Interstate rest area stops

Dutch_12078 wrote:

KD4UPL wrote:
Technically, in VA, it's not even legal to sleep in a rest area. (Go figure.) I've known State Troopers who have woken up truck drivers and made them leave the rest area.
It varies by state. I used to be a truck driver and I've heard that KY is one of the states that really doesn't mind trucker's (and RVers I guess) sleeping their.

I hope VA troopers aren't still ordering OTR truck drivers to violate the federal hours of service rules. Since the introduction of electronic logging, they have little choice on where they stop for the mandatory rest periods.

Are you suggesting truck drivers are too stupid to keep track of their hours and plan ahead? That's pretty offensive. I don't believe the average truck driver is that stupid.

It's not that hard to plan your route. If you get stuck for an extra 2 hours at pickup, you know right away, you should be looking for a site to stop 2 hours driving time sooner. Reminds me of the old saying, "A failure to plan on your end does not constitute an emergency on mine."

It's often tolerated but there is no special intention or rights for trucks to spend the night in rest areas.

To the OP: It's really not the intent of rest areas. They are intended as a place to stretch your legs and go to the bathroom. Maybe have a quick bite for lunch. 9 out of 10 times, no one will chase you off and you just as much right to use the rest areas as truckers do.