Bobtails and expedite.

Posted by Jamo3306@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 28 comments

Guys, please. We all have to run around bobtail from time to time, NBD. But when you're in a truckstop that's PACKED, maybe circle the lot once or twice to even SEE if there's a bobtail place? I'm in the Midwest and yall are KRAZY with this! Bobtail lot got 20 spaces and 6 trucks. While there's 8 bobtails and Expediters camped out and the bottom of a big truck slot. There's no place for the big trucks to park!

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28 Comments

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RothonTalvanen@reddit

It's pretty rare that I park bobtailing, but when I do I try to find a bobtail spot. If there aren't any, I'll see if there's a little nook I can tuck myself away in. Failing that, I'll see if there's a spot at the end of a row open I can back deep into; at least in that case I'm in a spot most folks don't want to be in anyways.

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warwgn@reddit

I’ve never seen Bobtail specific spots. I park in the car section when I’m bobtail.

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Jamo3306@reddit (OP)

Where do you work?

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warwgn@reddit

In Canada. Mostly on Ontario and Quebec. I have been to Manitoba and New Brunswick, but those trips are extremely rare.

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Jamo3306@reddit (OP)

I don't think I've been to Canada-land since the 'aughts. I don't think I ever saw a full truckstop there either. 🤷

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warwgn@reddit

We do have Flying J’s… Petro-Pass is similar to TA/Petro. There are independent truck stops too, but those are few and far between.

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Jamo3306@reddit (OP)

I'm pretty sure I stayed at the only Flying J in the country when I was there. Then Huskies and Petro-canadas. The mom and pops were nice, you could always get a good meal there.

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random02991@reddit

They don't care

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Jamo3306@reddit (OP)

My only consolation is, one day it'll happen to them.

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COATHANGER_ABORTIONS@reddit

I mean, it happens all the time. I say "oh you motherfucker" jokingly and realize that everyone's gotta park and head to the next. I get it, it sucks, but like others have said, everyone's gotta park. I'll share my space with another bobtail if I can, but I can't really just cruise around to find something else.

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Jamo3306@reddit (OP)

No and I wouldn't ask you to. I just want the straight trucks to park in bobtail parking. No room at the Inn? Grab a pull thru so another bobtail can share it.

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COATHANGER_ABORTIONS@reddit

Oh yeah, I mean I see straight trucks too, and I'm not really gonna trip unless I'm blocked in. It sucks for everyone, my guy.

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Jamo3306@reddit (OP)

It shouldn't have to tho.

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COATHANGER_ABORTIONS@reddit

I'm right there with you lmao.

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Exact-Leadership-521@reddit

One day they'll enter a parking lot and have no availability? Yup. Plan out a couple nearby and know the area. I know what lots I can see from the freeway and judge if father in the city is even possible or take one of my chosen onramps or industrial areas to park

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reducethedebt@reddit

Since I bobtail a ton I usually just take 2 car parking spots in the back of the lot. No sense in taking a spot from the OTR boys.

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Jamo3306@reddit (OP)

I see you guys and am grateful. 🧢

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ConsciousAwareness69@reddit

The few perks of driving nights is when you stop for your 10 hour there’s always spots free

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Jamo3306@reddit (OP)

Oh I remember. When I broke out driving, it was in reefer. I left around 4 or 5 and drove till 5 or 6 and id get a Hollywood spot that some early bird would make for me. But now I do pneumatic and it's pretty much just daylight hours and not much on the weekends.

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Nero-Danteson@reddit

I try to take the weird bitch and a half spot the few times I do bobtail when there's no bobtail. I'll also ask if I can park in a not-spot somewhere.

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Jamo3306@reddit (OP)

When I bobtail I park next to the curb, or the BT lot. Or on the end. But I'm not bobtail very often.

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Exact-Leadership-521@reddit

If it says "no parking" along the curb then I leave that spot for long combinations that can't back up and still want to stop for a coffee. I'll even park there to get a coffee if the lot is full and carry on to a spot that's not "no parking"

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WontSwerve@reddit

God I love local.

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homucifer666@reddit

If I'm bobtailing, I'll try to get a bobtail parking spot or even park in the hashes to leave spots open for the guys with trailers, but at the end of the day I have to park in a safe spot and if that means taking a "normal" parking spot then that's just how it is. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Jamo3306@reddit (OP)

If the bobtail lot was full, I wouldn't complain, I know how it is. But the bobtails can park just damn near anywhere, hell I even see them parked at the front of the Loves. I can only park at the truckstop in the big spot.

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homucifer666@reddit

Also consider that the lot might have been full when they got there. We don't all operate at the same hours. I've also noticed some truck stops are posting signs forbidding bobtails from parking on the car side lately. I realise that assholes definitely exist, but in the interest of avoiding being a perpetually angry person, I try to think there's a reasonable purpose for why people do what they do.

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Nero-Danteson@reddit

It's also close to summer, the lots with bigger car lots are going to want that room for RVs/Campers (to keep them out of our hair).

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aczoz@reddit

I don't care.