Parking On The Shoulder, 3 Dead

Not allowed to park on exit ramps in California; big money ticket. There's open paved/gravel spots as big as football fields by some California interstates and they're just bait to get truckers to park there so the cops can write tickets for illegal parking.

 

We are all aware that safe and legal truck parking is a Huge problem nationwide.
HOS regulations have exacerbated the issue.
All the while communities adopt the "nimby" policies for rig parking and idling, and the travel centers seem more inclined to cater to the gasoline customers.
If these types of accidents continue, and I'm sure they will, It will need to be addressed sooner rather than later.
I don't have to overnight at the truckstops but w 80 gallon fuel I stop twice a day at em.

 

So what? Because you run out of hours does not mean you are required to park on the shoulder. No safety department in the world is going to hassle a driver for driving 10 minutes over to get to the nearest exit or safe spot, well off the busy roadway. But these situations, bad as they are, do highlight the problems that eLog devices create, and some take the problem more seriously than others.

 

Be it a minute ten minutes or an hour, they carry the same weight.
There is always an answer when your sitting behind a desk.
And yes I will hear about it from our safety dept.
We hear about every violation even w an explanation of circumstances.

 

I heard some safety doosh tell another driver that he drove for 10 years and never had a problem finding parking at night. Yeah, right.

 

I do this all the time but there’s always that #### situation the shippers or receivers put you in. You get there with ample time to move about and get to the couple of places you planned to stop if they released you at certain times...then they take way more than what is ok talking about 6 hours....if you came after a 5-6 hour drive you’re already low....it’s 8pm the worst time to find a parking spot.....”you have 30 minutes of drive time”.....”you have 15 minute drive time”....still no where to park.

Honestly though with my company I’m allowed to drive until I can find the next safe haven. If the truckstops are full keep going and check the next one. The forward facing dash cam will prove the truckstops I’ve checked are packed like sardines. Usually in this situation I’ve learned a couple hidey holes to remember when I’m at certain places that are known to have nowhere to park....but Cali ain’t one of those places.

 

That might be true a few years ago, but these days finding parking is a real problem for OTR drivers.

 

Unfortunate circumstances and a lot of lives severely affected.

Just a really stupid place to park on the part of the truck driver.

Never go into a major metropolitan area like SF/Bay, LA, etc., where there is virtually no parking, without enough hours to get back out to where you have a couple of parking options... even if it means the pickup/delivery is late. I know it isn't possible 100% of the time, but...

The worst scenarios are when you have multiple picks in such areas. I always (re)scheduled my own picks after I was given them by the company because I have a better feel for what happens than someone in the office.