[hedora]

It is hard, but possible.

I’ve had to park the truck in downtown San Francisco a half dozen times. I’m pretty good at fitting into tiny spots, but it devolved into Austin Powers-style 100-point turns a few times. That’s with cameras, proximity sensors, power fold mirrors, sticking heads out the window, etc. I take the car instead of the truck whenever it’s possible.

As someone who’s visited Europe a few times, I can say that your big city delivery truck drivers make it look easier than it is in the US. I’ve seen more than one back down an alley at speed after folding back their mirrors to make the truck fit!

An American pickup truck is comparable in size to a European-style delivery van. (Eg: the common Mercedes ones, or the things where the driver sits over the engine.) US delivery trucks are much larger. Our streets were made after automobiles were common, so they’re wider than they should be (I prefer to walk!). That makes driving a truck easy.

Parking spots tend to be under-sized, however. Also, there aren’t consistent rules regarding “compact” or even full-sized parking spots. Some compact spots can’t fit an American sports car (it will be over the lines on both sides, but other compact spots are 2 feet wider and 4 feet longer than a full sized pickup truck.