As geocaching has grown a number of people have found themselves attempting to park something a bit larger than your family sedan in order to go looking for the hidden smiley. This phenomena resulted in the formation of another caching website specifically for 'big cachers' in trucks, motor homes and pulling camper trailers, GeoTruckers.com.

In the interest of safe caching for those in larger vehicles, GeoTruckers has suggested guidelines to consider for a cache to qualify for inclusion in the bookmark lists, specifically that of adequate safe, off-road parking. Parking on shoulders is understood to be a hazard to passing motorists and dangerous to those cachers as well, in that the larger vehicle cannot pull as far to the side as smaller vehicles and when restarting can take a long time to get rolling, blocking traffic and causing congestion.

When wishing to place a cache accessible to those with larger vehicles, many cachers do not know what to look for. First, there must be a place to safely park a large vehicle off the road in a designated spot. No shoulders or freeway ramps, no private property unless permission is obtained first (even if other trucks park there), or unless it is a truck stop or rest area location that trucks normally frequent.

This does not mean that the cache must be at those locations, but only a reasonable area from the safe parking. Generally, up to a half mile is acceptable, and there are many caches that truck cachers have gone after even further, if their schedule allowed. And because safety is the foremost consideration walking along a busy street with no shoulders isn't encouraged either.

These are basically the only requirements for a GeoTrucker-friendly cache. However, keep in mind that because of time constraints, many will not go looking for complicated multis or work complicated puzzles that require onsite research. A quick Suduko puzzle or similar that can be solved while on a DOT Federally-mandated break before arriving at the cache location is great, both in type and for helping drivers keep their minds active. And because drivers spend so much time sitting, a short walk into nearby woods is usually welcome to stretch the legs, so please avoid the micro outside the restroom door.

If you have a question about whether the location you are considering would be GeoTrucker friendly, check the guidelines as you consider the location. Or feel free to ask one of the denizens of the GeoTruckers forums, most participate using the same name as on Groundspeak and will be easily recognizable. With the aid of Google Earth or similar, it is no problem for them to take a look and offer some insight into what is required for the large vehicle operator to safely sign your logs and move your travelers.

Editors Note: Kudos to TruckerLee and everyone who has worked hard to make a great website where truckers, motor home and camper trailer users can find caches near safe easily accessible parking. The reader should keep in mind that these are Geocaching.com-listed caches, GeoTruckers highlights and bookmarks those listings which are accessible to big rigs.

By Trucker Lee

Trucker Lee began caching in August  2006 after stumbling across a GeoCaching news article,  seeing it as a way to occupy down-time and encourage exercise while working.   He can currently be found driving in the continental United States,  when not parked to search for caches.