Parking in rest areas and welcome centers?

I prefer rest areas over truckstops,we have stayed at both.On the nights its shower time,paperwork,fueling,etc we usually stay at a truck stop.The rest of the times its rest areas which is more quiet,we usually pop in a movie and just kick back and relax...

 

It's understandable... However, for me, all I care is about safety, for me, for the truck and the load. I get very angry at the lack of places to park on some roads. I try to plan my trip so that I know where I will park for the night before I start the trip. But sometimes things don't happen the way I planned....
After 11 hrs of driving, late at night, no rest area, all truck stops packed full.... it's desperation time If on one of those nights I happen to see one of those topless joints along the highway that provide trucker parking I'll try it. The truck might catch attention though... I work for Covenant... hahahah....

 

I used to drive for star long before covenant bought them out. Star had a lot of beer runs going up the N/E. Covenant did not want those accounts and dropped them. I would say that they would also be one of the co's that would look to punish you for parking there. So I would be careful where you park. I understand about the lack of parking now a days. Trust me you don't have to explain it to me.

 

I prefer to park at T/S's,preferably those with shops. The reason being if the truck needs work done I can get something to eat,shower,or whatever while the truck is being worked on . I also try not take my ten near big cities unless I'm delivering or picking up a load. Its been my experince there is fewer hassles and a bit more parking.

 

Awhile back (mid December 2009) the governor elect said that he wanted to bring back (probably March 2010) some of the rest stops currently shut down but then news outlets (TV, radio and newspapers) in the Washington, DC market are reporting (January 6, 2010) that VDOT (Virginia Department of Transportation) is laying off workers. Some of those that take care of rest stops and mow the grass on the highways. What the Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away, it seems.

 

And those are possibly the same companies that you see flipped over in the median or the possibly the same companies that shut off driver's fuel cards & tell them to find their own way home!

 

What does either have to do with whether you park at a whack-shack or not ?I kinda understand what your saying but actual relevancy to the topic appears to be lost . . . . . . .

 

Well... If I'm tired and see a decent parking lot to pull into for a rest, I'm going to do it. But a lot of people drive for a company who have policies that state "park at a whack shop, lose your job".... They are scared of losing their job & compromise safety to continue driving.... Falling asleep behind the wheel or just so #### tired to continue... But many do because of stupid company policies.


The relevancy to the topic is from a previous post I made to the thread! I was just responding to the responce I had received trying to justify why people don't utilize those parking lots!

 

Well wherever you park, Stay out of the rest stop between Tracy and Livermore CA on 580 at the top of the Altamont Pass. That is the real pickle park. You may well be visited by a stereotypical bay area resident looking for a "goodbuddy".