Parallel Parking

I've had to parallel park in a narrow one way alley full of cars in Queens to deliver cement. nothing like rolling up your tarps on top of load and your straps in traffic.

 

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger......

 

in some Rest areas you need to, I find it easier to do the ones where they are parked to your left, can see better, but it really isn't hard, Just smaller turns on you wheel, Remember, your truck is like a tender woman, you need to caress it in to the spot. Just like shifting, Use the finger tips and be gentle with her and she won't grind.

 

Did you see the above?

 

Naw,,, I don't have my Glasses on. A there it is, I see it now.

 

As for how much room... nose to tail, you can do it with about 85 feet of room, overall (call it 10 feet longer than your truck/trailer.

If there is any aspect of driving that demands I practice more, parallel parking is it. It's a nightmare for me.

 

when you take your skills test in MD you have to parallel park the trailer only, not the tractor, on blind side and sight side in order to pass and they don't give you but a couple feet extra to work with. If you hit a cone or a curb or leave it on the line you fail. Funny how have to leave the tractor jacked in what would be the street.

 

For those of you who have been driving OTR and haven't had to parallel park keep driving you haven't been at it long enough or haven't been the truckstop where weather is been bad...only place left next to the curb between two trucks.

Just like a car...accept it and learn it someday you'll need it.

 

Practice, Practice, Practice.

I can Parallel park either side because I have practiced for years. It is rather simple once you learn.

As for the required amount of space to complete the maneuever... It is subjective.

Lurch is pretty close though. I have done it with as little as 10 feet extra but 30 feet extra makes it much less stressful and easier in the long run. In other words you have to first know how long the truck and trailer you are driving is and then judge whether you have the necessary space between 2 other vehicles to fit your rig plus some maneuvering room. Far less wiggling around to get the nose of the tractor tucked in the lane