Parking At Night

we drove by a rest stop around 5:30 a.m. yesterday morning and two trucks were parked at the exit of it. My question is why didn't they keep going. If your out of hours can you not keep going? Sleepy? It looked very dangerous

we drove by a rest stop around 5:30 a.m. yesterday morning and two trucks were parked at the exit of it. My question is why didn't they keep going. If your out of hours can you not keep going? Sleepy? It looked very dangerous

When you are out of hours, "you are out of hours" and continuing to drive is an HOS violation.

It's likely when they parked the night before, the rest stop was full and the only available option was the end of the exit/entrance to the Interstate. This is very common, especially in the NorthEast. The rest stops start to empty out at 4AM as drivers come off their 10 hr. break.

I just drove in the early morning south on I-77 into Charlotte, NC. Yes, all the on ramps and off ramps were filled with parked semi trucks. These are drivers who either wanted to maximize and use all their drive time, or drivers who did not plan right, and just ran out of time right there.

It's a call you need to make for yourself. Usually truckstops fill up around 5 p.m. till 8, depending on your location. I stopped 3 hours away from my destination because I figured all the truck stops would be filling up and so I stopped way early.

we drove by a rest stop around 5:30 a.m. yesterday morning and two trucks were parked at the exit of it. My question is why didn't they keep going. If your out of hours can you not keep going? Sleepy? It looked very dangerous

So what you are saying is our wonderful government wants trucks to park in a unsafe spot instead of parking safely?

When you are out of hours, "you are out of hours" and continuing to drive is an HOS violation.

It's likely when they parked the night before, the rest stop was full and the only available option was the end of the exit/entrance to the Interstate. This is very common, especially in the NorthEast. The rest stops start to empty out at 4AM as drivers come off their 10 hr. break.

Tonya asked:

So what you are saying is our wonderful government wants trucks to park in a unsafe spot instead of parking safely?

Is that what I said? NO.

You know what you have to work with when you start your day. It is our responsibility to trip plan as best we can to avoid a "bail-out" situation or running out of hours. The content of Errol's reply is very accurate and needs to be considered. He correctly anticipated the parking situation up the road based on the time of day and distance from his destination. Effective planning is not an exact science, but something learned from experience.

I just drove in the early morning south on I-77 into Charlotte, NC. Yes, all the on ramps and off ramps were filled with parked semi trucks. These are drivers who either wanted to maximize and use all their drive time, or drivers who did not plan right, and just ran out of time right there.

It's a call you need to make for yourself. Usually truckstops fill up around 5 p.m. till 8, depending on your location. I stopped 3 hours away from my destination because I figured all the truck stops would be filling up and so I stopped way early.

Thanks Errol. I am trying figure all this out before I get started. I rode with a friend to calif. once back in 86 and hos was not in the picture.

Walmart is your best friend,when running out of hours at night. Driver safety is important. Lots of robberies,at rest areas after dark. Most walmarts are 24 hours,and have cameras and security personal.

Some walmarts have signs stating no parking but.If you politely ask the manager,to park for 10 hours,they rarely say no. Calling first is also an option.

This is why I love to drive starting around midnight - 2am. When your day is done, you pull into any truck stop, pick any spot, and pull through!

Early afternoon you can have a football game on the parking lot.

This is why I love to drive starting around midnight - 2am. When your day is done, you pull into any truck stop, pick any spot, and pull through!

Early afternoon you can have a football game on the parking lot.

Exactly right,but cant always time deliveries,early am. Get a pickup afternoon,have to really drive until well past midnight. Fun trying to find parking at 2am,plus all the bears are out..although dui is usually what their looking for..but they will write up an easy violation,if they see one.