Reserved Parking

I find it rather amusing how Travel Centers of America has managed to make "no free 10 hr break parking at this truck stop" sound like a good thing with "preferred parking" But with where the EPA and state ground-water protection agencies are headed, expect to see many more truck stops move to a paid parking model (pay to park or buy a minimum of goods/services) to help offset new regulatory requirement costs and at some point carriers will have to begin reimbursing many more of these driver costs then they really care to or making their fueling policy much more loosy-goosy, thereby driving up fuel margins for these truck stops.

 

Heck you guys whine and cry about everything , as the 2nd poster noted "if you dont like it dont use it no problem"

 

I think its handy in certain areas

 

its not all like you are saying, each ta and petro have 5 to 10 spots you can reserve in advance for parking if you choose to , the price ranges from 10 to 13 dollars. they will hold the spot for you until you arrive. comes in very handy . I own my truck , if I am going to arrive later in the evening I will pay 10 bucks for spot if I choose to, makes life much easier.

 

I am fully aware of how it works and I'm not saying it's a bad thing for drivers .... now. But as I mentioned in an earlier post. Those same 5-10 spots in a 100 or so truck stops used to be free to anyone and everyone not long ago, now they're not. If that doesn't give you pause for concern about where this trend is headed, then God bless you.

Personally, I'll give a cheap motel $50 before I'll give a truck stop $13 (on the gamble that MAYBE all spots will be full), it's that much more of a deduction later.

 

I do agree. It's Tax Deductable , I haven't had to use it yet , but then, I try to stay out of those areas.
As for those who cry ripoff , well , ever study economics ?
If something is in short supply , the price goes from nothing, to having to pay for it.
Space in densely populated areas is Expensive.
If you don't buy their fuel , or other services , such as food , or repairs , how do they pay their costs ?
To, many Truckstops were built many years ago. The parking situation was not so critical then , as it is now , and land is/was still expensive.
I'd tell those people to get over it , but they'd either cry for " Government Oversite " , or complain to the moderator that its " Political ".

Government is the Problem, Not the Solution .

 

I do take it personally.

 

I don't use it. Just a way to make money.

 

I noticed the Ontario TA West had reserved spots. Do they charge the $13 on TOP of the $20 they already charge?

 

On a related note, id rather give the independent owners at the Penn Jersey truckstop at exit 3 on 78 in Phillipsburg, NJ the $10 to park than the TA up the road.