First solo trip OTR how to avoid anxiety over finding parking

I do not generally park in rest areas unless I am familiar with them and know they have ample wiggle room. They tend to attract people who can't drive and they just pile on in there well past the point of ridiculousness. You can easily get stuck in one or have an accident if you pull into the wrong one at night. Many of them have subpar lighting. Pilots and flying Js can be significantly more difficult to park in because their rows are too close. Not every pilot, but keep it in mind.

 

Also get in the habit of not parking places you can be blocked in. Anywhere facing a curb, is generally a no-go.

 

Like here. You can bet they're gonna expand that perpendicular row by a couple spaces in the night.

 

OUT-STANDING advice....

 

Get the one with laminated pages.

 

The trucker path app is the greatest tool!

 

• Trip Plan using a road atlas and have a plan A,B & C for parking
• Confirm with dispatch if the customer has on site parking
• Utilize Google Earth to check the layout of the customers property and the surrounding area
• Save your last hour of drive time to find parking if your scheduled stops are full
• Find out if your company will pay or reimburse you for reserved parking
• Learn the "Dead Zone" areas for safe and legal parking
• Make sure that you always have enough provisions to survive for at least 3 days in the truck

 

Eastern 37 states?

Sounds a lot like one of the mega-fleets....

Also: check with your carrier about the locations of terminals....& drop lots (or drop yards).

Sometimes...a drop lot can be the difference in success vs failure...for parking -- especially in more urban areas.

-- L

 

Going on what @DannyB said; figure out your average mph. Governed at 65mph my average speed is 56mph in east-coast-Appalachian rolling hills. In open-country-Southwest my average is 59mph. If I go through a big city I factor an extra 30-60min of slowdown to my daily plan.

How to figure your average speed? Look at your ELD at end of every day and take total daily miles and divide by line 3 total drive time:

493 miles
8h 19m

493÷(8+(19÷60))≈59mph average

Don't forget to factor in inspection time/30-min break and any other breaks/buffer time.

 

I would try not to get too close to a major city, everybody wants to be as close as possible to the end point.

I would stop 1/2 hr or more away and avoid the cluster pucks, then get up early and run in.