If most Wal-Mart lets trucks sleep there...

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by lupe, Oct 7, 2010.

  1. lupe

    lupe Medium Load Member

    Why don't most truckers sleep at Wal-Mart?

    Also, if you happen to sleep in Wal-Mart parking lot and you weren't allowed to (let's say you just assumed that you could and didn't call the Wal-Mart to ask) do you get a ticket?

    Can you get a ticket for sleeping on the sides of roads?
     
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  3. REDD

    REDD The Legend

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    Cause most Wal-Marts have low clearance gates that a truck won't clear... So not all Wal-Marts welcome trucks.... Many don't.

    If your sleeping at a Wal-Mart where your not suppose to be... Chances are you won't be given a wake up call until the wrecker hooks up to your truck. Then you have to pay the be unhooked.

    Yes... You can get a ticket for sleeping on some sides of roads. Industrial areas are more lenient... But I wouldn't sleep on the side of a main highway.
     
    lupe Thanks this.
  4. lupe

    lupe Medium Load Member

    What's an industrial area?
     
  5. lupe

    lupe Medium Load Member

    Does anyone have map of sleepable Wal-Marts?
     
  6. hunts2much

    hunts2much Medium Load Member

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    I always call them ahead of time if I plan on staying the night. Even the ones that have signs saying no truck parking can be persuaded if you ask them right. First always ask for a manager and make sure you get their name. Write that name down! You may need it later!!

    First thing I do is ask if there is anywhere I can park so I can come in and shop. Allot of times they will either tell you to park at the end of the lot or back by their docks. If they have somewhere for me to park, in order to shop, I will thank them and ask at the end of the conversation if I'm able to stay for a 10 hour break. Since they know you are going to shop, the ones that generally won't let you overnight, MAY decide to let you stay for the night.

    I've been very successful with this approach in California. The key is to be polite and let them know you will be shopping BEFORE you ask to layover. Now, the reason you write the managers name down is because if you run into an issue you at least have a name and number in case you need it later.

    For example, I stayed at a Walmart in Hayward, CA (that does not allow truck parking) awhile back and did the routine mentioned above. An hour into my break I had a security guard try to make me leave. I told him I had permission from a manager to stay. He said "yeah, that's what they all say". I showed him my recent call list on my phone and told him to ask for xxxxx manager. Two minutes later I showed him a receipt and things where straightened out.

    It's not a foolproof strategy and I don't make a habbit of doing it but sometimes it's necessary in areas with little to no truck parking.
     
  7. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Lupe, an industrial area is an area of factories and warehouses and business.
     
  8. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    Walmarts aren't truck stops. They are where you shop and leave.
    There are too many trashy truck drivers that throw their litter and piss bottles out the window. They are going to ruin it for the rest of us where none of us can shop there.

    You gonna learn our society doesn't want you to park around them. Sleep in truck stops, rest area's or industrial parks if not at the customers.
    Isolated area's like ramps you open yourself up for a mugging. Shopping centers for tickets. Don't be like these monkey see monkey do drivers out here. They have no sense.
     
  9. kdryan

    kdryan A Pleasant Fellow

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    What Condocruiser said...

    For God's sake, if you are going to stay at a Wal-Mart, don't be a freaking pig and clean up after yourself and stop leaving trucker bombs everywhere! You are there because of their courtesy. Don't ruin it for everyone else!
     
    KE5WDP Thanks this.
  10. drvr2b

    drvr2b Bobtail Member

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    This isn't the first post I have seen mention the possibility of something bad happening when parked in a weird or secluded spot... I don't get it though, don't trucks have locks on the doors?!? If I were parked in a dark scary place I just wouldn't open the door for anyone who wasn't obviously a police officer. What am I missing?
     
  11. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    Trucks of the same make for the same company are usually keyed the same.

    There is the chance you might run into another unknown company keyed the same as your company.
     
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