Helpful Tips for Parking Your Tractor Trailer | West Coast Enterprises

No matter how long you have been driving for, parking a tractor-trailer is always quite a hassle. Tractor-trailers are supersized vehicles, and with many parking areas not designed to accommodate them, finding a safe and accessible parking spot is often a challenge.

While parking lots are typically lower-stakes situations than driving on the interstate, that does not mean that accidents are not possible—in fact, one in five accidents happen in parking lots. Thankfully, there are some ways to alleviate this stress so you can park easily and enjoy your breaks to their fullest.

How to Make Parking a Tractor Trailer Easier

Plan where you are going to stop. Planning your stops beforehand is a great way to alleviate stress surrounding your trip, and can ensure you can stop at places you are likely familiar with. Parking is always easier in a lot that you know, and you can make note of which places have better parking scenarios than others. This is also a good way to ensure you are taking advantage of truck-friendly restaurants, rest stops and gas stations instead of accidentally finding yourself needing to stop somewhere without a lot of room.

Avoid the end of the row. Parking your 18-wheeler at the end of the row might seem easier, but because these spaces have lots of congestion around typically, it can actually make maneuvering more of a hassle. If you are able to stay away from the congestion, you can focus on entering and exiting your spot safely.

Master backing into a space. While backing into a space may seem counterintuitive, it can actually be a great safety tip. Once you are comfortable backing into a space, it can actually be much safer than backing out of one later on. It may take a little bit of extra time on the front end, but your future self will definitely thank you!

Roll down your windows while you park. Weather-permitting, having your windows rolled down can help you get your tractor-trailer parked safely. With your windows rolled down, you can be more aware of your surroundings and hear anyone who may be trying to get your attention as you maneuver your vehicle.

If you need assistance finding the right rig for you, we can help! We offer plenty of upgrades to your equipment at fair prices. Contact us today to learn more.