Parking reservation system at Pilot/Flying J?

Half the parking lot like TA/Petro.. No not YET.
Think it will just end up being more and more reserved spots while technically still being free. Just 90% reserved.
How much? If you bother going to the website it tells you how much $.
Guess if you call the number they can prolly tell you as well.

 

Exagerration is popular

 

If I owned a truck stop, I would get all the streets near by Red Zoned with NO TRUCK PARKING signs all over and restrict trucks to every street except the main one that led to my truck stop, then charge $30 per night. Hell yea. That's America!

 

As scarce as parking is nowadays, reserved parking is the way to go. Its a tax write off anyway plus if you're a co. driver and you dont get reimbursed, you're working for the wrong company.

 

I had an interesting conversation with the manager of Pilot in Savannah a few days ago. According to him, drivers are the ones who were pushing for pay to park. I told him that I have not spoken to a single driver who liked the idea of paying for a parking spot. I think that I spend enough money with these places to get a free place to park. This is just another reason to patronize the few independents left in the country. I find it insulting that they are now charging to park. I am surprised at how many people on this forum are in favor of paid parking.

 

I'm not in favor of lawyers and accountants either, but they're nice to have when you need one.

Look at it like this. Many who use the paid parking are new drivers looking to save themselves the frustration and risk of having to hit that tight, difficult spot next you. Plus, some day you'll need the last one and you'll be thankful that someone before you didn't take them up on their offer before you got there.

 

Its a choice, you can pay or not pay fir a reserved spot. I use it as another tool, its actually nice to have a spot reserved and waiting. I pay for that privilege. But if you don't want to don't pay

 

I would not consider paying for a parking spot as a tool. It is an unnecessary expense. But, you are correct in that it is a choice. I have chosen to go elsewhere if the only way I can park is to pay for the privilege. I will now wait until I find a spot to park and buy my fuel the next day rather than buy my fuel and then possibly have to either pay for a place to park or go some where else. With this Pilot, I stayed and spent my money at an independent truck stop about an hour away. Parking was much easier and the food was good at the independent's full service real restaurant. I plan on spending less money with the big chains and more with the independents in the future rather than having to deal with the pay to park issue.

 

You are a bit short sighted, its another tool to be productive, you run certain areas of the country, reserved parking is a godsend, have oversize, curfew at dark? Reserved parking is a blessing. Its simply something else to use to keep the ball rolling.

 

Parking can sometimes be an issue with over size loads. When this pay to park first started I was in Baytown, TX with an OD load and out of daylight. The only parking at the TA was blocked off so drivers would have to pay. They wanted me to pay for two spaces to accommodate my load. I went across the street to the Flying J and found two spaces together. I filled my tanks at the Flying J and had two meals at Denny's. In that case, TA lost much more in profit than they would have gotten by selling me a couple of parking spaces. If I know that I may have to pay to park, I will go out of my way to avoid that particular truck stop. I will still avoid buying fuel at that TA due to my experience with them. I used to stop at that TA when I was in the area. I prefer the TA food to Denny's. There is an option on the other side of the I-10 where one can sometimes more easily find a parking spot. When you get into some areas, such as Houston, you my need to do more planning or stay further out of town. It can be challenging.