A Florida technology outfit plans to take on a Herculean task: resolving the national truck parking shortage.
Fancying themselves as the AirBnB of trucking, ParkPro founder Tra Williams wants to use a newly minted app to connect CDL professionals with available parking spaces. The need for more safe overnight parking has exceeded crisis level in recent years. There are reportedly 11 big rigs in operation every day, vying for one spot.
“If you really think about the scope of that in the industry, critical doesn’t describe it. Truckers are being forced to get off the road early just to be able to stop somewhere they can park safely,” Williams reportedly said. “If you are three hours shy of your drive limit, but you know this is the last parking spot you have for 200 miles, well you have to stop.”
While government agencies have poured taxpayer money into erecting roadside signs indicating rest and truck stop parking availability, ParkPro expands the number of opportunities. The truck parking app would connect drivers with underused locations. These may include convention centers, raceways, and sports complexes.
“We are partnering with associations, large conglomerates and national sports franchises so that we can get instant scale across the nation,” Williams reportedly said.
Williams hopes that the app will be embraced by truckers, similar to the way travelers check AirBnB for last-minute stays. Although he doesn’t necessarily possess truck driver experience, Williams owns 10 FleetForce Truck Driver Training schools in Florida. Since owning and operating the CDL schools, he came to learn about the parking shortage. He also found the issue costs logistics operations upwards of 12 percent in productivity, translating into millions in wasted drivable hours and delays.
The ParkPro owner also made what some may consider a controversial statement. He said the country does not suffer a parking shortage. Instead, he contends the issue is more about identifying usable lots and looping in truckers.
Big box outlets such as Cabela’s allow semi-trucks to park overnight in their massive parking lots. Other business owners have followed suit. A Florida sports facility reportedly contacted ParkPro to let them know 260 spaces were available.
“What we have is a shortage of a conduit between those who have available parking and those who need available parking,” Williams reportedly said. “That’s what ParkPro does.”
The free phone app is expected to be made available for truck drivers and property owners in 2024.
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