Parking on ramps, but not every one. What's the deal??

Agreed with on-ramps. Much safer. I still can't do that but at least you aren't dealing with traffic moving at highway speeds and unreliable response time.

 

I always looked for a shoulder of an on ramp that looked like trucks had parked there before. Some gravel or bare dirt where other trucks had worn the grass down. I looked for areas with low traffic....less noise.

I would only park there for a few hours, as I would pull off if I was getting tired and needed a nice nap. I was a tanker yanker on a regional run in rural upper midwest, and had time to stop as much as I wanted.

 

There's a closed rest area in Arizona or New Mexico, can't remember. All kinds of cones out in front of the get off for the rest area. But I would roll up to the get on from the rest area and back up deep into it for safety and get some rest. Monkey see, monkey do, now every time I drive by there it is flooded with parked trucks who copied my idea; I guess they saw me do it and made a mental note to do it themselves when they needed to.

 

So full of garbage and piss bottles and piles of crap?

 

Arizona. I know the one you're talking about. It's the stop of last resort for the late night drivers.

 

Truckers are like geese, if they see other trucks ( geese) there then they flock to it..

 

I parked in oregon in a town somewhere I forget where. ALL decent parking was taken, I saw nothing else. So I parked a long side of a road near a 7/11 and a residential area behind me. It wasnt even near the interstate. I was the only one there. Woke up in the morning and there were 3 other trucks parked around me.

 

Parked on a ramp on Jellico. There were a bunch of other trucks there. Tired as hell. Pulled the brakes, jumped in the sleeper. Woke up to someone pounding on my sleeper. I see the truck in front of me snatching gears. Tennessee full grown at my passenger window.

Smokey: Driver, can you read?

Six: Yes.

Smokey: What does that sign say? (points to a NO PARKING sign)

Six: The trucks had that sign blocked...

Smokey: Whose responsibility is it to read road signs?

Six: Mine?

Smokey: I’m going to my car to get my pen, you’d better be gone before I reach my car!

I’m snatching gears trying to get out of there. I was pissed off too. Wasn’t even tired anymore.

 

Tell that dumb bear you parked there to keep an eye out for forest fires. How can you prevent forest fires if you arent at the forest? You tell me.

 

Where I choose to sleep is pretty strategic.

The image I uploaded is of US 322 looking east by compass towards Harrisburg down the Junitia Rier towards US 15 and the Susquehanna. Before Duncannon PA. In my time it was a little gravel spot with maybe 20 trucks. These google earth images show that they have expanded it quite a bit.

I think about what will happen the next day. How close the reciever is. Or shipper. Fuel? Food? Family? Friends? Terrain is another thought. I usually park downhill if expecting ice and snow.

I do not make a habit of ramps. However there is about a dozen I use up and down the east coast if necessary. Maryland I had 4 ramps I used constantly. Brunswick is one. Fallston is another (US 1 Conowingo Dam area etc) A third would be north of Frederick and a 4th will be at or near Hancock before the Sideling HIll Split (I-68/I-70) If I remember right. Indian springs I think is another. Somewhat quiet, out of the way. Camp david is a 5th choice near Thurmont. But that area involves a little gravel off road in a parkland type situation. I'll go off road a mile from 15 into the forest about 5 miles from Camp David. And settle. I cannot tell you if that spot is still valid today.

(There is no point in describing that one. It's a little tricky and THE spot for that part of the USA between Philly and Richmond where there is no parking for love or money. I'll go out of route and put it there. There is another state route out of Thurmont east and get past a railroad bridge structure and take that gravel on the side. Aint none gonna bother you that far out of town. Just make sure you have your turns correct to get out because there is a mountain in PA between you and 81 that is VERY ferocious. (Over towards Hagerstown more exactly) you need to be careful not to put your truck where you cannot pull it.

Finally but not last. if I am a reefer and I find a bunch of reefers parked waiting for a factory dock, I'll glide in, grab a spot and look just like the rest. Especially if it does not have a gaurd shack. I don't do that too often.

The biggest thing for me is when near say Memphis. I'll be in somewhere say 60 miles away in the woods. My theory is no thug or hooker is willing to walk all the way to find and bother me while I try to catch up on sleep.