Why do so many truckers pack themselves into rest areas?

Do they wash and wax it for you too? Our shop in CA is not heated or air conditioned. But with the recent cold weather they could use heat. My truck is also parked inside

 

I believe it is a matter of convenience more than anything else. I know there has been many nights where I would just rather go pull into a spot at a rest area as opposed to go to a truck stop and fight with getting in the only spot that is left. This spot is usually right in the middle in tightest place possible and definately isnt suited for a spread axle trailer. Why screw with that when you can go to the rest area and squeeze in some place easy and not strain the trailer so much.

 

Yeah I know what you mean. Somed of them don't have any room in the N E.

 

I'll stay in a rest area, if it's one of the large ones. I mean really big, not the small ones.
like on I-20 in GA east of Augusta, Fla has giant ones also

I don't want to jam it up for those needing it for bathroom breaks.

Rest areas have pull thru slots, not that I can't back up, it is just not as likely someone will back into you!

Kentucky has those nice big parking lots in the scales on I-75. complete with bathrooms and snack machines !! luv it !

I also have all I need in the truck. food, water and a good book. don't need the t/s.

and I avoid the Pilot/J like the plague!! all the mega companies have that as their preferred fueling stops, so they fill up real quick with rookie drivers.
I'll go to a mom&pop to park.

I prefer to run west as there are fewer trucks to fill up the t/s. usually had no problems running 80 west. after you cross the Miss. river the traffic thins out.
I now stay between I-95,(no new england or new jersey), and I-35. mostly the I-77 corridor and southeast.

 

I've known a few guys that would sleep or even do resets in a rest area rather than a truck stop regardless of parking availability. Some just like them better. There area a few that I know are real quiet during day that I personally like sitting at the rare time I sit.

One of the things I love about teaming is I don't have to join the parking circus every night. I've only had to find a spot to mark in the middle of the night a handful of times and have always found a spot even out east. It's been luck more than anything though.

 

Good ol' Minooka. Cluster **** truck stop capitol. I use to turn right at the back exit instead of turning left to the light. There are some vacant warehouses back there and I would park back there usually with a couple other trucks. Good overflow parking.

That or coming in from the interstate pass the Pilot and go to the next red light and turn right. About a mile down there are several white warehouses on the right (first cluster of buildings you come to) with no guard and 24 hour operations. It's easy to park among the crowd. I use to deliver Smucker's back there but have snuck back there to sleep. Turn in the entrance followed by an immediate left and go behind that building.

Monee you can pass the truckstops and go down to the stop sign and turn left on Central. Go down there about 2-3 blocks turn left on Bond or Palmer St and park on the side of the street. Nobody bothers you on them two streets when you leave turn left and it brings you right back to the Pilot. I use to park on Palmer by the pond.

 

i dont know about you but most of the time i would rather get the most out of the day that i can rather than stopping an hour or two before i run out of hours.

 

Generally speaking ive found that the rest areas are quieter and prone to less hassle than the truck stops. Especially the smaller ones.

 

Without expressing the rationale of being paranoid after reading too many stories about 'lone' drivers on ramps being shot, killed, mugged and assaulted in areas where one might '###-u-me' they are safe, I prefer to surround myself with noisy trucks, activity, lighting and an air of paranoia rather than think a truck stop is full and put myself into a situation that invites trouble.

Just sayin'.

'Bigfoot'
View attachment 41560

 

Why would they want to do that? They don't do it because they know they will have to hire someone to clean up the trash and piss bottles from the slobs.