Truckers have a difficult time finding places to rest while on the road. A recent survey conducted by Trucker Tools revealed that 86% of nearly 200 truckers had difficulty finding truck parking, with 79% citing overnight parking as the biggest problem. To combat this issue, truckers must communicate with their carrier or customer, map out truck stops and rest areas along their route, and use applications designed to do so. When asked about strategies for finding truck parking, many of the truckers surveyed said that if they know they are going to drive to a region where truck parking is scarce, they will be sure to park early.
Some also said that they run at night because it's easier to find truck parking in the morning. Forty-nine percent of the respondents said that they are always looking for free parking at night, while 36% said that they would pay for overnight parking if needed. Truck stops are a great resource for long-haul truckers, as they provide amenities such as diesel fuel and a place to rest. However, there is some disagreement between the trucking industry and private truck stop operators over who should be allowed to use these spaces.
The National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO) states that there are currently 2,500 major truck stops in the United States with all services available. If truck parking isn't available at the sender's or receiver's locations, it's a good idea to try and reserve a spot at a truck stop as soon as possible. The Truck Stop Guide mobile app is an invaluable tool for long-haul truckers looking for rest stops and amenities. By entering their location into the app, users can view a list of nearby truck stops and filter their search results so that only those offering truck parking are displayed. Each listing includes the number of truck parking spaces offered on site and the phone number of the truck stop. It is important to remember that when you occupy the last space for trucks and an exhausted trucker appears, you have forced him to continue driving until the next truck stop.
In a 1997 survey of 593 long-distance truck drivers randomly selected at private stops and public rest areas in New York, 25% of drivers said that at least once during the past year they had fallen asleep while driving, and 17% said it had happened more than once in the past year. Long-haul truckers have enough challenges on the road without having to worry about finding places to rest. By communicating with their carrier or customer, mapping out rest areas along their route, using applications designed to do so, and reserving spots at nearby truck stops when needed, they can ensure that they have a safe place to rest when needed.
