more silly truck stop questions(observations)

I never take an end spot. Best place to get your hood knocked off. Ill drive an extra 100 miles after my day is done before ill even consider taking the end spot. I try to find a nice dark spot, hopefully away from lot lizards, and other goings on. Never near the fuel pumps, I freaking hate all those lights at night!

If my reefer is running I generally try to park near other reefers, and leave the "quiet" trailers alone. Otherwise I try to find the quietest spot I can.

I prefer to back in, I guess that's a matter of pride. I NEVER nose into a spot, most guys that do that I would regard as poor drivers who haven't acquired the skill set they need to back in safely. Although Ill grab a pull through slot if its convenient, and not out on the end.

 

This is also good advice when walking across the fuel island.

 

What he said ^^^

I just typed up my thoughts on this matter and as I was previewing my post I saw yours... You took the words right out of my mouth. Nearly word for word!

 

I prefer a pulltrough to a back in spot. Sometimes I'll grab a back in spot thats in a corner where I just need to straightline back to get in. I've driven 2 trucks where I could'nt turn off the headlights. They were on whenever the truck was running.

Ricky

 

a lot of the places I see all the pull through spots are taken by 3pm and after dark its tough getting any spot. I'm new to this but I kind of like rest areas or parking at the customer if possible.

 

I got three things on my mind when selecting a spot....low noise, grass for my dog, and a clean line of site on the wifi antenna. Sometimes 2 out of 3 has to do. Reefers don't bother me, but high idlers do.

I'm a parking lot crawler with patience and courtesy.

The pull through slots are my last option as it makes it harder to let my dog out.

As a courteous driver my headlights go off to parking lights as soon as I hit a parking lot. Then on when I hit the exit. I been doing it so long, it's a habit. Notice the two parking words, they go together. Not only does headlights blind a backing persons mirrors, my dang eyeballs been looking at headlights all night and it's time to rest them. Only and only if I'm on a dark back row and encounter big potholes will I turn my lights back on for a second. Truck stops are our home, the lots are lit and you should be professional enough to see a rig with orange lights all over it. Show your fellow driver some respect. Do you walk the lot with a flashlight? Case closed, lol. Most headlights on are a rookie or someone with no sense.

My fifth wheel is usually 5 slots back because of my added reefer weight and my heavy front end on my 387.

Last, buy you a TV and you won't be staring out the window critiquing. You been sitting in that seat all day!

 

One time I started up my truck at night to warm up. I switched on my running lights since I was on an end spot in a middle row so people could see my truck. I didn't know it (since my curtains were closed) but it also turned on my headlights at the same time. My lights were on for half the night and I didn't know it until the morning.

Another time, it was an hour or so before I was getting ready to go. There was snow on my wipers and some on the windshield. I turned the wipers on and it turned my headlights on. I had to actually put my truck in gear, release the brakes, put the truck back in neutral and engage the brakes for them to turn off again.

 

I have one requirement for my parking spots, is it level? Driver side slightly higher is okay but level is best. I sleep with my head on the drivers side due to the air controls and lights on that side and the few times I have tried sleppping the other way it didn't work for some reason.

 

Whats the deal with all these 34 hour breaks in the truck stops ?????

 

If the truck is running...leave the running lights on and shut off the headlights. A driver leaving the headlights on while parked is being inconsiderate of others and asking for a hammer to the lights. It is hard to back into a hole with some inconsiderate driver's lights blinding you in the mirror.