handling people that say "you can't park here"

The few times I ran out of hours I waited for law enforcement to get there, explained I was out of hours and by DOT could not move. I got the officers names and was escorted to a place I could park, they know the area and what is close. Not sure if I got lucky or what but when I got the call in the morning my trucked move out of hours I have the officers names and the company let it go.

 

It seems to me that the no truck parking signs may have had a towing company s number underneath the no truck parking sign. Therefore the tow truck driver was at your truck when you get back. When you see a towing company s number along with no truck parking sign don t even think about parking there

 

Sometimes those shopping center stores are leased from the shopping center owner & the owner is in another state. Local small town cops and politicians have a deal going with tow truck operators to get kickbacks for towing trucks. Usually the shopping center property owner either doesn't know about it or couldn't care less as long as he receives rent checks. This goes on all over the country and even at some smaller truck stops.

Just one case I recall, because I've been there. Bankrupt shopping center in Champaign, IL was or maybe still doing that and was caught. They had a "No Truck Parking" sign that slipped over an iron pipe way off to the side of the parking lot by some bushes. Tow truck operator would slip the sign off, then sit across the street in his Hummer SUV and watch. Had his tow truck nearby. Truckers would not see the sign of course, then walk to a nearby place to eat. When the trucker returns, either his truck is gone or the tow truck is hooked up and charges 100's of dollars to unhook or a couple thousand to get it from the storage yard. The "No Truck Parking" sign would magically reappear on the iron post.

I've known some pretty tough truckers in my career & I wouldn't even think about pulling something like that. Those guys wouldn't hesitate to beat a tow truck driver to near death and think no more about it than swatting a fly.

 

^^Had that exact thing happen to me with my pov several years ago. The wrecker would hide in a nearby alley and swoop in the moment you left the area. It doesn't take 'em long to hook 'n book. I was only gone 5-10 minutes max.

Another thing to consider is that some of those shopping centers have no say in the matter. Several cities, especially in more affluent white suburbia where we aren't welcome except to deliver their luxury cars and toilet paper, have ordinances against your eye sore being parked there.

*edit*

And to answer your question, OP. I would've done the same thing and moved along. Some battles just aren't worth fighting.

 

Usually a no parking sign means just that. Don't ignore signs, period. I read one story when I lived up there in the NW burbs. A driver done the same thing you did at a strip mall. He went to eat and come back and his truck was gone. It cost the company $5K to get the truck back. Which is worse, the tow bill or maybe a logbook violation if they see it? Paper and a pen does wonders.

Not just all that, I'd be real careful where I parked in Chicagoland for safety reasons. Could you have drove more the day before to allow you more time that day? Shutting down early has consequences the next day if that was the case. Try to get to one of the Oasis on the tollways. I usually went on down to the Monee truck stops when dealing with Chicago. If you sleep in a big city you stuck yourself in rush hour the next day. Get in and get out.

 

Just gonna say this ; It could have ended alot worse then that . Maybe that tow truck driver did you a big favor depending on the neighborhood . I mean your behind a store in the dark , and for some reason people think truck drivers have money . Sooooo yeah... you may have been lucky ...

 

Only park at places where you are allowed. A lot of noobs park in the wrong spots since they do not know the area. The easiest way to remember is that liberal cities hate truckers. They don't care that there is no where to park. Make sure you time it so that when you get empty you can leave.

 

Back up to the shipper/receiver's dock door and park. You're waiting to be loaded / unloaded if anyone happens to ask.

 

You did just fine. When people tell me no my next question to them is "where"? Then I politely explain about Federal Regulations and how they could also be held liable if anything happens. Had the security supervisor at the fish market in the Bronx told me where to "hide" and he would tell the big wigs when they came in I was broke down.

Not sure about Chicago but in MD it depends on the sign. Was on hometime and went over to my truck and a tow sticker was slapped on my window. My wife is a property manager and knew that tow company so she called. Said that property owner was stern and just to move over to the next shopping center because the signs they have posted are not regulation signs and if I'm towed from there then I can go after them for illegal operations.

 

Somebody probably called you in.You did the wise thing a moved.Cop probably would have woke you up and told you to go elsewhere.If the manager said it was fine to park there don't know why they don't take the signs down.