Time to boycott Flying J in Pontoon Beach, IL outside of St. Louis.

Ive paid to park many times, and every time ive turned up to find all the spots taken, the staff has either made people move, or made a space for me on the Gas side, or next to the building.

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MarmotWorldOrder@reddit

They knocked at the one near Nashville.

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That's not true on a whole because every time I park I pay for barking in advance because I cannot afford to be hunting for a space at 10:00 p.m. when I have 10 minutes left on my clock and the company reimburses me for it and I absolutely will have the employees knock on doors and kick someone out. Nana has happened more than once that we had to get police involved to remove someone because they felt entitled to a space that they did not pay for

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Frogspoison@reddit

That's the criteria - you paid for it and got them to enforce that particular spot. Did they go knocking on doors afterwards? I pull into a full PFJ, take a look, and see that 80% of the paid spots haven't been reserved.

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SycoJack@reddit

It really, really depends on the location. Some are proactive, some aren't, and some won't do shit at all.

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WTAP1@reddit

Very much so this. Pontoon, IL doesn't make you move last I checked. North little rock, Ar definitely will. Schenectady, NY will as well. So will a spot out in san diego. Very very very case by case.

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polarjunkie@reddit

I'm right there with you. These guys have just been real lucky.

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UOLZEPHYR@reddit

Depends on where youre at. Shitty places yeah no - i was told by the PFJ in Ardmore last year, after a few people had guns pulled on them from waking up drivers they said they discontinued it.

Like yeah no fucking shit. You raise the prices on everything across the board for drivers and want to force them to pay and then you dont understand why someone gets mad you want another 12-25 dollars out of them ?

Someone always lurks in these threads "its their property, they can make their own rules huuuuurrrrrr."

Yeah fuck with i get it - if thats the case the states and feds need to make sure their is MORE parking.

TA/P are reinstalling self check in gates so there is no attendant at all - and then you have places like Atlanta

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_GRUMPY_@reddit

That Flying J on Racehorse drive up the road definitely will come out and see wake the drivers up. She would me up twice with my receipt stuck to my window. Needless to say I was exactly too pleasant to deal with.

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Southern_Talk_7838@reddit

I'll say, you're very accurate with that statement. Dallas/Ft Worth especially, paid for it in advance and completely full. On the brightside they pushed me to an area under construction and some drunk ended up hitting 5 trucks in the reserved parking, so they saved me.

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Disastrous-East-1143@reddit

Some do, it's a dice roll...

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IBringTheHeat2@reddit

The one near me had a security guard and tow truck making rounds every 2 hours. Saw plenty of people paying $1000 drop fees

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Jesse182g@reddit

Usually the ones with security will reinforce it.

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Jacktheforkie@reddit

Do they not use ANPR?

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backbiter0723@reddit

I've even had places say they stopped enforcing it after drivers pulled guns and shit on them

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DukeBradford2@reddit

For my first couple years I looked at other peoples windows to see if they had a receipt taped to their windshield. Now I just park and go to sleep

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kashkoi_wild@reddit

Honestly near any major city I am not even mad at T/A pilot, Flying J etc. LOCALS WHO USED IT LIKE IT PERSONAL PARKING LOT, that who you have to me mad at. Almost anywhere near big city use locals using public parking like it's their personal drop yard.

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FinzClortho@reddit

Time to park on the curbs and in the driveways and beside the pumps.

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iTsDaagua@reddit

I'm so glad I'm local and don't have to deal with otr bs like this. Props to those who can withstand it!

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familyedit@reddit

They should just go back to where they say if you get fuel you can park there overnight with like a 70 gallon purchase.

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ParticularArrival111@reddit

I guess roehl is still using that j for the budweiser account eh? Sorry I snooped your profile. Lol my first trucking job back in 2013. I quit after 2 weeks. Here i am 16 years later still driving a truck though.

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ElectronicGarden5536@reddit

Out of curiosity how many truck stops have you guys managed to close down?

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Motor_Start_4995@reddit

I mean fuel prices already high, items in store already high, rates are horrible, the LEAST you can do is offer more spots for free parking. That’s why I rather shower there and go to a TA or a Petro to find parking imo

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stateside_irishman@reddit

That is a lot of bobtails. Is there an Amazon close by?

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Moist-Ad9272@reddit (OP)

Two of em!

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ParticularArrival111@reddit

There's a lot more than 2. Iirc there's about 8.

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RebelTvshka@reddit

An entire industrial Park is right down the block. 20ish big ass warehouses. Amazon, Hershey, etc.

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deadpat03@reddit

Their doing it for the race tracks. That place gets swamped with people trying to see the race for free or staying for a whole week for the drag races.

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Actual_Handle_3@reddit

Thats not the pilot opposite the track though

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deadpat03@reddit

Then that one is understandable. To many businesses in that area and to many people leaving their trucks their and going home every night. Place is always full of lowes drivers. I thought it was the race track because they are changing all spots to paid.

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Moist-Ad9272@reddit (OP)

Yeah this is the one off of 270. Although I’m sure the one by the race track will be like this eventually.

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Actual_Handle_3@reddit

You would think if it were because of race fans, they would have implemented it there first.

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sam367537@reddit

My company is doing the same thing and trying to get fuel cards for loves after being with pilot and flying j causing too many issues with drivers

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RADAR3015@reddit

I gave up on PFJ and TA/PETRO a long time ago when this paid parking thing started getting out of control.

Thankfully the company I drive for now is Upper Midwest regional, so Kwik Trip/Kwik Star and Casey's are my goto for everything including fuel. If I have to park at a big name truck stop, then it's only Love's.

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3PoundsOfFlax@reddit

Capitalism bad?

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Spare-Good-5372@reddit

Fuck that

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No_Needleworker9172@reddit

They’re doing this at plenty around the country.. 🥴

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PeteinaPete@reddit

Who pays for parking ? I don’t. If you are a half decent driver you know where to park for free snd where not. Basic rule is avoid truckstops.

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Over_Resolution_1590@reddit

The local pilot next to our yard in aurora Oregon got rid of all their free parking. It’s all reserved now. They added a southern tire mart where the free parking used to be

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Round-Guarantee4948@reddit

Maybe if drivers wouldn't trash the parking lot which I'm sure goes all into that body of water they wouldn't have to.

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FullAutoAssaultBanjo@reddit

Just park at the fuel pump.

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Inside-Definition-53@reddit

I think it has something to do with the push for points system. I have enough points to pay for parking at PFJ for a few days and increasing.

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East_History1325@reddit

After a few fights and shootings, it’ll go back to free parking. Can always hit the fuel area if you make it early enough

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craigslammer@reddit

Color blind here, can’t tell the difference

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Semi__Competent@reddit

Well a lot don’t enforce it anymore since they’ve had guns pulled on them…maybe keep doing that I guess 😅

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SilverSilver8@reddit

This is why I hate having to park near the city. Always try to park in the middle of nowhere

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mts6175@reddit

Honestly, this is fruitless. It's just part of the gig now. Too many people will pay to park, even if you don't

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mwonch@reddit

Except in specific locations, PFJ paid parking is honor-based at the moment. In certain locations they do have security who will verify a receipt (Houston Pilot, for example) and they WILL move ya. There are a few places like this, but most will not move a driver already parked. If they are doing paid spots, I really wish they would move the squatters.

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dopeless42day@reddit

Park, go inside, by a few items, save the receipt, come back to your truck and tape it on the windshield....mission accomplished.

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MajorHymen@reddit

Really only works at the places that don’t check anyway. I’ve been woken up at least 6 different times because I buy through the app and just never go get the receipt so have had to show the reservation and yes once I even tried putting up a random receipt. Guy still knocked.

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NFLTG_71@reddit

Yep, happened to me several times, even though the list that they had in their hand, said I paid through the app. It had the company I was with my truck number and my name and a box that said paid and they still fucking woke me up. I reenacted the Memorex commercial for her.

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SycoJack@reddit

They shouldn't be knocking if you paid, unless you paid like 5 minutes ago.

Otherwise they should have a list of paid trucks.

My company paid and I never got the receipt.

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MajorHymen@reddit

Nah, they don’t seem to bother printing out a list or even looking. The guy will just knock on trucks with no receipt. TA especially I’ve never not been woken up paying there. I think pilot might have had a list once but most times they just knock and say go get the receipt for the window after I show the reservation.

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SycoJack@reddit

You sure those assholes aren't just drivers being assholes?

I've watched the mall cops check their lists. It's extremely rare for me to get a busy body that demands you get a receipt. It admittedly has happened a time or two, but 99% of the time they just check the list.

Vast majority of the time someone knocks on my window when I've paid, it was another driver and I just tell them to go fuck themselves.

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foreverlost1nsea@reddit

They don't need printing shit out. Give the guy a phone with a real time list of trucks allowed to park, and a search button for license plates. That's all they need!

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SycoJack@reddit

Pretty sure that's how it's done now.

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NoChain2946@reddit

That don’t work. It’s a different receipt for parking

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TRexDriver@reddit

😆 that's what I do sometimes

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Usual_Safety@reddit

Honestly if I owned a truck stop it’d be 100% paid… too much trash, piss, shit etc

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Dr_Adderall_2000@reddit

Paying is not going to stop trash. Truckers will be dirty and lazy at any stop. And the clean loves that I been to, I’ve seen workers picking up on the lot and it was free parking…. So you don’t need to charge to compensate for cleaning cost.

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Usual_Safety@reddit

Then I’ll pocket the cash and treat the employees great. I was just at a decent loves in Cortez Colorado.. some asshole let their dog shit right at the pump and just left it there.

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roytwo@reddit

Parking has always been an issue, BUT I am SO glad I retired before paid parking became a thing

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misight@reddit

The idea is for all the truck stop chains to have paid only parking, then you will have to choice but to spend hundreds every month just on parking. They will offer "parking subscriptions" and crap like that.

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potodev@reddit

I usually prefer to park at truck stops that are at least 50-100 miles outside of cities. They can't get away with turning the whole lot paid in the middle of nowhere.

This is mostly a city problem, which was already a problem before this.

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Radiant_Swan187@reddit

Or they could just do like some TA/Petros and just have free parking for customers only. Still dont know what people issues is with that

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GiantEnemaCrab@reddit

Doubt it. If they could they would. The income from paid parking eventually works against them when drivers go elsewhere when their competitors offer free parking.

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polarjunkie@reddit

I think you kind of missed the point, you even said if they could they would, well they can and they are in many markets.

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theboywthagreenscarf@reddit

Pfj in Jacksonville is entirely paid. That’s the model they’re going for.

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WTAP1@reddit

Just a heads up, unless they have changed in the year I've been back home. This place won't make you move if you just park and don't pay and someone else rolls in who did pay. I paid one night, and they had to give me and another guy a refund.

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possibly_lost45@reddit

Part of it is Corporate greed but another part of it is they got to cover the cost it takes to clean up after nasty ass drivers.

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that_one_erik@reddit

This is just drivers punching down. Its corporate greed all the way. Paid lots are just as shitty and trashed as free

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homucifer666@reddit

Love's parking is free, and their lots on average are in better condition than PFJ and definitely better than TA/Petro.

Definitely corporate greed.

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that_one_erik@reddit

I use Loves exclusively

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Jacktheforkie@reddit

Don’t forget maintenance of the infrastructure, trucks are pretty hard on paved surfaces, plus truck drivers will likely use the toilets so they gotta cover the cost of maintenance for those, loo paper ain’t free

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cowboygeo89@reddit

For 3k in profits a night for parking that should be a real clean parking lot 😂

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freightliner_fever_@reddit

it’s like 99% corporate greed and 1% cleaning up lol

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TheAmericanDemon@reddit

Fill up fuel.. save receipt and tape it to window.. done

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TheAmericanDemon@reddit

And yes I go here alot because i pick up at hershey plant around the corner.

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Capt_Cyral@reddit

Pontoon Beach??? The RED line next to the road is the only paid spots there... 2/3rds of the parking lot is still free... I was just there yesterday and it's still the same as from 5 years ago...the only thing different now is the CNG pumps have a fence around em.

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Moist-Ad9272@reddit (OP)

I made this post sitting in the lot where they were actively painting “prime parking” on every spot shown on the map. Go back tomorrow and you’ll see.

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Virel_360@reddit

Yeah, but were you there when they took the old paid parking stuff down probably? It could be a matter of them just shifting where the parking is.

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Meatbuns66@reddit

Im gonna belive they increased paid parking, not the other way around. Just a corpa hunch

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Meatbuns66@reddit

Hahaha that sucks 😅. Womp womp.

Well at least that flying j in south stl off racehorse track or somethin always empty

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LonleyWolf420@reddit

Yup the one in Yuma did this. They have like 10 free spots and the rest are paid. I parked and didn't pay tho.. fuck em

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Wide-Engineering-396@reddit

The j in Baytown tx is getting remolded, no showers for next 6 months, parking lot is a nightmare

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homucifer666@reddit

Good thing the Love's across the interstate is fucking huge (for a Love's).

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SlowCryptographer178@reddit

Can we stop bitching about paid parking. Most of you guys don't buy fuel at every truckstop you park at. The vast majority it seems are eating out of a cooler or refrigerator. You throw your trash just anywhere leaving your piss bottles for the lot guy/gal to pickup and God know what's in some of those bags. You try to buy the cheapest products. Come on this is a business your visiting. I'll bet none of you know how much it cost just to keep that lot open. You all like that lot paved that cost money no potholes that cost money. Lights so you can see and be seen that cost money. I'd be willing to bet the average monthly power bill for the average PFJ stop tops 5k

Truckstops started charging for parking to help stay afloat and cut down carriers from using it as a yard. So many of you drop your truck off and go home for your time off OR everyday because its "free parking"

I've been driving since 85 had my own authority since 96 and the changes I've seen ya we deserve most of them simply because we won't hold our industry accountable

Ok rant over

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Gonzotrucker1@reddit

How about you over the road drivers start making your companies pay to store their equipment overnight at the truck stop, and charge them a fee for you guarding it?

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dk3tkd@reddit

Boycott approved! Never going there ever! To hell with that place.

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Unusual_Low1762@reddit

if only there was a way we as an industry could somehow come together as a workforce and legally bargain with the other parts of this industry, we could actually enact things like boycotts on truck stops that make it harder for us to park, or maybe stop working for companies until they agree to not screw us over.

What would we call such a coalition?

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Spankpocalypse_Now@reddit

If those anti-union truckers could read they’d be very upset with this comment.

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vfittipaldi@reddit

Its happening more and more at a rapid pace. I blame most of it on people who live nearby and park their trucks for days.

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Naborsx21@reddit

Just go to the speedway that's right there. Or stop anywhere before St Louis. Lol

There's a fair amount of parking in that area. Like

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daixso@reddit

That speedway is 🤢

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Moist-Ad9272@reddit (OP)

A cop was literally killed there within a week of it opening up

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Naborsx21@reddit

If you don't like the speedway there's a ta , another pilot a loves , well like 2 of them, and other places. I drove outta St Louis for a while the surrounding il area has a fair amount of parking at almost anytime.

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daixso@reddit

Yeah lots of options around I usually park well before St Louis area and go through in the witching hours

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Grimwulfer@reddit

I park in the paid all the time and never get checked.

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Odd_Studio2870@reddit

on 255 Chahokia Heights has a huge lot. Do not take my oversize parking spots. Expect someone to ask you for money.

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Lokisworkshop@reddit

The paid thing is such a money grab. There should be a 50/50 law at least.

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azmodan72@reddit

America, The land of the Fee. Don't forget to leave a tip for the cashier..

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JakeJascob@reddit

Yep that's been the treand for all large cities over the past few years. Its why i never stopped in em unless I was able to stop early.

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Jesse182g@reddit

I dont expect any truck stop close to a major city to have a ton of free parking. They get abused by people on home time/box trucks etc and end up having no spots for paying customers.

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take1000showers@reddit

This is true i hate it. I understand enforcing overnight abandoned vehicles it’s an epidemic where I am with the dropped trailers smh

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take1000showers@reddit

Same at the ones in off the PA turnpike i-70/i-76 everyone ignores it because ffs the unpaid parking fills up and we all spend money there

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Sterling_____Archer@reddit

Fuck paid parking.

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UnlikelyFunction652@reddit

Must be a company wide come up because they were doing the same thing at the PILOT in Canton Ohio yesterday!!!!

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TwoToadsKick@reddit

Yeah stick it to them bud! They'll be devastated

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Own-Opportunity4207@reddit

Sounds about right they’re all going to full paid parking lots. They charge three times for everything now they’re gonna turn their entire parking lot and I paid parking at $20 a night. They already don’t rape us enough when they charge us six dollars for a pack of budded lunch meat that we can get for a dollar at Walmart.

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