Why do drivers circle the parking lot?

Also maybe their hours were out and all they could do was slowly circle and fool the clock.

 

Maybe they are on elogs and are dead out of hours so they lurk waiting and hoping some midnight rambler pulls out before some yutz comes out and tells them to get out of the fuel island. Yes, been there, done that.
Frank

 

I circle around looking for a spot that faces east plus will be sloped so my head level or above my feet.

 

I normally circle a parking lot looking for an ideal place to park. I check out the few empty spaces available and make a quick determination of which would be the easiest to get into, and then I go back to that spot and get into it.

And yes, if EOBRs were mandated, I would probably be fired for HOS violations. I would then exit the industry taking my skills with me, and I would hope everyone else would do the same.

 

That's why you shut down BEFORE you run out of hours.

Use your time wisely and give yourself that last hour, hour and a half to find a place to park if you have to drive to the next truck stop or rest area to shut down for the night.

If you drive all the way to the end of your hours and can't find a place to park, well, that ain't the elog's fault.

 

Big truck truck drivers cruise Big truck truck stop parkin' lots for many reasons, some obvious, others not so much. One reason could be a lack of skill backin' and/or a lack of confidence that they can maneuver their wagon betwixt that burly dude's spit-shined new Peterbilt, and the well kept KW pullin' propane tanks, without makin' contact, --- so they'll circle the lot a lot hopin' to find a pull-through spot.
Could be a newBee or a well seasoned veteran who's dawg tired and seein' a double image in their rear view mirrors, --- and knows better than to push his luck.

Then, there are guys, like me, who, from time to time, transported High-Value loads that some people wouldn't hesitate to hurt a Big truck truck driver to take possession of. A lap or two around the ol' parkin' lot, payin' particular attention to the back (party) row activities provide clues. If I see the wrong element hangin' 'round, or if I get an uneasy feelin', I'll usually vacate the premises while keepin' a sharp eye lookin' in the mirrors in case someone decided to join my parade.

There's another possibility to consider.
Dispatched on another "HoT" load, some Big truck truck drivers are known to cruise the parkin' lots, --- lookin' for a "little help",
or a "Bump" start.
Some are more direct and to the point,
"Äny body got any go-fast"?
"I need a little motivation".
For them, followin' a white line has a different meanin'.
Those seekin' to make a connection tend to be a tad anxious so they keep checkin' to see if the candy man slipped in unannounced, --- so they can make a buy before the man with candy says Bye-Bye, I'm out.

Another possibility for cruisin' the lot a lot is that guys will be guys, ----
and guys just naturally like chicks who like guys who like chicks just like those who belong to
the Back-Row Social Club, who, as one of the socialites :smt061in attendance that evening in West Memphis informed me, will "do ANYthing for ten bucks."
HellO!
But I quickly learned that ain't entirely twue.

I asked her to trade me a twenty for a ten dollar bill. :smt037
"What do you think I am"? she asked.
I gave her an honest answer, ---
'What you are has already been established,
now I'm just tryin' to determine how cheap you are.'

I don't know why, but that seemed to make ér mad.

But, ...................................... I digress, -------------------------------- Sorry, My bad.

Uhhhhhh, ...................... what was the question again? :smt017
I forget.
Memory, ....
second thang to go
don't 'çha know.

:smt107 :smt117:smt103 ​

 

So if you are out of hours its legal to do this on paper? News to me