Why Building a Truck Parking lot is right now hot for business.

For the American economy, the trucking industry is vital. In addition to many other roles and tasks, the lorry drivers are responsible for supplying raw material to the place where they are made and sold. Large and small businesses rely on truckers to safely transport their goods throughout the country while keeping their delivery times efficient. Significant assets can never go where they need to be without trucks.

The question of their parking is discussed by lorries. A truck parking shortage is currently occurring. The absence of adequate truck parking can lead to exhausted truck drivers, who are then forced to park in unsafe areas, including along the lane, vacant lots, and exit ramps. It should be a topic of national concern. Truck drivers should be secure, safe, and have somewhere to park.

However, it isn’t very easy for truck drivers to locate truck parking 56 minutes a day, and direct pay costs $4,600. Therefore, car parking is an economic issue, not just a matter of health and enforcement.

How is there a shortage of truck parking?

The reality is that only a small number of car parks are open. Many truck parks are not equipped with enough parking spaces. The key reasons why truck parking is not accessible are the following, according to a report conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI):

  • The condemned property, which closes off would-be parking lots to truckers
  • Increase in the number of truck drivers and big rigs on the road
  • Lack of coordination between states in providing a systemic approach to parking
  • Land price and local land zoning rules which make it impossible to build new truck parking lots
  • Not enough state funding for public parking, especially with hundreds of rest areas being shut down across the nation
  • Seasonal freight fluctuations
  • Truck companies and drivers’ variable delivery schedules making it difficult to predict when truck parking is needed
  • Truck driver regulations, including the new electronic logging device mandate and changes to the hours of service rules
  • Trucks being restricted from entering and parking in residential neighborhoods
  • Zoning issues that limit access to public parking

It is worth reiterating that the main reason there is not enough parking for trucks is a shortage of funds to cover the costs. Money is required to construct and maintain new parking spaces. Since trucks usually weigh 80,000 pounds, truck parking lots have more maintenance issues than standard parking lots for passenger vehicles, making maintenance more expensive.

And how can the issue be resolved? The easy solution will be to create more parking facilities for trucks on motorways and byways. Nevertheless, there is no funding developed to manage such projects. There are, however, other ways to strengthen the situation around truck parking;

Electronic signage along the highway is one way to get up. It will help truck drivers search truck stop parking spaces and public car parks before they arrive. Another way to use truck parking apps is for truck drivers to find parking while on the lane. Apps such as Park My Truck offer truck parking information in real-time and are free to use.

Truck Parking Importance

Truck parking is vital because truckers need a safe place to pull in to take a break, eat a fast meal, sleep, or finish their logbooks. Because truck drivers often transport goods, truck parking must be accessible both day and night hours on both weekdays and weekends. Truck drivers need more available space to spread across the U.S. so they can meet the criteria for service rest no matter what portion of their journey.

Public parking for passenger vehicles won’t do. Besides having well-lit and safe anywhere, truck drivers need parking, which can accommodate the size of their big rigs. Given the length and width of these vehicles, truck parking lots must be large enough for trucks to turn and park quickly and without worrying about causing an accident, with their big turning radiuses.

Secure parking for trucks is essential given the items these trucks bring. Such vehicles hold thousands of dollars worth of raw material and finished goods. Truckers should be able to relax without fear of theft or harm to machinery. When anything happens to the products being transported by those truckers, companies will suffer. Furthermore, truck drivers would not be able to take those routes and loads because there is not enough truck car park.

The extra time people spend merely looking for parking contributes to local road traffic congestion too. It can result in delays not only for the truck but for those on the road as well. Truckers often appear to drive for a more extended period searching for space, using up more fuel.

Despite proper truck parking, illegal truck parking prices are expected to increase. Truckers would be forced to park in dangerous areas such as the shoulders of the lane. It poses health risks not only to the drivers but to other vehicles as well. Parking also obstructs car and bicycle lanes in prohibited areas and sightlines at driveways and intersections. The lack of truck parking also contributes to truck drivers’ stress rate, which may cause these truckers to leave their jobs, further exacerbating the shortage of truck drivers that America is currently suffering from.

As you can see, the demand for truck car parking is strong. As more trucks are being placed on the road, this demand will continue for the next few years, with no new truck stops being added to them. While road transport continues to be one of the main modes of freight transport, truck parking will remain until either the public or private sector tackles it.

By constructing a truck parking lot, you’ll fix the parking shortage problem and offer a service or product in such high demand. Because of the high demand, you do not have to think about finding customers in your truck parking lot. Truck drivers should arrive in droves to your truck car park. When you’re constructing a truck parking lot, you’ll support truck drivers and other companies who rely on trucks to move their goods, as well as the entire American economy.

However, starting a truck parking company is not just about paving a car park for the trucks. There is plenty to remember, including the following:

  • City Truck Parking By-laws – Most, if not all, municipalities have zoning bylaws regulating which areas of the city are reserved for facilities development. The three most popular areas are the rural, manufacturing, and residential regions. Truck parking lots will more often than not be built only in areas zoned as industrial. Truck parking is typically only permitted for temporary purposes in residential areas, and only for small, 5-ton trucks. The larger, heavier Class 8 trucks are not even allowed into residential areas. In the meantime, it is permissible to construct a truck parking lot in an agricultural area, but only after such conditions have been met.
  • Truck Parking Space Dimensions-Trucks are large and require ample room to turn and park with or without trucks. The average trailer is between 48 to 53 feet long, but the most common model is the 53 feet trailer. Semi-tractors can length from 20 to 25 feet, depending on the wheelbase of the particular vehicle. Based on these measurements, it is safe to assume that a tractor unit parking stall would be at least 30 feet long, with a width of 15 feet, making space dimensions at least 450 square feet of a typical truck parking spot.
  • Scouting Possible Truck Parking Facilities: It can be challenging to find a suitable location to build your truck parking lot. You can get acquainted with various zoning classifications in your city to find places where you can create a truck parking lot! You will also recognize the process of submitting a rezoning request to allow you to turn commercial areas into industrial areas, enabling you to create a parking lot for vehicles.

It would be best if you started building your truck parking lot after considering these and others. When setting up, the parking lot for your trucks should pay for itself. Suppose you are ready to build a high-quality truck parking lot. In the commercial sector, the trucking business is one of the most vital contributors to the United States economy. Although it is competitive, the trucking industry is highly profitable for several reasons. One of the main reasons is that truck drivers are in charge of delivering raw materials for manufacturing and transporting the final products to markets.

Almost every organization, whether it is a small business or a large corporation, depends on truckers to move and deliver their goods. If the trucking business did not exist, Americans would face significant challenges in transporting their products across the country. Due to the immense need for truckers in the United States, there is a tremendously high demand for parking lots for trucks.

It is expected that the need for truck parking will only increase in the future.

With an ever-increasing demand for truck parking areas, it becomes evident that it is extremely profitable for entrepreneurs. The standard rate for one stall is about 175 USD, which will generate a revenue of 7,000 USD per month for an acre of land. With a profit of 2,000 USD a month, many people are looking to own a truck parking lot. However, certain things need to be done before you start this business.

 

 

 

  • Create a Business Plan – Every successful business starts with a detailed plan. This is meant to lay down the foundation for your business and help you achieve your goals and objectives quicker. Investors and other financial institutions will be particularly interested in your plan and base their loans and funding on how concrete your plan of action is. It is essential to consider as many aspects of the business as possible so you can develop a comprehensive proposition.

 

 

  • Seek Advice – Like all other businesses, obtaining advice from someone who has experience in the industry will provide you with a competitive advantage and reduce the risk of failure. While people who own or run truck parking lots in your community are not likely to offer their expertise, you can reach out to business owners that you will not compete with directly. On the other hand, you may also look for a business mentor who can guide you and ensure that you make the best decisions for your business.

 

  • Become Familiar with City Truck Parking By-laws – Many municipalities in America have local zoning rules that determine where truck parking facilities can be developed. Truck parking areas are usually located in areas that are zoned as industrial sites, while some regions allow them to be constructed in agricultural sites. Residential areas typically limit commercial vehicle types that can temporarily enter and park or prohibit it altogether.
  • Find a Suitable Area – Because of zoning regulations, finances, and city bylaws, it can become challenging to find a place where you can develop a truck parking lot. Hence, you should know the regulations in detail and look for an area compliant with all laws and requirements. Additionally, you can request commercial areas to be changed to industrial zones, which will permit you to construct parking lots. Most municipalities will require a hard-surface parking lot without which the area can only be utilized for temporary parking.
  • Analyze Competitors – This needs to be done before you initiate your truck parking business. It is always good to check out your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses and learn from their mistakes. The most important thing to understand is that you should never underestimate your competition. Your success depends on how well you analyze the area in which you plan to open your business and how well you understand your competitors.
  • Consider Franchising – Your business has a higher chance of success if you keep franchising as an option. This will not only lead to more profit but will also create a good track record. Ensure that you choose a location that has the potential for successful franchising opportunities.