUT US FOR A MONTH, BUT WE HAVE TOO MANY COWARDS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THESE LARGE COMPANIES CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR US BUT THEY’RE TOO WORRIED ABOUT SELF .
Walter Kurycz Jr. says
Let them starve, freeze and go without!
Kelly says
It’s perfectly safe to park on the Ramps as long as you’re across the white, and you leave your clearance lights on at night. It’s these ignorant Drivers that stop on Shoulder of the interstate and turn there flashers on and think that excuses them. They’re the ones that deserve a 500 Dollar fine. Solution : Find an exit ramp when you need to make a pit stop. Its just common sense.
Thomas says
One more city that won’t get my money, oh well…
Bryan Atkisson says
Ignorance ,Greed & Fear on both sides. Do they have train tracks to & from Olathe Kansas ? It’s been minute or two since I stepped through there.
ROBERT says
There are many quick to make a buck politicians and there are many POS truck drivers. Both sides need to clean up their acts. If they don’t the results will be a disaster. Shelves will go empty and chaos will create price gouging on goods. These cities who do not work on real solutions for truck parking will be the reason their cities will fail. It’s bad enough with a driver shortage now and will only get worse with clueless lawmakers. But on the other hand I really think the elites want to create chaos and havoc. Get the people to fight each other while the elites sit on their thrones and bet on who will survive. There’s no game without the contenders. So the enemy is not the trucker in my eyes. I been in this industry over 40 years and it has hit rock bottom. Boycotting cities that do not help to better the truck parking issues deserve it.
anthony j means says
drove OTR for a year and change. never had to stop on a ramp or shoulder outside of breaking down. if i violated to get to a truck stop then i violated. i also never cared much about what the delivery app time was because receivers and shippers sure as hell don’t unless it works for them.
mousekiller says
That has nothing to do with safety.The word safety is used to convince some one the idea has to be done or terrible tings can happen.. It is nothing but greed and no one has to do a damn thing but write one ticket and the coffers begin to get full. When these ass-inine people that make these decisions get hungry and naked or their business suffers due to their actions they might learn something. Yes! Some drivers are really stupid and inconsiderate. We see it every day but they are in a minority. However it takes only one or two to screw up things for everyone.
There are no truck stops in the area to accommodate the number of trucks needing to park.
They could do like Manhattan Ks did. Manhattan leadership put in a truck parking area that can accommodate about 15 or so trucks if the drivers can do it straight and it is free to park in 24 -7.Right on hy 24 just west of town by some county buildings on the south side of the road. Furthest driveway west.. It does get used.I have never seen it full since it was opened. Locals mainly.
The current HOS has something to do with the parking . There is no truck parking close enough to use within 30 or 45 minutes driveto get from or to. So they park where they can.Trucks are not the bad guy. Drivers are people too. So if Olathe wants a lesson. Don’t deliver or pickup there. Tell the customers why they are being effected.. It’s by stupid greedy rules by the same ones they elected to run the town… I suggest that when your at home attend your town meetings and see how things like this happen. Unless your there you don’t see the BS that brings these things to pass. I have been to many of my towns counsel meetings and believe me if I wasn’t there to voice my opinion a few times this town would be a ghost town or too expensive to live in.. Most times things get passed because the one that wants it is a friend of the mayor or city council person, or married to someone on the council or just lived in town all their life..
mousekiller says
Here is a what if. What if you park, set out your triangles and 4 ways working and go to bed. Broke down. Tell the officer your truck overheated and you had to park it here no choice. Even if it was near your customer.. or your clutch is slipping and You can’t fix it in the dark. A what if might work a day or two . Might now. willing to try? Best fix is to write or call to the city leaders and explain your side of the story. I bet not one driver was in on the meetings when this fiasco was being discussed and implemented.
Dan says
The only message I got from that is “We want more of your money!” all of it actually..
Jim Armstrong says
Any town that wants to fine drivers for parking,should suffer with no deliveries.so sick of seeing truck drivers treated like third class citizens,they want the deliveries but don’t want you parking anywhere.drivers need to have safe parking and companies they do business with should accommodate truck drivers they move your freight but can’t park on the property Walmart is big on this campers can park but trucks can’t.what the hell does campers do for you oh yeh spend a little money.while truckers deliver you’re freight and spend money on goods but they are not good enough to let them park so they can rest boycott any stores or towns that discriminate against truckers by not letting them park and then fining them
Barf Green says
Effective immediately: a $500 surcharge for all deliveries/pickups within the Olathe city limits.
When they have to most expensive goods in the state, voters will turf these politicians who have all the answers to questions no one asked.
Jason says
If only we had the power the charge a fee of our own for anti-truck by-laws for places like this.
Kurt says
Should turn the former location of The Not So Great Mall into a mega truck stop it was absurd that they didn’t allow us to park there when no businesses were there other than the movie theater Burlington Coat Factory and a DMV there are other places to park in the city like the Walmart off of Santa Fe which isn’t an easy in and out and there’s a couple of places to hide on murlen and Strang Line but I don’t recommend it never seen anybody get a ticket I live here locally in park at my terminal 5 miles away
Chuckie says
Watch the stores in Carolinas empty out and gas station go empty,will they keep trucks carrying their goods to replenish them from parking there,dont have to worry about weight limits,HOS,entering scale houses,nope,because they need you,pay attention,olathe,these drivers might start and then see what happens when they do
James says
If these cities dont want trucks parking on the ramps, maybe they should try to come up with better alternatives..