TA/Pet and old TS's with blind side parking

Discussion in 'Truck Stops' started by crocky, May 8, 2018.

  1. crocky

    crocky Road Train Member

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    This is one of my biggest gripes about TA's Petros, older pilots/FJ's and many of the older truck stops. It seems so many of them were designed by morons or something.. Why is it so many of them force half the lot to blindside park or pull straight in?

    It's absolutely stupidly to set up parking lots that are already tight and then have every other row forced into blindside parking.. Pilot and FJ's seemed to have realized at some point not to do this so you usally only see it at their really old locations.. TA and Petro are still doing it even if you happen to find a fairly new location..

    I don't get it.. why the hell do they set up their truck stops to make it more difficult on drivers? Between the paid parking on half the lots and forced blindside spots.. I rarely visit TA or Petros unless it's the only option or its early enough I can get a decent spot.. Anyone have a reasonable explanation of why they set their lots up like that?
     
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  3. Western flyer

    Western flyer Road Train Member

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    Don't worry about it.
    5 years from now the loves is gonna put them
    Out of business anyway.
    Good riddance to their Paid parking, 15 dollar
    Showers,8 dollar cheeseburgers, overpriced fuel
    And 80 percent mark up on everything else.

    The blue beacon couldn't afford the rents at
    Their properties,and they got millions of dollars.
    What chance does a poor truck driver have.

    You get ripped off every time you buy something
    And you get your hood ripped off in the parking lot.

    Whoever pumps the most fuel wins.
    I can pull into a petro or t/a any time of day
    And find a open pump.
    Your lucky to find one at 3am at the loves.
    I hate that backwards ### parking lot.
    They don't get 50 bucks a year out of me.
     
    Maverick Griff Thanks this.
  4. crocky

    crocky Road Train Member

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    Yea I actually stay away from loves for that reason. They are newer and much nicer but have tiny lots. If I pulled dry van or flatbed maybe I could hit loves more often but with refer and our middle of the night appointments and odd driving times loves are always packed by the time I'm trying to park.

    Typically I always hit Flying J's. They seem to be the best mix of decent locations with reasonable size lots and I get 5 points a gallon on their fuel.

    I tried to stop at the TA in St Louis 3 days ago and half the lot was pay. I pulled right back out and went to the flying j by the race track.
     
    Western flyer Thanks this.
  5. Western flyer

    Western flyer Road Train Member

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    I've seen some of them almost all
    Paid parking. I've never paid for one.
    Let the other suckers pay it.
     
    bryan21384 Thanks this.
  6. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Their thinking was everybody would nose into those spots from both sides and kiss each other .... I guess.

    Setting aside the fact few drivers appreciate that sort of lifestyle, these longer trucks today and others not pulling in or backing in all the way makes backing out problematic many times.
     
  7. Pedigreed Bulldog

    Pedigreed Bulldog Road Train Member

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    Blind side? What's that?o_O
     
    jdchet Thanks this.
  8. TravR1

    TravR1 Road Train Member

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    We were going to pay for parking in Vancouver because there was nothing else, but even the paid spots were full. Finally ended up parking next to our pickup spot along side a “no parking sign.” Woke up in the middle of the night and walked down to the 7-11. Saw 3 more trucks parked around us.
     
  9. SteveScott

    SteveScott Road Train Member

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    I gave up on TA and Petro's a long time ago. Most lots are full of potholes, food is horrible, bathrooms/showers are dirty. I lost my rewards card for TA 2 years ago. I've requested a new one no less than 5 times and it never comes. F them.
     
    Western flyer Thanks this.
  10. jescott418

    jescott418 Light Load Member

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    Finally gave up on OTR trucking because the parking issues are just ridiculous. You have to take breaks in many places early just to get a spot. Then you never know if you'll wake up totally blocked in. Yeah the paid parking thing is just taking advantage of the parking issue by making money off drivers. Lot of companies won't pay for parking. But T/A's been trying to charge drivers for parking for years. Especially around big cites.
     
  11. Studebaker Hawk

    Studebaker Hawk Road Train Member

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    Nothing wrong with these old places. You just got to have the right equipment. Like when I started, a single axle spring ride 1978 International 4070B cab over with a 136" wheelbase and a 45' (sometimes 40') trailer. Slide right into any spot in the joint.
    Bought it new for $31,000.
     
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