Page 31 - ATR 1 2015 web

parkiNg,
Continued from page 23

neW Parking sites in sight?
The law of supply and demand
would say that eventually more stops
will be built. Unfortunately, it’s not that But ultimatelY, there proBaBlY NeVer will Be
simple. Dorian said ample land area eNough parkiNg spots aVailaBle, which meaNs
must be found— the Jonesboro site is 14 that it comes dowN to the skill of driVers.
acres with a 10,000 square foot build-
ing — in a prime interstate spot with
convenient exit and entrance ramps and
utilities to the site. Those requirements
narrow the possibilities considerably.
If the private sector is unable
completely to meet the need, could
the public sector help? Under MAP-21, get blocked in, and often fellow drivers To address the parking issue, ATRI
the federal law that funds highway won’t respond to a knock on their door offered three proposed strategies in its
needs, construction projects eligible for for fear of losing their spot if they move annual survey. By far the most popu-
funding include rest areas with truck their truck. Robertson has been forced lar, supported by almost 80 percent of
parking, and parking areas adjacent to back out onto an exit ramp and then respondents, was encouraging invest-
to commercial truck stops. Known as pull forward onto the interstate in order ment in new parking facilities and
“Jason’s law,” that provision was written to leave. opening closed public rest facilities.
in honor of Jason Rivenburg, a driver “When they get in there in the Other strategies — educating the public
murdered in 2009 in South Carolina. middle of the night, 2 or 3 o’clock in about the safety consequences of closed
He died after parking at an abandoned the morning, they’re in there all kinds public parking facilities, and research-
gas station, the only place available, 13 of ways,” Robertson said. ing real-time truck parking information
days before his wife, Hope, gave birth to availability and parking reservation sys-
twins. His murderer stole $7. Parking strategies tems — drew much less support.
Straessle said the Arkansas Highway Because there aren’t enough truck But ultimately, there probably never
Department “tries to maintain a bal- stops or rest stops, drivers and fleets will be enough parking spots available,
ance between eliminating illegal park- sometimes must be creative when which means that it comes down to
ing on highway rights of way and not finding a place to park. Southern the skill of drivers. Years of experience
competing with commercial busi- Refrigerated Transport provides a pocket have taught Robertson and Collado
nesses.” It recently converted a replaced truck stop guide for its drivers that lists where the best spots in Arkansas are.
welcome center in West Memphis into stops and places to park along with a Robertson said there are a surpris-
a truck parking facility with no ame- brief description of amenities. The com- ing number of good spots on the back
nities. Closed inspection pads have pany is also producing a training video roads, where stops aren’t always the best
been converted to truck parking, as with tips on time management and trip maintained but do offer a place to rest.
has the Bardstown rest area on I-55 planning. Because CalArk is centrally Drivers learn the art of diplomacy — ask-
in Mississippi County. Additional rest located in Little Rock, many of its driv- ing fellow drivers when they are leaving,
areas will be converted “where we can ers park at its headquarters. Jeff Loggins, and asking store managers if they can
do it and when the opportunity presents president of Loggins Logistics out of park for the night.
itself,” he said. Jonesboro, said his drivers park at retail- Most important, they learn to
Robertson and Collado say they ers such as Walmart when necessary. He plan for more than one spot to park,
avoid the state’s rest stops, citing said home furnishing retailers such as including “a third one I know I can
the one at the 200 mile marker on Lowe’s and Home Depot tend to be open get to,” Robertson said. They do this
Interstate 40 as an example of one to parking because his drivers are deliv- because they know they will face the
that is insufficient. At some rest areas, ering goods to their stores. But retailers consequences if they don’t. “By the time
the spots are not long enough for the are not always the best option. On more you get to some place, and you’re out
53-foot trailers that are now an indus- than one occasion, CalArk’s drivers have of hours, you’re done,” Collado said.
try standard — not to park, and certainly parked at a Texas Walmart to shop and “You’re done. You’ve hanged yourself
not for the extra turning radius that is then returned to their truck to find it out to dry.” ATR
needed. It’s easy to have a collision or to had been towed, Hilton said.

arkansas trucking rePort | issue 1 2015 31