To all the guys complaining about paid parking, I have a question. Did you buy fuel there? How about eat a meal? Shop in the store? Fewer and fewer drivers are doing that.....for whatever reason, that's not the point I'm making. What IS is the fact that these places have expenses (that are not going down); and if they're not making as much money as before from the above mentioned sources, it's either find ways to generate revenue or close up. They're businesses and just like any other business, they can't expect to stay open if they keep operating at a loss.
I don't know. Reading TA's earning statements for 2017 to 2018, they experienced over $700,000 increase in profits from fuel sales, and just under a $20,000 increase in profits from non-fuel sales. So they're not hurting. In fact, I'd say they're thriving. So this business of increasing their paid parking spaces is nothing more than a money-grab. According to the profits statement I read, they can well more than afford to let drivers park for free. They're not, though, because they don't want to, and they're just plain greedy. Also, because they know we don't have a choice. It is they leveraging that lack in order to pad their already enormous profits.
700,000 across their 250 or so stores.........? Or a whopping 2,800 per location? Ta does not make an enormous profit. They run like 1.5 billion through the door but the net profit is only a handful of millions. % wise it is not a good business. They're not killing it like a lot of people think.
Being a profit driven company, they look for ways to make a profit. They are not blind or deaf. They see and hear about the parking shortage and a providing a service to drivers to ensure they have a parking spot at the location the driver wants to stop for his 10 hour break. How hard is it to understand? Paid parking has been around for years in locations where parking is limited. They have a captive audience so why not make a few bucks off of it. Helps to defray the cost of having to pick up the stuff truckers throw on the ground.
So your saying a company driver is "doing a horrible job" if they cant afford $36-$45/week or $144-$180/month or $1872-$2340/year? Wow. I like reserved parking as an option as much as the next guy, but to expect an employee to pay to park the companies truck is ridiculous.
It’s ridiculous to assume Anyone is going to utilize this 4-5 times every week They are not getting reimbursed by the carrier
As a company driver who dont get reimbursed still think its worth it to pay for parking ? Instead of shutting down 3 hours early ...
I don’t know. Shutting down prematurely ... how much production and money did you perhaps lose doing this? But what kind of sorry company do you work for who won’t reimburse an occasional reserved parking expense? With HOS rules being what they are, you have to be very smart about optimizing your time and sometimes that means driving longer and getting closer and into a better position such as on the good side of morning traffic. If $12 could have saved you an hour sitting in next day’s morning traffic, what did you gain by parking early to save $12?
It sucks but like I said it is sometimes required but I rarely pay for parking and I do get reimbursed for parking but why put extra expenses on my company when it's not necessary. My point is plan your trips better. So many tools you can use to find a place to park. I've been in almost every State and I was even in Long Island, NY and I found a spot somewhere. Also I don't go to TA/Petro anyways. I go to Loves and always find a spot all over the Country, if not I'll go to PFJ or a Rest area. Or a different truck stop or a Walmart but rarely Walmart. If you or anyone else can't afford that extra expense, start planning better but one thing I refuse to do is park on the side of the street or on/off ramps. Not worth the risk but some of yall will always be in your way and ##### because that's all you can do and it makes you feel better but this is what trucking is now so either deal with it or quit the job. I enjoy the career and lifestyle and at times it sucks but I deal with it and move on. Goodluck to some of you
