Where do you park or look for as a last resort for parking?

Most Lowe's and Home Depot's are good with you parking, there's only an issue if the city or town has an ordinance against it. Found that out when I called the HD in Grand Prairie TX last month.

 

I kept a notebook with notes about any customers I had parked at previously (especially ones without guard shacks) and any industrial areas I saw that had trucks parked in them. Google Maps satellite view can also be handy, then switch to street-view after finding a likely spot to check the street signs.

I also dropped pins on my phone on google maps to more easily find the locations again. I've got hiding spots all over the country to park.

 

Charlotte has been known to have predatory tow companies lurking, just waiting to throw a boot on somebody.

 

A lot of planet fitness locations have room to park. I check them out on Google earth and call ahead to ask if I have any doubts. Way better than a truck stop. Workout, shower and almost always food establishments nearby.

 

One time I ended up parking in a small empty dirt lot right next to a Carl's Jr. in LA proper. Backed it in right over the sidewalk. Reefer running all night long. How nobody came a-knockin' is still a mystery to me to this day. I guess we gotta do what we gotta do!

 

Charlotte’s tough. I would have called the customer to get the shipping and receiving hours, and ask possibly about parking early to beat the rush hour. If they have overnight, I would overnight it, if not get within striking distance, be that a nearby industrial park or a wide spot off the exit, or a wide shoulder and sit with the hazards on.

Usually, industrial areas will have plenty of places to park on the streets without impeding traffic.

 

A nice large church parking lot in a last resort. As long as it’s not Sunday they’ll be room. I did it a few times, only once did someone come out and ask what I was doing and I told him it was a mechanical emergency and I was sorry but he was nice and told me to stay as long as I needed.

 

I used to do this at a church that was within walking distance of my house when I ran highway years ago, but it didn't take long for them to start locking the gates at night. Maybe it was the reefer running all night!

 

Charlotte is tough. You can find a couple of hideouts on the 485 loop. If you're on 77 or 85, you gotta try to get into South Carolina if you can. Otherwise you may have to shut down earlier than you'd like. In desperate situations, you can get away with ramp parking most places in NC, but come daylight DOT will run you off.