Opinion: Truck stops should have short term parking

Sapp Bros in Council Bluffs Iowa has short term parking, and they have a guy on a golf cart that patrols the lot and manages it. Two hour limit on those spots.

 

Sounds good in theory but on the flip side you’ll have drivers arguing that it’s a waste of a parking spot.
I’ve driven many night shifts (pulling a reefer) and ive had no issues taking a 30 in the fuel island.

 

AAAAaaarrrrrgggghhhhh! A self-admitted fuel island violator!!!!

I think this is a conversation with merit. Short term parking might get people (ahem) to get out of the fuel lanes. It will only work if enforced by the store. Take about 5 of those empty reserved spots and turn them into short term parking. It would be a good experiment.

 

Well yes, but at 1-2 am there ain’t exactly a line of trucks trying to fuel. At least not on my route.

 

Well there’s your problem. You did it during the day.

 

That's the problem with fuel islands. Can park and watch and see trucks seem to come in waves. They will empty out then 10 mins later have a line and empty out again.

 

I can't remember where I saw this, but I know I've pulled up into at least one or two independent truck stops back off the big roads in either Mississippi or Arkansas somewhere that had short-term spots like that...it was like maybe five of them, and the storerunners were some sharks about marking the time trucks were parked there (though I did observe one truck in there with his curtains drawn...I didn't stick around long enough to see what happened with him).

 

I know many that either dive night or team who like to grab a shower or take a few extra minutes. Folks get shot or stabbed over parking now, so I doubt it would be enforced. Too bad folks can't be civil.