Parking @ the "J" in Olive Branch MS

**buddy** · 01-21-2010, 10:03 PM

Thursday evening while eating we recieved a call from our dispatch stating " We received a call from the manager asking us to move our truck or it will be towed".

We parked our truck in the RV section and fartest away when we arrived @ 04:30, and stayed there untill we were asked to move.

I made contact with the manager and asked why, when my straight is no bigger then the large motorhome parked across from me? This Manager was very polite and said " It is not his idea but from upper management, and he had his way he would allow all of us straights and bobtails to park there" He continued to say that the only reason us straights and tails cant park there, is not becvause of our lenght or weight its because we are a "Truck".

So we moved our truck and had to park on the street.

I do want to point out that the night manager and staff were very civil and understanding ( as was I), and that they were just doing thier job.

Dont park straights and tails in the RV section at the J in Olive Branch, MS.

**OntarioVanMan** · 01-21-2010, 10:06 PM

they always used to let ya park there...must be a new district manager...

**Dreamer** · 01-21-2010, 10:06 PM

Most truckstops are like that... the RV spots are soley for RV's. I believe the Flying J's all have signs to that effect. Were there no spots in the truck parking area?

Dale

**guido4475** · 01-22-2010, 01:34 AM

Originally Posted by Dreamer

Most truckstops are like that... the RV spots are soley for RV's. I believe the Flying J's all have signs to that effect. Were there no spots in the truck parking area?

Dale

That's besides the point.Why take up a full space for half a truck?Do you know how frustrating it is for semi's to think they found a spot in a crowded truckstop, only to find out there is a straight truck there? So many of the 'flying J's or other truckstops can make such better use of their parking by letting bobtails and s/t's park up front, such as Bordentown Petro, and a few others.

**greg334** · 01-22-2010, 02:29 AM

I don't get this, we don't drive Winnebagos around with a spot to put freight on the a** end of it, do we?

I don't think an RV should park in a truck spot as much as I don't think a straight truck should park in an RV spot. If there is not a specific spot that i can pull into, then I go with the other trucks. I don't care if I take up a half spot, BUT if it is pull through, I pull up so a bobtail can fit right behind me but if it isn't, well I am equal to that tractor as far as I'm concern and don't play the "let's find a place to sleep because I'm not a real truck" game.

**pelicn** · 01-22-2010, 08:26 AM

I've never seen the Olive Branch J full enough that you'd have to park on the street. Different J's have different rules, but either way, we don't park with the RV's we are a truck and park with the trucks.
That being said, most of the time, if we can find a spot that's more difficult for a T/T to get into, we'll take that spot and leave the easier ones for them.

**guido4475** · 01-22-2010, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by greg334

I don't get this, we don't drive Winnebagos around with a spot to put freight on the a** end of it, do we?

I don't think an RV should park in a truck spot as much as I don't think a straight truck should park in an RV spot. If there is not a specific spot that i can pull into, then I go with the other trucks. I don't care if I take up a half spot, BUT if it is pull through, I pull up so a bobtail can fit right behind me but if it isn't, well I am equal to that tractor as far as I'm concern and don't play the "let's find a place to sleep because I'm not a real truck" game.

It's all about courtesy, Greg.Obviously you havent been down south, especially Florida, to see the back row 50% filled with rv's, all spread out with their slide-out's out,etc, when the lot was completely full with drivers driving around looking for a place to park.That is just wrong.When I drove a s/t I would on purpose look for a spot that a semi could not fit into but I could, just so they had a spot to park. It is called courtesy.And how do you figure you're equal to a tractor/trailer?Youre half the size!!!!

**greg334** · 01-22-2010, 10:41 AM

I understand what you are getting at and lived down south for a few years. Florida is an exception, their economy is not built on any large amount of industry but tourism and that is the only place that makes sense that RVs rules. I seen it as you describe it.

How I'm equal to a truck?

I buy the same fuel as they do, I spend money at the truck stop to buy very overpriced stuff, I pay the same road taxes as a tractor and more importantly I have to follow the same exact regulations as they do - no difference to me what I drive and despise the attitude some of these steering wheel holders have over what I drive.

I don't agree with RV'ers who b*tch about trucks then expect to have some special privlege given to them, they don't have HOS to deal with and I seen many many times that they take up spaces to open their slide out where two trucks can use the space, only because they are incapable or too lazy driving their RV to a camp ground where they should be in the first place.

Speaking of courtesy, I will move when there is no alternative for the driver as long as I have a safe place to park. When I arrive at a ts, I look for spots that no one can use first, like a spot where I'm wedging my little truck into a corner where a bobtail would sit or try to get a pull through so a bobtail can sit behind me, but it is not a case where I am going to put myself in a position of being hit or in an unsafe position for a tractor because I'm smaller.

**TeamCaffee** · 01-22-2010, 11:45 AM

We also park in the "truck" section at truck stops. We all have the same DOT rules and have the same needs at a truck stop. We also look for inconvenient places to park our little truck but if none are to be found we take a spot as we are also tired. No matter what kind of truck you are in being woke up in the middle of the night and being told to move is no fun.

Until there is a new rule that only trucks with trailers can park in truck stops we will continue this practice.

**Dreamer** · 01-22-2010, 03:39 PM

I agree. Yes, I'm in a van now, but I used to drive D Units. I always parked in the truck section, because it is a truck... no matter the size. I never backed all the way in tho if it was a 'back in' spot. I parked at the front of the space, even with other trucks.

**jujubeans** · 01-22-2010, 04:25 PM

ok Mister Dreamer
tis time to polish up your pen
for it's your wit and wisdom
for which I've got a yen!

**skyraider** · 01-22-2010, 08:01 PM

At the F J in Knoxville tn last nite a large RV with a car in tow was parked across 7 spaces where cars park, go figure, no one in the J made them move,,,,,,,,why

**morningstar55ny** · 01-22-2010, 09:32 PM

i wonder how much heat would someone get ......
if they parked there RV in a truck spot???
i try my best to park in hard to get places for TT.. but easy for me or park with the bob tails... or share a spot.......

**SuperDuper** · 01-22-2010, 10:32 PM

I try to park out front first then with the bobtails if neither can be done then I look for a spot that a 53footer would have trouble using. If none of the previous work then I take what I need to.

On a funny note I once tried to share a spot with a pulled in bobtail. He angrily woke me up in the middle of the night. I did not see the parking block in front of his rig.