Avoiding Crowed Truck Stops

I think a large part of me avoiding incidents parking is that I almost never park at the big name brand truck stops. Ill pull in and see spots that while tight, I know I have the skills to get it in, but I'm still not comfortable doing it.

I usually have perspective stops and back up plans made in the morning before I start. I'll start looking for spots 2 hours before my stop time unless I know for sure I'll likely have a good range of space.

Every time I pass up a spot though. I get a nagging thought that I'm just avoiding a hard back and should just man up and do it. Like am I being too conservative and cautious? It's a lot more comfortable for me to park in a nice half empty hole in the wall old truck stop and it seems safer. Idk, overthinking it?

Idk, overthinking it?

Perhaps you are overthinking again.

If you don't do the perceived difficult backing, you will never get better at these, and skills will become rusty if not used. When you have no choice except a tricky back at a truck stop, shipper or receiver, you will be at a deficit.

If this means you never do a difficult back, I'd suggest you try a few when you have plenty of time and daylight.

On the other hand, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Back that truck every chance you get.

If given the choice, I avoid crowed truck stops like the plague. My feeling is that if I'm ever gonna get hit, that's where it's most likely to happen. Late afternoon/early evening, those places are total s**t shows, and I want no part of it.

That's why driving nights when able, it's easier to find a spot mid day or before 3-4 pm. But I wasn't always able to drive at night, sometimes you can get lucky finding 1 during the night, but I too will find a better spot if I ain't "feelin" it......1 day at a pilot in Az, (forgot which one) I pulled nose in this spot, because I figured, "ok it's easy to back out and go, the fuel islands were straight ahead from that gap.In the back row, directing with the pass thru at the end of 2 rows behind me. I think ok it's NO parking between the 2 ends of those rows. WRONG !! I woke up to go and the idiots filled that gap 3 trucks. So I had to wait a bit longer to get out. So I walked to get coffee and survey the area.

A week+ later I stopped for my SBerth, same Pilot, THIS time I parked in same spot, backed into it, but facing forward towards fuel islands.Again that gap to drive thru had trucks parked in it blocking everyone once again, but a few left on end spots, so I had that space to use pulling out to leave. Too many inconsiderate ignorant drivers out there, and truck stops are a Shyt show to watch. It's the "Me,Me,Me" generation....

That's 1 thing I WON'T miss about driving lol I wasn't and am not the bestest god's gift of drivers, but I do think of others before myself,same for the fuel islands, get in, get it done, and move out of the way, and didn't become "ONE OF THOSE DRIVERS!"

Continued safe driving out there guys n gals !

I always take my breaks/resets at these chains but I make sure I am shutting down early enough. I like to start between 2-3am so the latest I am usually parking is 4-5pm, finding spots… even at the busiest truck stops has been pretty easy so far (minus Jackson MS). If I need to start later due to appointment times or weather I still shut down early for that day and get back on schedule the following day. I know that’s not an option for everyone but it has alleviated a pretty stressful part of the job for me as a newbie.

Ill practice backs more. I have little or no reservations about difficult backs at shippers and receivers and if I have to at a stop. I just usually plan it so I dont have to on a stop. Its usually dark when I stop, I usually run to about 3 or 4 am. If I have time on a load, and the receiver or shipper is pretty empty, or truck stop, Ill practice backs, 90s, blind sides small holes usually two to three times a week maybe. If its a difficult back and I have time, Ill do it twice.

Some of our stops in Denver are really tight. Even the million milers have difficulty there. PCA is one of them. Its tight enough that it took me about 30 minutes to get a trailer out. Its a 90 only with very little room in front, packed on the side. I have to shuttle empties there sometimes. I hate the place. Still havent figured that one out either, 90 to a single spot, with not enough room in front to get the tractor around back under it, so one has to start the back as close to the spot as possible. I can do it with a spot and a half or two spots but not one (yet). I know a few drivers that have suffered incidents there and I do not want one. We also have some other goofy places that I get sent to regularly.

Ill work on it more though. I think part of it is backing between trucks. Trailers I dont flinch at all about, But looking at a possibly hitting a shinny truck is something different.

A lot depends on time. I normally start driving at 6 am, and start looking for a parking spot between 6 and 7 pm. Finding a spot at rest areas at this time is easy, and if I don't need a shower I always prefer rest areas vs truck stops. Even with a shower in mind I'd rather take it in the middle of a day. What is still difficult for me is backing on a blind side, especially when it is dark. Most times I would not even try, but if I have time, and it is a bright day, and plenty of space, I would take a chance to practice.

I had 1 place the yard guys pack trailers very close to each other. I found couple single open slots to drop, but just could not get it in there. After about 30-45 minutes, I gave up, caught 1 yard guy, asked him to put it in a spot for me, gave the guy $20 he jumped on it lol which I guessed he would have, but I was done wasting time there and needed to just go hahaha best $20 bucks spent

(probably could got it for $10 or $5 but what the hell)