As a trucker, I think this bears a mention; In an emergency, Hours of Service rules can be suspended

[A HERETIC I AM]

In other words, if a tractor trailer is responding to an emergency, such as the current one in Houston and surrounding areas, the driver can be exempt from standard hours of service limitations. Meaning that if say....a truck is heading to Houston from Chicago with needed relief supplies, the driver is not bound by the standard hours of service rules that limit him to 11 hours of driving after a 10 hour rest.

It is something to keep in mind when a situation like Houston occurs. Some of the trucks you may be near on the highways headed south or toward the affected area may indeed fall under this rule, so please show them extra care and respect.

They're on their way to help others. Give them a break.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency

Drivers responding to provide "direct assistance" to an "emergency" meeting the definitions in 49 CFR 390.5 and declared by FMCSA or a governor, are exempt from applicable regulations in all States on their route to the emergency , even though those States may not be involved in the emergency or stated in the declaration of emergency.

With this in mind, I would also implore drivers on the interstate to PLEASE, PLEASE not park your car in the tractor trailer designated parking areas of interstate rest areas. I see this all the damned time. Even if the rest area is empty, please do not do this. A truck parking area can go from empty to full in very short order, and looking for the last space only to find a "four-wheeler" taking up a space designated for a truck really pisses me off. Even if you are hauling a camper trailer or driving a pickup and a van trailer, don't do it. There is a shortage of tractor trailer parking in this country. There is no shortage of RV parking.

[Skittles]

1. K&R

I can't believe people park their cars in a tractor trailer-designated spot - I could easily envision a big-ass truck, er, nudging the car out of the way

[A HERETIC I AM]

2. If only that were legal!

How many countless times have I wanted to push a guy sleeping in his car into the weeds! I often see this when there are scores of empty car spaces on the other side of the rest area.

[cate94]

3. In Wisconsin

If you are traveling with a pet, you are directed to go to the truck side to get to the pet walking area. Of course, we just stop to rest our bladders and get out of there as quickly as possible, but I have never seen those parking areas full.

[raven mad]

4. K&R for the late night crowd.

There's been many a disaster that was mitigated a lot by long-haul truckers. Thank you.

[denbot]

5. Preaching to the choir brother..

My 2nd biggest related peeve is a bobtail is a full spot when there are other options at hand.