The frustration for truck drivers in finding an overnight parking spot has been made worse with COVID-19.
A driver with southern Ontario firm Wayfreight Services, Mike Croucher, points out as drivers make their rounds now they’re finding fewer places due to travel restrictions.
“I have a couple of drivers that will stop before 5pm, because they know the chances of them finding a truck stop are slim, and that’s before the pandemic. So, it’s a good thing some light is being shed on this, but it’s also frustrating its got to this point,” says the truck driver.
Before the pandemic, he says a survey found Ontario truck drivers overwhelming said facilities were inadequate.
“Doesn’t take a genius to drive by one of these OnRoutes about five or six in the morning on the 401, and see all these parked guys sleeping on the shoulder because there were no spots left. We were already in a bad situation,” recalls Croucher.
However, it’s also during times like this we see the best in people. He tells us some family run restaurants are picking up the slack, as well as complete strangers.
“Had a driver at a truck stop, not sure where it was, I think down in the states somewhere, where its been twice now when people are baking goods, and putting them in sealed bags, and handing them out to drivers,” says the Wayfreight driver.
As for Hours of Service, Croucher notes he hasn’t heard of changes in Ontario to give drivers more room on the log book, while in the states he believes a driver can go another hour over the log, roughly, to find a place to park.
