New Here. Wanted To Say Hello. Not Your Average Member

Hi!

Just wanted to pop in and introduce myself. My names Nik and I'm a combat vet looking to open a business in the trucking world. I'm not a driver but looking to start a truck parking center. Wanted to hop on a forum and get thoughts and concerns from the ones that use these types of spots. I want to be able to provide the best service as possible. Mods, let me know if this is not allowed and I will see myself out. Thanks!

Welcome Nik, first off thank you for your service from an old vet!!!

Now your question.

No doubt trucking parking is in short supply, espically in and around metro areas.

My suggestion is look around your target area and determine the need. Is this parking designed for short or long stays??

As far as what is needed is well lit safe parking, preferably close to an interstate with easy on/off access. Restroom’s are needed, hopefully food and showers for short stay drivers.

Those are the essentials in my view.

Our main purpose is helping new drivers and potential drivers to become safe and productive drivers while dispelling commonly held myths associated with the driving profession. Any trucking related topic is open for discussion though.

What area/areas are you looking to develop your truck parking center/centers? Drivers who are familiar with these areas might be able to tell you how badly more parking is needed there.

Hi Nik!

Welcome to the forum. I gotta agree with PJ trucking parking is in short supply. I think it makes a whole lotta sense to get drivers feedback on this such as what exactly is needed. I think you will find that safe parking next to an interstate is probably one of most needed things. But, I would just reach out to 25 or so drivers and ask them what they think are the top three most important and document and rank it by whatever you find out.

I think another aspect of this project that might be important is figuring out what location is best for this venture. Do you have the ability to select any location in a certain radius? You should map out 5 or 10 locations that have enough traffic and then compare the prices to see which offers the most value. Selecting a good location for the right price will be key here.

Your profits are a concern. Truck stops make money from fuel sales. The big chains give the big discounts and perks with which mom and pops can't compete. If you plan on charging for parking...you better have some wonderful amenities. But expect truckers to abuse those properties. Truckers will dump trash and urine bottles on your property so clean up is a must. Truckers will dump rejected products into your dumpsters adding yardage to the trash bill.

You have to have something that makes you stand out.

Hi! Thank you for the warm welcome and wonderful feedback. Yes I want to try to get some type of survey to find what is most important to truckers that already use these types of services.

I have a few locations in mind with 1 that is a clear winner so for. Has about 20,000 trucks at least go through the location as it serves as a corridor for trucks.

Things I have thought out so far. 1. Safe parking with 24/7 video monitoring. Well lit. 2. Paved roads. No gravel to worry about. No potholes. 3. Ample bathrooms and showers. 4. Laundry facility

While other things will be built it might be rolled out in phases. Some ideas are a restaurant where you can either sit for a hot meal or grab and go. Lounge area to sit and watch tv. Pool tables and dart boards to pass time. I’m sure I’m missing things here as I’ve been thinking about this for a while. My mother in law is the CEO of a big truck stop in south Florida so I’ll have her to help out with questions and such.

I just need to figure out if this location I'm looking at is more of a pass through or if it’s an end destination. That will be a big factor whether I do it or if I do which direction I take this.

Thanks again for the feedback! It is greatly appreciated.

Our main purpose is helping new drivers and potential drivers to become safe and productive drivers while dispelling commonly held myths associated with the driving profession. Any trucking related topic is open for discussion though.

What area/areas are you looking to develop your truck parking center/centers? Drivers who are familiar with these areas might be able to tell you how badly more parking is needed there.

The area is central Florida. It is literally at a cross section of i 78 and US27. Going to find a traffic study that has been done. They’re also a rail that goes almost directly through the industrial park with 3 spurs going to other properties. The whole park that’s being built is 646 acres that is going to be catered to logistics. Again this is just 1 of the properties I’ve been looking at but is the best I’ve found so far.

If your mother in law runs a big truck stop, she must already know more about what to do and look for than anyone here does. You have a tremendous advantage in that regard.

I’ve only had one mother in law and she was not particularly helpful to me in any way. In fact, I developed an expression that I used every time something gave me trouble. I’d say that “it went mother in law”. Hopefully, you are having a better experience.

Every driver appreciates truck stops with plenty of room to back into parking spots and very clear signs, for example, where to enter and where to exit, etc.

Little things can be very irritating. At Love’s, Pilot, TA, etc, they are sometimes out of paper towels or washer solution at the pumps. I hate that. So don’t understaff the facility. Make it a first class facility and you will attract drivers.

...at a cross section of i 78 and US27

I'm guessing you meant i-75 and US-27, near Ocala??? I'm not familiar with the area. Another driver might chime in with their opinion of the necessity of truck parking there.

There's already 3 Pilots, Loves, 2 Mom/Pop and a Petro all in proximity to I75 and US 27. If it is done right it might succeed as that area is always building super large DC's and a Buc-cee's is coming soon too.