You run out of hours, not allowed to park on property for your 10

And my problem (and a lot of O/O) is I have a car carrier...it is obviously unladen but I never drop it. An O/O isn't going to leave a high $$$ trailer that he owns just anywhere so he can go home or go eat. If it's empty it's empty! Right?

 

How does it work for a straight truck that is empty?

 

That's exactly what I do, doesn't seem to be an issue...trailers can ovnp but we cant...lol

 

Trailers don't piss on the ground. Or crap. Or throw trash.
If drivers weren't slobs then we would be able to park a lot more places.

 

I spent several minutes reading most of the comments in this thread and wondered if the OP ever really got their answer. Between the drivers that say the DOT stand behind trees with binoculars searching for law breakers and still others that seem to have no respect for the rules what does a driver do? The correct answer, well it depends on the nature of the problem. It depends on your company and their rules. The sad reality to this situation is stay in this business long enough you are going to find yourself in this predicament. However the one thing you can not do is tell a property owner that your out of hours situation trumps their property rights and refuse to leave.

From my years doing this job I have determined that simply leaving and going to the NEAREST suitable parking area is your best and only option. As long as you don't do it all the time and notate the circumstances around why you did it, most carriers will not do anything to you. The FMCSA in a compliance audit if the bust is discovered will not take action if the driver has no history of doing this a lot. One more thing while I am at it. The FMCSA does not have agents hiding behind trees with binoculars. Grow up do your job stay in compliance and understand sometimes life happens. If you are driving for a carrier where safety will chew you out in these situations you can't control you really need to find another company to drive for!

Edited to add a few more thoughts. I took note of several comments I believe are in error. I will not get into a pissing contest over it so I will hold my peace. The best solution to being in this situation is to do everything you can do before to avoid it. However as a driver you can't control everything. The next step is to stay calm and get information. Ask that guy driving the yard dog or security if there is a way you can park. Go ask the people in the dock office about a solution. You will be surprised how many times these people will help you. I had a situation once in Mississippi I ran out of hours at a Walmart DC and was told to just leave the DC go about a 1/4 mile to a small store with some small parking in the rear, a guy brought my empty and my bills back to me there. If you have done everything possible to fix the situation and you still find yourself in a box, you have two basic options left. Become a dick and tell that property owner how to run their business using a none existent FMCSA rule and take a chance on an expensive tow (you or your company WILL pay for). Or just leave and get parked ASAP. Everything else about this issue is simply commentary.

 

If they run my hours out on me by taking their sweet time; I notify them that I might have to drop my trailer and return to get it after I break and recover hours.... it’s always worked for me... then, if need be; I can run somewhere to park bobtail......

 

Your right about dropping. However not all docks employ yard dogs and they will NEVER allow you to drop and block a door if they have no method to move the trailer. I seen a guy do this in New Jersey once. About 45 minutes later a small truck came picked the trailer up and left with it. I suspect that ended with someone paying a tow bill.

 

Oh, well.. I agree with that, but I’ve never run into that situation.....

 

This goes back to other comments I have made to other problems we drivers face doing this job. The solution on Monday might not work Tuesday. There simply is no one size fits all solutions. Wisdom, experience, tact and minding your manners solves most of them.

 

I agree, but than again I've seen shippers yard hostlers leave and do somethings to trailers and throw things in them that aren't exactly good either. I know as a girl I've embarrassed a few of them.