THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE - DFO gets a truck and hops on Schneider's IC Choice Program

DFO man when spring come in...check the load board for loads coming out of New Windsor, NY...Can loads, 6k-8k lbs and they probably pay a lot...There's a pilot and a TA within 5-6 miles from the place where you can shut down at

 

I ended up over my HOS tonight. Got a late start this morning because I've been feeling like cap for a few days. Truckstops and rest areas should have vacancy signs like those cheap motels. Looked for a spot to park for almost 2 hours then said screw it and finished my trip to the West Memphis OC. I'm done running late on weekdays unless it's overnight. Sorry.

 

If u have a smartphone the TA app is nice. It'll show u how many spots are they have and roughly how many are available including the reserved ones. If you don't shut down by 6pm it's getting harder and harder to find parking.

 

remember this for the future. Either try to find a spot farther away than you planned or obviously get there earlier. Pay attention to the weather also. That can screw up the usual routine of when a TS will fill up. Just note , "no legal place to park" It wont excuse it but it shows you arent just blowing off the HOS. I always tried to reserve an hour of my drive time for parking. Never included that in my available hours to run. You'll learn.

 

Buy the 6 dollar truck-stop guide it will help you...every since i bought it roughly 3 months ago, i haven't had a problem finding somewhere to park, no matter time of day, area of country, etc...

 

Schneider gave us one and I use it a couple times everyday. I also have an uncle that's as good as the $15 one but he wasn't available at 10 last night. The only other time I've had this much trouble with parking was when I was up in NE. I am 200 miles from my drop and set my NAT so that I only have 3 hours of drive time left after that so I can get on an earlier schedule. Thanks everybody!

 

The one Schneider gives us is just the Pilots and J's, and a few Loves and TA's...The truckstop guide has EVERY mom&pop, rest area, small fuel stops, etc...Currently im running nights and im not having any trouble

 

http://www.parkmyrig.com/
look into this , I bought my copy at the Gary OC 30.00 I think but well worth it. List places that allow trucks, Phone numbers of some that may(walmarts) and the number of possible spots(very helpful in judging the possiblity of open spots) at a location. Also has close by food listed as well.

The other one these guys are suggesting is "Next Exit" book. That one has TS's for parking purposes only but gives an accounting of amenities available at a place. Lounge, tv, showers etc.... And lists what each exit has otherwise http://www.thenextexit.com/. $15 or so at most TS.

then there a little pocket guide for $4-5 usually found with the office supplies(log books etc). this one will lists the off interstate places on US and State routes too. Lists it by state and has interstates listed by exit# size of lot, then one listing for the US/ST routes. Comes in handy as a reference. http://www.truckandtravel.com/about_us.html