It gets a lot worse than using off ramps and other illegal and inappropriate locations. Next time you are in a truck stop that is practically empty, like lots of them were over the holidays in the past 2 weeks. I am talking prime spaces right up front available, pull through and all, no backing required. BUT NOOOOOO. Billy Big Rigger has to park next to the Cat Scale partially blocking access to the rear parking lots, or pulls up to the blocked fuel island, and then has to back out of it, nearly hitting everything in the immediate vicinity. It is intentional. These individuals really absolutely do not care about another human being on the planet. Rules, common courtesy are for someone else. And it shows.
Why did u have to make ur own space. After 17 years im sure u got ur trip planning down to a T . Im gonna guess u get held up at customer and the government tablet said u were unsafe to drive. I do not think i could sleep very good in a make a space especially at a truckstop filled packed like sardines. Id be worry about the white volvo mafia or the mega bozo tearing half my truck apart
So you and I have somewhere to park. Everyone complains about those guys, I'm glad they leave me a space.
Out west the best places to park is the on ramps , u can wake up to some beautiful sunrises over the mountains and its so quiet and there is always plenty of room for u to pull off on the shoulder of the ramp. That is what i hate about running east . There is not enough parking in truck stops and no room to stay on ramp, all rest areas full and 10 times as many trucks than u got running out west. Recipe for disaster
Ive already rode in the sleeper once when my world ended as my front end was torn off. I essentially planted deep into a corner and tried to control the neck. That phone call went something like this... Unit number? Such and such. Ok, whats up? Front end is gone. What? Front end is torn off. What did you do to my truck? Not me, truckstop parker next to me tore front end off leaving. Its not drivable. *&&^% say that again? What part of front end torn off do you not UNDERSTAND *&^%$ *Counter erupts into laugher...* *silence on hold a hour.* This is Poobah Suit Owner, tell me what is going on? Front end torn off. Eh? What did you do to the truck? Here we go all over again... After a time I got a new tractor. They were reluctant to hand me that one. Calling it a she devil. It sure was. But I got to tame her.
That's Right!! Park on a ramp in Louisiana and you might find yourself getting a Full Level 1 inspection. The Love's truckstop near Cartersville, GA (Emerson) has long ramps; there used to be about 40+/- trucks a night parked on the 4 long ramps there bc the Truckstop was slammed full and overflowing. Now there's about 50+ No parking signs on those ramps. ... guess the 4 wheelers couldn't handle it. You did say park on the "ON" ramp, back in the day that was common sense bc you weren't blocking anything and typically vehicles getting 'on' the ramp were traveling slower than vehicles getting off the big road, but with the dramatic increase in trucks coupled with drivers who just plain don't care, the ramps are full all the way back to the highway.... well, where it hasn't been outlawed yet!
Long ago we used to park it wherever even the side of the interstate. Many states by 1991 cleaned that right quick over a series of months in a big push. I recall a spot above Armarillo but below Dumas with some fondness until you discover that 20 more has managed to crowd in there for sleep. Whats amazing about that quiet spot is that there is a National Nuclear Facility about 20 miles east of you protected by large structures should a war head being processed detonate.
I know, The overweight Fat cow with the 359,single headlights with eyelids and a rusty grill bezel pulling a farm tanker, OR the Brand New W-900 pulling that New Reefer with a Sissy personna when a cutie pie is in the restaurant.
