Sometimes, when you need to stop, you need to stop and it doesn’t matter where. But other times you really don’t want to see another run down gas station, Walmart parking lot or dingy rest area. There is nothing at all wrong with wanting to park your truck somewhere well-lit, safe and with something for you to do, even if it’s just getting a particularly good cup of joe and seeing another human being.

 

 

For truck drivers there isn’t always a lot of choices on where to park. Sometimes your only option for hours will be a rest area in the middle of nowhere or an overpriced trucker trap. But with the recent tragedies of truck drivers being attacked in their trucks, the option of stopping for the night somewhere unknown just isn’t appealing. So, do drivers go all night and take the risks that come with sleep deprivation, or take the risks of stopping somewhere potentially unsafe?

 

There is an increasing understanding of this issue facing truckers, with several bills planned or already in motion to hopefully increase the number of safe parking places for trucks in the near future. Until safe parking places become the norm rather than the exception, here are some tips to help find a safe parking place.

Practical Advice

 

The best practical advice from experienced truck drivers is to plan ahead. Before going out on a route for the first time, consult a map (Google Earth is a popular choice) and find a few potential areas to park. Once you have a few ideas, ask for advice from your dispatcher or other drivers who have been through the area. Usually, if a place is not safe you will be told so quickly.

 

 

There is a CB in the truck for more than one reason, don’t be afraid to use it. If you are considering parking somewhere you don’t know about, get on the air and see if anyone who is listening has been there before. Also try calling ahead to truck stops along your route to see if they’ll have room for you. If you cannot get ahold of the truck stop this way, go online and see if they have a phone number to call. You can also try calling department stores to see if they allow trucks to stop in their lots overnight. This ought to allow you to avoid a knock on your window in the night from an employee or cop. Well-lit areas are always safer than areas without adequate lighting. The same goes for places with more activity. Walmart parking lots are popular places to stop among truckers for these two reasons. These lots are usually well lit, and even in the middle of the night there is some activity at Walmart. Plus, Walmart is well known for not harassing truck drivers about parking in their lots overnight.

 

If you are particularly concerned with finding the safest place to sleep for the night, do not be afraid to stop before going your maximum distance if you find a place. Some drivers make a point to stop at 24/7 truck stops or their company’s terminals as long as it will not make them miss deadlines, rather than continuing on and risking having to stop in a less safe area later on or drive all night.

 

Always remember that there is no substitute for being able to defend yourself should someone threaten you while parked (or driving, even). Many drivers keep various weapons, or items that can be used as weapons, in case they should ever need to defend themselves. Drivers should be aware of parked trucks whose lights start flashing or horn honks repeatedly, as these may be signs of a driver in distress.

Technology to the Rescue

 

Many truck drivers are taking to online forums to share their safe parking places with one another. The best barometer for a place’s safety is whether or not other drivers have stopped there and been safe before. Online forums also allow drivers to share advice on other matters of safety beyond just places to park.

 

People outside of the trucking industry have recognized the plight of truck drivers trying to find safe places to park and are starting to come up with ways to help. There are a few websites and applications (as well as commercial navigation software) on the internet now that are beginning to offer information on places to park along specific routes or in particular areas. At the head of these useful new tools are:

• Truck Smart Parking Services. Whose website offers solid information on truck stops in southern Michigan and hopes to expand from there quickly.
• The RoadBreakers mobile application. This application has information on truck parking places through most of the United States, but is having some difficulties pinpointing the exact locations down to the street address through the application’s map.
• Telogis Navigation Software. This navigation software not only offers turn by turn directions while driving, but has millions of built-in points of interest, including safe places to sleep.

 

It is still a somewhat dangerous world out there for truckers, but if drivers stick together and share knowledge they can hopefully all find safe places to park and sleep. In time, the government will hopefully push through bills and carry them out to the effect of a greatly increased number of safe places to park.