is finding parking really that difficult

That's because it isn't really visible from the highway . And, being a recent comer to the T/A franchise, it probably isn't in quite a few mega's fuel books. It's my preferred stopping place in that neck of the woods.

 

It's pretty much the same as I remember it back when I first stopped there in the late 90's. Being part of the TA network hasn't fundamentally changed it.

It's location might just keep it off the mega fleet fuel networks. Pulling off 81 to get to the Lee Hi does add 2 out of route miles. The computer programs may just pass it up for that lol!

 

Petros always seem to have parking. I've pulled in there at midnight and found a spot. In the Northeast in CT we have some customers that have overnight parking, so I'll pull up im there if nothing else available and ask and they have always said yes that I could park there even if not delivering or picking up there. Missouri take the truck stop that is farthest out and count backwards 2 truck stops, after 8 pm and that is where you are parking, no matter if on 70 or 44. Welcome centers in each state also have a few spots open late at night. But they are not in truck stop book so check Atlas. Then you learn spots like one I know of in Ohio just past the Indiana border.

 

The Petro in San Antonio is always packed while the TA down the road always has spots. Go figure.

 

Thats cause the ONLY place eat in the area--is the burrito truck across from the Petro!---LMAO

 

I just spent the last 4 weeks as a team for Swift and found on the dedicated lanes if you want a spot at Pilot, TA,Love's or Flying "J" you better be there by no later than about 1900 or so.
But off the dedicated lanes we didn't seem to have a real problem.
And we did use Wal Mart a few times, but got a ticket at Target California even though we were bobtail. The LA Metro area cops don't like truckers and we sure paid for it!

 

Close to large metro plexes, parking is a pain, until you learn the area... And many of those very same communities do not allow street parking for semis, or parking at wal marts, shopping centers or other box stores.

I always planned where I would stop, and if traffic or an unforeseen incident caused a back up, possible other places to park... also time of the week, and time of day makes a big difference.

I had a list of ma and pa's and diners I could spend the night at. I always asked at the diner if I could spend the night, while having my evening snack.

 

It's only hard to find parking when family comes over and parks where my truck goes.

 

That is all part of planning. You have your ideal parking spot for when everything goes smoothly. Then you have at least 2 just in case parking spots.

 

I've seen that, so I put the garbage cans back where they belong. Wasn't around when they had to wake the guy up.