| Tired truckers are everyone's problem. And no | | | | Officers at the Conejo nb scale say that if they |
| trucker wants to drive tired. Some truckers insist | | | | are not busy and if a trucker comes in and tells |
| that if you plan your trip properly, you should | | | | them he's tired, they may use their own |
| always be able to find parking. Other truckers | | | | discretion and allow the driver to park and take |
| understand that no matter how much you plan, | | | | his break. Both the Conejo nb and Conejo sb |
| truck parking can be elusive. Truck stops fill up, | | | | scales will, however, lock their gates during closed |
| usually later than earlier. But truckers can't force | | | | hours- unless there are out of service vehicles |
| themselves to be tired according to a plan. Laying | | | | parked. Do Not plan on parking in the ramps when |
| in bed wide awake when your plan calls for sleep | | | | the weigh station is closed. |
| doesn't make for a good night's sleep. | | | | Florida |
| Unfortunately, looking for a place to park is simply | | | | Truck parking is allowed- in fact, it is welcomed- |
| part of being a truck driver. | | | | at any of Florida's "super coops," such as the |
| Most drivers avoid parking in weigh stations like | | | | weigh stations in Pensacola, Wildwood and Flagler |
| the plague. It's understandable. But, if you're tired, | | | | Beach. Parking is limited at other Florida weigh |
| maybe it's not such a bad idea. The following is a | | | | station locations, like Hopewell or Bunnell, and so |
| guideline to some states' policies toward truckers | | | | drivers should not expect to be able to find |
| parking at weigh stations- what's allowed, what | | | | parking at those scales. Florida DOT officers say |
| isn't and what the truckers can expect. | | | | that drivers can park at any of the Florida "super |
| California | | | | coops" without fear of chancing an unwanted |
| There is no official policy in California about parking | | | | inspection. If an officer sees something that is |
| at the weigh stations. And there is no official | | | | clearly a safety violation- like a flat tire- the driver |
| policy at any of the weigh stations, so you may | | | | will be notified of the violation before he or she |
| run into a rogue officer who prefers hassling | | | | leaves the weigh station and it will have to be |
| truckers to letting them sleep. But, in general, you | | | | fixed. But officers will not ask a driver who has |
| are safer to park at California weigh stations than | | | | been parked at the weigh station for his or her |
| you may have thought. | | | | logbook, nor will they pick the vehicle for an |
| Truckers who are looking for a safe place to park | | | | inspection. Unless, of course, the driver parked |
| should consider parking at the Banning weigh | | | | there because he or she was put out of service- |
| station. There is no official policy, but the | | | | if a driver was put out of service for a log book |
| consensus among most of the officers at the | | | | violation, they may ask to see the drivers |
| Banning truck scale is that they would rather have | | | | logbook before that driver is allowed to leave the |
| drivers park to rest at the weigh station than | | | | weigh station. |
| have tired drivers on the roadway. If you do | | | | Georgia |
| want to park, you'll want to cross the scale, park, | | | | Truck parking is allowed at any Georgia weigh |
| and go inside to inform the officers that you'd like | | | | station so long as there is room. Drivers are |
| to take your break. That way they will know that | | | | asked to park in the back lot at any of the |
| your truck is not "unattended." Unattended trucks | | | | Georgia "super coops." One Georgia weigh station |
| have a 4-hour time limit after which the truck will | | | | where parking spaces are not abundant is the |
| be towed. Officers at the Wheeler Ridge weigh | | | | Lithia Springs weigh station on I 20 east bound, |
| station agree. Tired truckers are dangerous, and | | | | west of Atlanta. Drivers should not plan to park |
| they'd rather that truckers take their break at | | | | at the Lithia Springs weigh station. Georgia DOT |
| the weigh station than drive tired. At Wheeler | | | | officers say that, while drivers probably will not be |
| Ridge, it is not necessary to inform officers that | | | | subject to inspection if they have been parked at |
| you'll be parking for a while. | | | | the weigh station, it's not out of the question. |
| California weigh stations with less room do not | | | | Officers may choose to ask a driver pulling out of |
| allow parking. For instance, trucks are not allowed | | | | the parking area to show his or her log book. |
| to park at either San Onofre nb or San Onofre | | | | They may also choose to inspect the truck. This |
| sb. Trucks are also not allowed to park at the | | | | is not likely, but there is no policy prohibiting the |
| Truckee weigh station. Same goes for Conejo nb | | | | practice. |
| and Conejo sb. But even that is not set in stone. | | | | |
