States that allow on ramp parking

When I trip plan, I’ve learned to always give myself a few options because you never know when plan A is going to fizzle. But of course sometimes real life happens, something like a flat trailer tire, or slow loading or unloading at a customer, or some kind of traffic snafu, and I have to come up with a new plan on the fly. That’s when my list of potential parking places comes in mighty handy.

My driving is almost entirely west of the Mississippi, I imagine that having such a list in the Northeast would be even more valuable.

 

I'm sure somebody had to give a similar scenario at all of the FMCSA listening sessions they had. Right? I mean, right?

 

Its to bad none of those idiots are even qualified to drive a truck...it should be a requirement to have experience in something that u have the power to write laws and regulations on. Sure would clean alot of the crap up in politics

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^ I hear you not to change the subject but I was driving across Arkansas on 40 past Little Rock east bound and noticed a split speed limit for Cars and Semi's when did that start?

 

Started putting signs up in the last month but they passed the new law about a year ago or so. Now the cars run 80, trucks 75 lol

 

They should have kept it the same. What ive seen more of in the last month Since the new signs went up is bigger wads of cars catching a pack of 70mph trucks trying to pass each other. Cars start getting impatient cuz they arent going the speed limit anymore, and have to wait longer for semis to pass. We all know what starts to happen when you hold up the flow of traffic too long, drivers get mad and start to pull stupid stuff that causes accidents.

 

I have to ask. If you are stuck where there is no parking at truck stops or rest areas, where would be the best places to park? For security, not making an accident in the waiting, etc. What should I look for? What are good alternate places, and legal ones?

 

I search Google Maps for rest areas, picnic areas, truck parking, and state Welcome areas (different names for functionally the same thing). Some states will let you park in closed weigh stations. Often there is truck parking at XXX porn places (seedy, yes, but as a last resort...). Walmart’s are mostly a no truck parking situation nowadays, but Sam’s Clubs generally still allow it, as do Costco stores.

And as mentioned earlier in the thread, start keeping a list of other places. I park at a certain large chain’s distribution center in a city I often go to even when I’m not delivering to them, they have a large truck parking lot outside the gate. Tonight I’m hoping to park in an industrial area near my delivery destination where I know that on street parking is allowed (from my saved parking spot list).