What qualities/amenities do you look for in a truckstop?

Getting fuel tank and run-off permits, and a dozen other needed permits for a truck stop is going to be one of your biggest obstacles. These require deep pockets in some prime areas, along with perhaps "some connections". There is money in the truck stop business, otherwise how do you explain the massive and explosive growth of Loves and Pilot. That said ... a lot of things have to be just right or the biz will fail in the first 6 months if it doesn't have a huge chain to support the singular location that may or may not be ideal.

Truckers alone WILL NOT support a $2 million investment in a prime location. Non prime locations are just that ... places where truckers stop, park, sleep, then maybe expect a $5 breakfast. You will be hard pressed to sell fuel to any of the large carrier fleets. You could perhaps look into AmBest and see if they can offer franchise opportunities, more then likely in the southeast.

 

Crossroads IGA worked like this for years. It was a strip mall with parking for about 20 trucks that was paved and a gravel lot across the street. The IGA, a laundromat and a couple of restaurants and a few other stores. Well off the interstate and never advertised but always busy. Unfortunately he sold out when they expanded the industrial park for UPS.

If you build near a industrial park there will be trucks looking for a place to park. Fuel is optional, and may be more trouble than it's worth.

You make money on all the other stuff.

 

Back in my trucking days I usually stopped at the old tuck stops, or those independently owned. I did stop at some of the chains, some were OK, most were not.

What I like was the truck stop I could pull in, fuel quickly, park, grab a bite, & get gone. Back them they were several drivers that felt the same way, got to know many of them at the home owned places.

One that I stopped at coming & going ever trip was at Quartzsite, AZ, Home owned, fuel only, showers, with a shop off to the side & behind it with a 2 wonderful mechanic & they could fix any thing including the reefer unit, restaurant across the street.

At new place was put in by a chain donw the highway but I never stopped at it, only drove by it.

Of course time has changed, truck drivers have changed, & its a different world.

 

Kinda what i was thinking.. let me know if ya need a manager

 

Well,at least we know the coffee would be awesome.....

 

Go to your local truckstop and talk to the manager and employees.Hang around a couple days to see what your getting into.A lot of negatives to go with the positives.