They don’t really teach you truck stop etiquette at truck driving school. Most drivers learn from other drivers. Practicing it aids in maintaining a safe, respectful environment for drivers and truck stop employees.
Plus, it’s just the right thing to do.
Truck Stop Parking Lot Tips
The parking lot is where it all starts and where a lot of the action takes place. Good truck stop etiquette starts the moment you pull into the lot.
- Use your lights respectfully. Turn off your headlights when you enter the parking lot. Most truck stop parking lots are well-lit, so using your clearance lights is really all you need. Others can see you just fine. If someone is backing in to park or leaving, and you are waiting to get into a space, turn off your lights so that they can see better. Turn your lights off after you park. You can use marker lights to aid other drivers.
- No jake braking. Just don’t. It is not funny. It’s pretty much a jerk move. People are trying to sleep and wind down.
- Drive slowly and follow the flow of traffic. Driving slowly through the parking lot and following the flow of traffic is just safer than barreling through to your spot. There are going to be drivers walking across the parking lot, many of them tired or groggy after just waking up, and they need a safe place to walk. Slow down.
- Use turn signals and lights to communicate with other drivers. This is just a common courtesy that is also a good safety measure. Plus, it’s respectful to the other drivers.
- If you are bobtail, try to find a parking space where a trailer won’t fit. If you can find an end space, two bobtails can share. Try to avoid taking a full-size space. Leave it for the tractor-trailers.
- Turn your music down. People are sleeping.
- Don’t use the parking lot like your personal toilet. Sadly, this is much more common than you might think. Just go inside and use the toilet.
- Don’t knock on other drivers’ doors. If you haven’t been invited, don’t do it unless there is an emergency.
- Don’t mess with another driver’s truck – ever. Not cool at all. And it can get you in a lot of trouble. It happens, though, so always check your truck before you leave. A quick inspection of your fifth wheel (check the coupling nut), tie downs, etc., can save you a lot of headaches.
- Park smart. If noise bothers you, don’t park near running reefers, conestogas, etc. They are not quiet because they must be running. If you do end up parking next to one, don’t complain about the noise.
- Park respectfully. Back in, don’t nose in. Leave the driver next to you enough room to open their door. Don’t park too close.
- If you have an animal, pick up after it. Don’t leave your animal’s waste in the parking lot for others to step in. Take the animal for a walk in a designated pet area or off the parking lot pavement.
- Know where the back of your parking space is when parking. If you are in the front row and back in beyond the back of your space, you push the other rows back as well. This leaves the last row with no room to park or with less room to try to get into a parking space.
- Be patient with people who are trying to park. Yelling, honking, and getting angry will never help the situation. It will only make things worse.
- Don’t hit your air horn – or train horn. Not while backing up, not while riding through, and not while riding by. People are sleeping.
- Don’t park in front of the scale. Get your weight ticket and move to a parking spot to get something to eat, get a shower, hit the head, or grab a coffee.
- Don’t walk across the scales when someone is trying to weigh. Just don’t. Pay attention.
Truck Stop Fuel Line Tips
The fuel lines are a common source of frustration for many drivers because of inconsiderate drivers.
- Pay attention and don’t spill fuel. When you spill fuel because you aren’t paying attention, you are leaving it for someone else to step in and stink up their truck with the smell of diesel.
- Don’t park in the fuel line. Fuel up and move on to a parking spot. Don’t “run in” for anything while leaving your truck in the fuel line. Get out of the way so others to fuel up too.
- Don’t block the fuel islands. After you fuel, don’t pull up just beyond the fuel island and park so that you are blocking it. You aren’t saving steps; you are creating a bottleneck and making yourself look like a jerk.
- Empty any trash in the trash can, not on the ground. It’s simple. Don’t litter.
- Use the windshield washing squeegee for glass and lights only. The squeegee is for your windshield, windows, headlights, mirrors, turn signals, and taillights. It’s for glass and lights, not to wash your whole cab.
- Don’t wash your dishes at the fuel island, especially when other trucks are waiting. Take them in the shower with you.
Truck Stop Driver Lounge, Store, Restroom, and Shower Tips
Inside the truck stop, you will encounter the employees and other drivers. A little courtesy goes a long way.
- Don’t take your frustrations out on the cashiers and workers. They are trying to do their job just like you are trying to do yours. Don’t abuse them because you are having a bad day.
- Take your phone calls in private. No one wants to hear your private phone conversation. It is disruptive and inconsiderate. Take your calls in a private area where you won’t disturb others.
- Wear headphones when watching videos on your phone. No one wants to hear your videos either. Use headphones.
- Don’t leave a mess. Clean up after yourself. If you use the coffee area, bathroom, shower, driver lounge, or anywhere else in the truck stop, don’t leave a mess for someone else to pick up after you.
- Flush the toilet. Please, just flush. And make sure it flushes. Grown people should not leave a bathroom looking like a disaster area.
- Don’t leave a nasty mess. What doesn’t make it into the toilet needs to be wiped off the toilet. Other drivers are coming behind you. Have some courtesy.
- Empty your “bottles” in the bathroom or shower and dispose of them. Many truckers use bottles when they can’t get to facilities. That is your business, but be respectful of where you dispose of your bottles. That type of waste is a biohazard. Empty your bottles in the toilet, the bathroom, or the shower area. Then throw away your bottles. Don’t leave them for some truck stop employee to have to pick up off the ground.
Interacting with Other Drivers
If you spend any time in truck stops, especially the driver areas, you will interact with other drivers. Just be courteous and friendly.
- Don’t be shy about offering a helping hand. If you see someone who needs help, offer it.
- Don’t talk about your load. You don’t know who you are talking to in truck stops, so it is best that you don’t talk about your freight. As a rule, drivers don’t do it because there are people who have very bad intentions. It is a serious safety risk.
- Practice good hygiene. You are interacting with other drivers, the truck stop employees, and other customers. Shower regularly, brush your teeth, and use deodorant. You’ll be more pleasant to be around, and you’ll feel better, too.
- Be kind. That’s really it, just be kind. Driving can be a lonely life. Many drivers are away from family and loved ones; they miss special days, and you never know what they are dealing with. Don’t make it worse. Make it better. A little kindness goes a long way.
Good Truck Stop Etiquette Separates the Experienced Hands from the Green Ones
Experienced drivers tend to be more inclined toward good truck stop etiquette. New drivers usually have to just catch on as they can because it isn’t taught in school. It is important. At its more basic level, it’s just sheer courtesy and consideration for others.
Those who don’t practice good truck stop etiquette give truckers a bad name. And it’s so unnecessary.
Do your part. Be respectful. Be kind. Above all, be considerate.
Truck Stop FAQs
How long can you park at a truck stop?
Different truck stops have different policies, but typically, it is around ten hours. Paying customers are often able to park longer. It is best to check the parking policy of the specific truck stop.
Can cars park overnight at truck stops?
Yes, cars can park overnight at truck stops, but not in the truck area. Most truck stops have a designated area for cars.
What is the “trucker do not stop list”?
The “trucker do not stop list” is a list of truck stops that truckers are advised to avoid because of concerns about safety. It is particularly geared toward drivers with high-value loads.
To learn more about Truck Driving options with a Certified Top-Pay Carrier, contact us at Barr-Nunn Transportation.
Drive for Barr-Nunn Transportation! Search Truck Driving Positions or Apply Now!
