Question:
I am starting driving school soon and trying to decide if I want to drive for an outfit with a local terminal or one that lets me "take the truck home." The problem with taking the truck home is where to park it. I live in a suburb of Atlanta on a tiny street with a strong neighborhood association. There is no way I can park a rig in my driveway, yard or on the street in front of my house. So where would I park the rig? There is a Travel America and a Pilot each about 25 miles away ( in opposite directions). Would they let me park and leave a truck for 2 or 3 days?
Thanks for any help.

Answer:
Every city and neighborhood is different but in my city and from many I have seen most guys including me usually park on larger busier streets in legal areas of course no red curbs or signs posted I usually parked a few blocks from home on a larger busier street behind a high school which worked for me parking at a pickle park doesn't seem very logical or smart which I am sure they wouldn't appreciate it either try and find a large street or vacant area (get permission) that's about all I can suggest, local outfit right out of school good luck with that

Answer:
You will not only have to worry about "neighborhood associations", but zoning ordinances as well. In most towns/cities in FL.....you can get fined $100.00 a day for parking in the wrong place.
You might want to check into places where RV's are stored, or look for local trucking companies and ask if you can park on their property. I think parking in a truckstop and leaving a truck unattended is asking for big trouble. Someone could hit it, steal it, pilfer parts, tires.....and you might be held responsible for this by the company you drive for.
Also, if there are any companies in your neck of the woods that ship and recieve, you might ask them if you can tuck it away on their property....show up neat, clean, and sharp....goes a long way.
Depending on what make of truck you will be driving....be it Freightliner, KW, Pete or Mack, or Volvo.....you can also go and talk to the local dealers for those makes in your area. I know some of the drivers for my company park at KW dealers..... Its worth a try....and it will most likely be locked in behind a gate when they are closed.
Some companies are very particular where you park their trucks. I know mine is...as the location has to be approved by our "Safety Department"....so if anything happens to the driver while home....they know where the truck is.So I like what I do, you don't, too bad, get over it. Get on with your life, I am.

Answer:
Good suggestions. There are a couple of large shippers/receivers close (a bakery and a plastics company) so I will try them. I hadn't thought that a truck stop might actually be more dangerous. There are a couple of large industrial building vacant. I could try to get permission from the real estate agent maybe? There is also a Radisson Motel with a ton of truck parking a few exits away. It gets busy with trucks at night, so this might be similar to parking at a truck stop, which might not be good. Is it normal to pay something for parking privaledges or just get a verbal OK?
I am very interested in US Xpress, but they have no terminal around here. I really liked what I heard from the recruiter, trucks no more than 3 years old, all with autoshift, 75% drop and hook, and 90% of runs in the Southeast (no NE congestion to deal with).
My other possibilites are Roehl, Werner and Swift, all of which have large terminals around Atlanta, and I would keep the truck at the terminal when home.
What are your thoughts?

Answer:

First off the Recruiter is lieing to you,they all do. US Express operations cover more than the SE. I personally would not train with autoshift equipment,it limits job opportunities in the future,better to learn with the manual due to it's widespread use. Out of you picks for Carriers Roehl would be the best for training and hometime.
Answer:
The place where I park....on another local trucking companies property....I don't have to pay because I am only home once a month for 3 days or so. But there is another property where they want $100 a month....and they want the $100 whether you are there one day or 30 in a month.
Don't be surprised that if you get permission to park on someones property that they will want you to sign a statement holding them NOT responsible for your truck or property while it is there.
Vacant plants etc.....those could be iffy also....no real security to speak of, and the real estate people aren't probably going to want your truck around if they are showing the property....and I doubt they will let you control the lock situation on the gate.
Truckstops are the last place you want to park.
Hotel would be iffy as well.
One idea....I'm going to try and steer you to the right place..... look at the map of Atlanta area.... If you know where the TA is on the southside, outside the 285 ring....I think you get off at exit 53, go south. If you were going to the TA...you would turn right at the light. But instead, you want to turn left at the light (there's a restaurant and I thing a topless joint on the corner on the left side)....go down that road a little ways...there is a large terminal there. You have to go past it and turn left again to get to the gate. Our company rents space their for trailers and us to park. I've seen other companies trucks in their. If you can find the place....talk to them. Maybe they will let you park there for the couple of days a month you are home. You might have to pay a couple of bucks...but they have 24 hour access with 24 hour security....so it would be worth it.
Hope that helps.So I like what I do, you don't, too bad, get over it. Get on with your life, I am.

Answer:
Remarkable how dweller carriers pass the responsibilty of equipment and care onto the driver for no extra compensation isn't it?

Answer:

Isn't it though? I wish I lived where I could park the truck on a company yard, that way it would be their responsibility....
But on the other hand....when I was in the Army, I was financially responsible for combat radar systems.....as an E-5 or E-6....there wasn't much compensation there.....I got paid the same as an E-5 or E-6 who worked in an office and used a typewriter.....and even in Vietnam...clerks got the same combat pay/hazardous duty pay as we did
And when I was a salesman....I was responsible for my company car. I had it 24/7/365.....but I guess since it was mine to use for personal business and they paid for all the gas....I guess it was a fair trade off So I like what I do, you don't, too bad, get over it. Get on with your life, I am.

Answer:

They mave have been more heavily concentrated in the SE a few years back, but that is certainly not the case now.....RABELAM is correct.....the recruiter lied.

RABELAM is correct again!! If all you can drive is an auto-shift, you will have one heckuva time going somewhere else..... I drove an auto-shift T-2000 here at CFI....and while its novel not having to shift all of the time....I think they are a tad dangerous in that you have much less to do....less interaction with the vehicle...and I think as a result of that you can accidentally doze off. There are also other "pitfalls" to auto-shifts that have been discussed in the forums. IMHO.

While I know very little about them....I know that you never seem to hear them complaining about their company.....and no news is good news.So I like what I do, you don't, too bad, get over it. Get on with your life, I am.

Answer:
Park it on the fuel island and go home for a few days
If no fuel islands are available, park in the FRONT of the parking areas and make sure to take up 2 spots, that way no one will ding your door I make them thar Peter drivers green with envy

Answer:

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. I asked my dispatcher just why in the hell I should pay to keep my truck in a fenced-in lot with an AC plug-in. I could damn near hear him flipping through his rolodex of automated responses to dumb driver questions. "Well driver, you can't just leave your truck anywwhere yadda...yadda..yadda...
BS! I leave the damn thing in empty lots, at McDonalds, JC Penny's, wherever the hell I feel like. One time, I left it at this rich dude's house who my girlfriend is a nanny for. The guy took his family to the Bahamas for the week and he didn't care if I parked in his driveway. LOL! most expensive zip-code in the state and there's a 2005 International Roehl truck with a beat-to-hell 53' trailer sitting in the driveway. The company only got about 100 calls from pissed-off rich folks that weekend LOL!
I don't give a rat's (edited) either. I'm not paying some Freightshaker dealer or a gas station $20.00 to park a company truck with no reimbursement. Roehl finally got pissed off and "arranged" a place for me to park close to my house. Amazing what a few calls from the mayor's office will do LOL!!!!!
Answer:
Go with the terminal and/or drop yard. US Express doesn't have a drop yard in Atlanta???? Really??? Shocking!!!!
Save yourself a LOT of headaches and pick a carrier that has a yard in your neighborhood or MOVE or just sell your all your belongings (or get a divorce) and be homeless.
If you really want to be fully responsible for a 53' trailer and power unit then FIRST call your local police department and ask to speak to one of the traffic/parking enforcement officers as they can tell you what the local area will allow. You might also check on truck routes & prohibitions. Be a shame to find a great spot for "your" truck only to find out you legally can't get there.
Then you have to find a safe convenient place to park this 72 ft long, 13'6" high, 17.5 ton beheamoth. Commercial property that has been abandoned and about to be condemmed is a fine choice. Why after your truck & trailer gets vandalized, tagged, broken into, and out right stolen a half dozen times perhaps the company will find a spot to park their equipment.
Wee!!!

Answer:

In your situation, I'd go with Roehl or Werner for the time being. None of your other non-terminal options in that area are 'safe'.
.

Answer:
You may also be able to talk to a company in your area the ships or rec things. In my are some do not care if you are a local and park your rig out of the way.
Just make sure you offer them a not liable sheet they can sign.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
I don't believe we have a drop yard in atlanta but we do have a terminal a few hours up the road in Tunnel Hill, Ga just below the scales on 75 coming in from Tenn. We do have a dedicated cock a cola run in atlanta so you would be able to park at atlanta's coke bottoling plant on the north west side of the circle if i remember right.