more silly truck stop questions(observations)

Whenever i picked a spot, I would almost always try to park as far back as possible and the reason was mainly for a chance at a little extra exercise and at good truckstops that dont have panhandlers and lot lizards the far back corners are usually the most quiet, especially when you pull nose in. I just always welcomed the chance at getting a little bit extra leg stretching time on my way in.At some of the bigger truck stops you can get a pretty decent round trip walk in and if you make multiple trips in you can get some decent exercise. That was normally the how and why for me.

 

I pick the first/easiest spot in the lot. I circle when there are no spots available, or if the only spot is next to a guy doing a regen or a noisy reefer.

No...I usually get yelled at on the CB for going too slow in the truck stop.

Yes, it does.

I don't leave my lights on, I shut my truck down trying to make my bonus.

I pull a flatbed, so my fifth wheel stays put.

 

I pick easy back in spots, or pull throughs....but I prefer the back of the lot for quiet too, as far away from the fuel island as possible. Being a fat guy, the walk is good for me.

I go as fast as I can comfortably go. Usually 2nd or 3rd in my 13 spd. Yes, I'm that guy slowing you all down.....if you're in that much of a hurry, you waited too long to get off the road.

I try to leave a space on either side of me minimum. I hate hearing people in the next truck making noise. Call me paranoid, but I don't like people moving around outside my truck when i'm trying to sleep.

If the truck is running, my lights are on. I apologize if I'm behind you while your backing, but its a safety thing for me. If my lights are on, you can see me better. (If I'm parked, they're off because the truck is.)

I keep the 5th wheel as close to centered on the slider as possible. Some loads require me to move it though. (only had to once so far.....dang beer runs)

Again, yes, I'm the guy you're complaining about. I take forever to back in, I crawl through the lot in 2nd or 3rd, I leave my lights on while I'm moving too....I do turn the jakes off though.....I'm not a total anal cavity. Just remember, yes I"m slower than you at it...but your fenders are still on your truck when I go by right?

 

Why do you pick the spot you picked? I see drivers skip pull throughs and back into a spot. I see driver circle a lot, kind of like a dog about to lie down.
That's me!! The first spot isn't always the best or easiest. I'll look for a parking spot that's the easiest to back in to. I once tried to get into a pull through spot only to find out that because of where a truck is parked I would have hit the trailer next to me with my trailer. Sure it's considered a pull through but it wasn't the easiest spot to get in to. Often times I look for a spot that's a straight back or a 45 with lots of room in front.

and I can also summarize it by a quote from the movie 'Clueless'. "Always do a lap before committing to a spot."

Also, if there's a super-easy spot right in front, I will skip that. One of my friends told me to save one really easy parking spot for someone who may be coming in and dangerously close to being over on their hours so they can pull in and quickly shut down.

Why have your 5th wheel slid all the way back?

Because there was too much weight on the steer tires.

 

Some drivers prefer to park on the front row so they do not have to walk as far to the truckstop. Front row parking also makes it tougher to steal someones fuel or get away with hitting your rig without someone noticing it. Normally this area is also well lit therefore it will be safer for truckers to make it to the truck stop without being harrassed.

On a side note it is always better to walk around the rows of trucks and stay at least 10 feet in front of the trucks so the drivers can see you. Walking between trailers (especially at night) can be dangerous. Drivers backing into spots may not see you. There have been instances where drivers have also been robbed while trying to walk between the trailers. Close quarters, darkness and no witnesses makes for a dangerous situation.

Others will park on the back row to force themselves to walk further to the truck stop (exercise). Some park on the back row (aka party row) to check out the women working the parking lot during the night.

Some drivers that like to shut their trucks off will reverse their direction in a row so they do not have to hear idling engines or spitting air governors.

I will pick a parking spot based on the pitch or angle of the ground. I prefer to sleep with my head behind the drivers seat so I look for a spot where the drivers side of the truck will either be level or slightly higher. Ideally the slope of the parking lot will also leave the tractor slightly higher than the trailer.

Other factors to choosing a parking spot may include end slots. End slots have a higher risk of being hit during the night. Pulling into a parking spot may create a problem if your truck will not start in the morning. Can't pull start a truck if it is nose into a parking spot, by the same token a service truck will have a difficult time jump starting your truck if he cannot get to the battery box with his jumper cables.

Fifth wheels are adjusted based on the weight in the trailer. Having the fifth wheel all the way forward transfers the maximum amount of weight possible onto the steer axle. Having the fifth wheel slid all the way back makes the steer axle as light as possible. Aerodynamics play a part in some drivers decision to ride with the fifth wheel completely forward. A narrow gap between the tractor and trailer lessens air turbulence and smoothes out airflow around the trailer. Some belive this will improve fuel economy.

 

Now what are you supposed to do if your getting close on hours and there are no more available spots? What would you do in that case? I can understand circleing and backing in cause it seems to be alot easier to get into a better spot(more room).

 

Are there any fuel isalnds closed? Park in a closed fuel island slot.

Double park in front of a row of trucks and wait for someone to leave.

I am parked at the Pilot in Perryville Md right now. There were no spots when I arrived so I pulled through a fuel island and waited. I did my paperwork, set out my clothes for tomorrow, and got online. In the meantime I watched the parking lot and as soon as someone pulled out I was able to set up and back right in. Sure I had to wait for an hour to get that spot but if you are patient you will always find a spot.

 

i take the spot between 2 flat beds or vans. so i don't have to listen to a noisy reefer and i figer if i take the spot between 2 other trucks the chances of my mirror or hood getting messed up by someone who can't back is much less...(i cant back my a-train now so pull thru or nothing for me)

like said above im the guy going to slow for all the truck stop racers and i usually get yelled at on the radio but thats ok i figer if im going slow and making them go slow the truck stop will be safer for a few minutes

yes it does

i leave my truck at a bumped idle when its cold or hot but if im not it it don't run and my lights are off... except at a few truck stops where i am longer than the rest of the trucks next to me i don't want my pup to get hit by some one racing around it the dark

 

I look for any lined spot my rig fits in, pull thru or back in. That said, I prefer the back 40 so I have to walk some more. It discourages me from boredom shopping/eating.

And if I'm not parked, my running lights at least are on. If I see someone backing in next to me, I kick on the runners to help them see my corners.

My 5th wheel is where ever I need it to be since I always (90%) run at max weight.

I don't drive fast in the lot or on the freeway... (Swifty). But you will be held up while I park, 'cause I gotta wait for my tag axles to raise before I can go backward...