Empty space l Refer l Van l Empty space?
Posted by KolossalKorn@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 72 comments
I'm at a truck stop, middle of day, maybe 6 trucks park and the rest are completely empty. Lots of spaces. I was parked in a corner spot ready to hit the sack..
I'd like to know why refers will huddle up next to a van even even if the rest of the parking lot is almost deserted? This happens to much to finally write a post about it.
Practical-Team-7869@reddit
Truck sounds, air leaks squeaky belts are sound therapy for me. Go to sleep when you’re so tired you can’t see straight.
Strange-Ad2470@reddit
Bro we don’t even think about it. Just looking for a park. If you don’t like reefer trailers don’t eat.
smitandr648@reddit
Is no one talking about the dildo???
KolossalKorn@reddit (OP)
Lol, you weren't supposed to see that! I like to glue'em on the back of trailers and watch em take off with it at rest areas.
jerikperry@reddit
That’s a fat finger being reflected in the window lol. Unless I’m missing the dildo, in which case please tell me where it is!
smitandr648@reddit
Oh my god I could not for the life of me figure out what that was. I can easily see that it’s a finger now.
PuffinPastry@reddit
Hate to break it to ya, but if you want to sleep with zero noise around you maybe trucking isn't the right path.
KolossalKorn@reddit (OP)
This is another one of those stereotypical answers I was anticipating. Video game NPC probably says this same thing.
4_string_bean@reddit
Want to show us on the toy truck where he hurt your feelings?
KolossalKorn@reddit (OP)
This sounds too much like the stereotypical psychology that's the expression of repressed anger that comes from having an abusive father.
mrockracing@reddit
Dude, I don't want to be that guy, but it's a truckstop, not a museum or a library.
Some places are UPS drop spots. I guess you hate that too. It's going to be noisy. Honestly, the consistency of a refer is easier to down out than the constant hum of trucks passing by or nearby roads/highways. I parked at a casino looking place with signs that said "trucks welcome" and big spaces once, and that was the only time I ever truly regretted my parking decision on the basis of sleep. They had rock bands, or just loud speakers playing inside that were so loud, the sound penetrated my running truck. I was still able to get a good 9 hours of sleep that night. I usually only need 7 but I slept in to make sure I was rested. My point is that in trucking you really have to be able to sleep in noisy environments, and if you can't, you should invest in some noise cancelling sleeping goggles/ear kits, or put up some removable soundproof blanket or acoustic foam around the thin/vibration spots in the sleeper.
I know that some guys are light sleepers, but honestly it is kind of up to you to work out ways to keep yourself comfortable, because no matter what you do there will be noises you can't get rid of. The new Kenworths like to vibrate where the trim meets the steps when they're running, for example. If you do dry van, there's a strong chance you'll spend overnights at factories etc. a lot, that are just loud on their own, unless you're cool with driving around at 1AM looking for parking week in and week out.
I've seen dudes close pool noodles in their door seals, use sound blankets and buy thicker curtains, as well as use ear muffs or goggles with ear bits. There's plenty of ways to drown out the noise. I had a speaker bar in my rig, and I'd bet it would have made a great white noise machine had I needed it too.
And take what I'm saying with a grain of salt though. I was effectively homeless for a time, and I've slept on buses and trains, so I am probably a little outside of the norm for ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.
KolossalKorn@reddit (OP)
This was a fascinating read. Thanks for your advice. Though, the story from homelessness to being a trucker has to be quite a story.
ReceptionMuch3790@reddit
I wasn't aware customers let us park o/n
SaltAndBitter@reddit
Some do, but it's getting rarer and rarer. Too many boneheads trashing their lots, so they end their safe haven policies and start kicking us out once we're loaded
CauliflowerSure2679@reddit
I say the same thing, because being in the Army you sleep whenever and wherever you can.
Abucfan21@reddit
If you really want to be left alone, calculate which spots are the hardest to back into and take the spot next to it.
Taking the easiest spot early in the day is no way to find peace and quiet. Truckers are like electricity and water. They all take the path of least resistance.
pogotoilet@reddit
Also a good way to get hit at midnight.
KolossalKorn@reddit (OP)
Right, I had a spot like this because of a snow pile that was too high and watched several drivers try and fail. I almost left my spot to try it myself. The challenge seemed tempting. At the end of the day, that spot was left open by morning, and myself unrested.
Krawen13@reddit
Some truckers can't back in without a reference to save their life. So they find a truck already parked and back beside it because it's easier
shadowmib@reddit
Im in a van and i choose my spots on the likelihood ill avoid a reefer next to me.
ReceptionMuch3790@reddit
Imagine if we were in a profession where backing is one of the most important things
Krawen13@reddit
🤔💭
ReceptionMuch3790@reddit
proceeds to park at truck stop nose-in
ReceptionMuch3790@reddit
Lmfao. And if you take the hardest spot to back into, you're either an idiot or very respectable for your mad truck skill 😎
c0caine_cinderella@reddit
Good analogy. I could back up into a tight spot, but why should I, when there’s multiple spots open next to each other on the next aisle?
Abubble13@reddit
Not trying to sound super trucker but uh suck it up?
KolossalKorn@reddit (OP)
Well, this was the answer I was anticipating. The "it's not a library" must be a phrase from past culture because it's being used quite often.
Salt_Bus2528@reddit
If you sleep next to another truck, there's only one more space that some jerk can hit you from.
Full-Respect-8261@reddit
Ok the other side i have parked my refer on the backlot of a truck stop on a Saturday with plenty of room to wake up surrounded by dry vans, with plenty of room at the truckstop still. Some people did the white noise and the resonance hum from the refer.
ReverendSonnen@reddit
As a reefer driver myself I tend to find the spot furthest away from others. I personally LOVE the hum of a running reefer and have difficulties falling asleep when it’s off but not everyone is like that. Middle of the night though? Tough shit buttercup learn to love it lol
Eatmymustardsauce@reddit
4 am cb checks are more of problem than any refer will ever be.
Odd_Studio2870@reddit
We are all lonely on the road.
Onefoot199@reddit
We have to share the song of our people. It's the first thing they teach you in reefer school.
random02991@reddit
I'm that weirdo who parks between two reefers just to sleep better. Still won't run reefer tho. Screw that
smiley82m@reddit
If you only sleep during the day at places that are empty then just nose in and any refer parking next to you would only be doing it on purpose if they nose in next to you. If they park next to you then the refer is far from your bunk.
w3stvirginia@reddit
If they’re sleeping in the middle of the day, it’s a good guess that they’ll be leaving in the middle of the night.
If it were me, my first thought in that case is to pick the spot that’s going to be easiest to get out of when it’s full and everyone’s made their own spots.
While I do my best not to park next to people with my reefer running, that’s like 3 or 4 down on the list of things I look for. It’s a public truck stop after all.
SaltAndBitter@reddit
My personal favorite now that I run reefer cans, is when I wake up to see someone nosed in next to me while I was asleep... like, how's that noise reduction working out for you, with your bunk right next to my screaming ass genset? lol
MajorHymen@reddit
Your first wrong assumption is that they are doing it deliberately to fuck with you. When in reality the reefer driver goes to sleep everyday with no issues. It likely doesn’t even cross their mind when they park. Unless I’m aware my reefer or truck is making some other obnoxious noise outside of the norm I’m just going to park where I think I creative parking won’t screw me when I go to leave at night. If you can’t sleep with a truck being on then try to find a spot and nose in. If there’s all that empty space you should likely be able to find a spot you can back straight out from.
egeorgak12@reddit
I stopped caring where I park when I realized that all the dry vans and tankers who park earlier than me scatter around instead of huddling together.
If y'all can't be bothered to park up together on one side together, don't expect us to run circles to find an empty area.
The same way y'all only care about finding convenient spaces and worrying about yourselves, I'm gonna look for convenience and safety for myself as well. I'm less likely to get hit in the middle of the night if I'm already beside parked up trucks when I close my eyes.
My only concern these days is finding spots that won't get me boxed in by the crazies who come when the place is full and just leave their trucks anywhere.
Snap a photo of the trucks left and right to me, and if I wake up to a shut off reefer I'm calling the cops to report my damage and give license plates.
Sounds mean, but I'm sick and tired of all the children in this job. It's as if you don't go shopping for food at the supermarket to feed your kids. How do you think it gets there? UFOs? When did truckers become such nagging little kiddies?
Dense_Reputation_420@reddit
I was always told it's so wind doesn't rock the trailer, also this has happened to me with zero wind so idk maybe they want to be friends? Just split some fireball
D-Ray1469@reddit
They want a snuggle buddy.
Osamabinsexi@reddit
I’d take that over someone with an air leak or their engine fan turning on and off every thirty seconds
commacausey@reddit
With a loose fan belt that squeals every time the fan kicks on
Osamabinsexi@reddit
That’s fair but I hear more drivers with air leaks and their engine fans turning on and off
Dangerous_Speed6743@reddit
My way of thinking when I was a newbie was that if there’s 5 open spots and I park in the middle then I’m just going to be an extra obstacle for someone backing in and more people are going to be going into singles, at first i honestly didn’t think about how much reefers bother other drivers as reefer was all I knew. Now in this situation I would’ve parked a little further but if there’s no reefer to get next to and I know it’s gonna get tight I’m going to make it easier for other drivers to park and cuddle up next to a van
CompletelyPaperless@reddit
I drive reefer and I think about you about as much as you think about me. Enjoy the relaxing hum of my fridge.
Txtrucker45@reddit
I haul only reefer trailers, I don’t see how people think they are the loudest things on earth. I’d rather park next to a reefer than next to that white Volvo that decides to sit at high idle all night.
JOliverScott@reddit
I try to pick my parking space based on my neighbors and as soon as I pull my curtains the quiet neighbor leaves and a long nose Pete with straight pipes and a reefer with a squeaky belt parks next to me.
HowlingWolven@reddit
And the peet idles all night.
TallInterview7942@reddit
Buy ear plugs, my student did it on the norm.
HowlingWolven@reddit
Fridge is a white noise machine.
Anthonym82@reddit
Its a truck stop, even without reefer it's still noisy. I'm there to shut down for the night/ day like any other truck. I see a spot, I park. If your dry van has an APU does that mean that you cant park next to other trucks as well? It's a truck stop, not a mall parking lot.
Q7017@reddit
I'm jealous. So long as they don't have squealing belts or anything else mechanically wrong that they should have fixed, I prefer having reefers park next to me since I sleep better with them nearby.
Usually they (and many others) avoid me since I'm placarded hazmat. When I used to haul piranha (UN3264) tankers, I once saw a Swift back in next to me at a busy lot only to get out, peek at my trailer, and immediately leave.
Wizard_with_a_Pipe@reddit
The thing I love about driving a reefer is I can't hear anything going on outside the truck.
BeenThruIt@reddit
I'd rather 10,000 reefers than that single guy with the backup alarm that always does 12 pull-ups before he gets settled. =p
A_Dash_of_Time@reddit
"...I was parked in a corner spot...."
There ya go, bud. You parked where you won't get blocked in. So did he.
Virel_360@reddit
Sometimes when you’re parking at a truckstop, it is safer for your equipment to park directly next to another truck reducing one open spot so that another truck won’t be backing in to that spot. If you’re parked with two open spots to both sides of you, that’s two times a chance somebody will hit you while you’re sleeping. If you nuzzle up next to another truck there’s only one spot open. You just cut your chances of getting fucked up in half.
AndromedanPrince@reddit
ay only my wife can nuzzle me.
Lonely-Profession462@reddit
It's time to be honest. All of yous should buy some ear plugs and stfu.
FileCareless@reddit
The comer spots are where I always go first cuz they are the easiest to get out of. Can’t get mad others do the same lol
Down2EatPossum@reddit
Has nothing to do with the trailer type and everything to do with people types. Some will go park as far from everyone as they can, others as close as they can.
FreeAndRedeemed@reddit
As a reefer driver, I try to park next to my reefer homies. However, that isn’t always an option, and I have as much right to a parking spot as anyone else.
sk8zero0619@reddit
Head in
homucifer666@reddit
Nah, the real nuisances are the guys hammering on their truck in the early hours of the morning.
LeeAbeats@reddit
I have filled in for dry van. I would wake up in the middle of the night because i didn't hear my reefer. It is like white noise to me. We sleep right next to the reefer unit, and we become immune to it. I started off on reefer. It is not about being inconsiderate. We just don't hear it. We only notice when it is not running. I started off on an ice cream account, -20 continuous. Pretty much the loudest setting.
LeeAbeats@reddit
Reefer drivers sleep just fine. No reefer driver looks to only park near other reefer drivers.
RayAlmighty13@reddit
Huh? Is there a question there?
RDDT4Life@reddit
It's a truck stop, not a library.
Fit_Hospital2423@reddit
Because some people have no consideration of others.
West_Imagination3237@reddit
Or lack consideration in specific situations.
GunStarOmega@reddit
I drive reefer, and I always try to park away from others if there's space to do it. What's funny in my case is if I come to an empty lot, park with nobody around me. Go inside, get a bite, or hit the restroom, come out, and im got other parked right next to me with plenty of other spaces with nobody around. The funniest one was when someone complained that my reefer was making too much noise for them, when there were a dozen other spots with no reefer next to them.
People will find or just make a reason to complain. It's to the point where I tell any trainee I have, "If you can't sleep with a reefer on near you, go get a desk job."
Titanium_81@reddit
I I hauled refer I would go out of my way to park away from anyone not in a refer or with an apu if at all possible.