Would you visit this truckstop?

If they would cut a deal where I can get free parking when I get a PM service done, r eat in the restaurant, or spend money in the store to comp the parking, I would absolutely park there. I don't mind spending money to park in a truckstop when it
1. Guarantees me a parking spot
2. Keeps the riffraff and the trashy truckers out.
3. Shortens the shower lines

Thing is, you run into some of these truckstops that are the only place around and they charge you to park mo matter how much money you spend..like that crap hole in OtayMesa. Never would park there.

 

I would say you have to decide if you want to be a truck stop, or a yard.
If you want to be a truck stop than parking should be free or else you will be bypassed. If you want to be a yard then by all means you should charge as that is what the person is primarily using it for.

For me running local work with three trucks. I don't make enough to rent my own piece of property to store my trucks and a container for supplies. I would be paying for a spot to keep my trucks. If you were going to have a lube shop and a tire guy on site then there would be a very good chance that if the work is good I would be using them. If you offered the service where I drop the keys off. The oil is changed and then you park it back in the spot afterwards ready to go in the morning that would be great.

To me that is the way to differentiate yourself. Give the fleet yard services to the O/O or small business. It is something I would be willing to pay for.

 

If you plan to charge a fee to park, I certainly would gear it toward local drivers needing a place to park for several days at a time. And even at that, 150 a month would be steep. Unless you provided the guy a marked parking spot and a storage shed behind it. Guys just passing thru likely won't pay if they have other options.

 

Plain and simple I think its a good idea due to the fact of $10 a night isn't bad for a clean paved spot,like everyone said check out the asphalt and locals I live in Florida and know how #####y people can get. By the way to some of the OTHERS on here 595 TS charges now $20 w/o fuel which is nuts .

 

I myself had thought of doing something similar, and my plan around location is the old mark III buildings off of I-75. lots of parking area, and thought of inviting Goodyear in to have a dedicated truck tire shop.given the existing building space, they'd be able to store alot of tires, on premises,and run roadside right from there.plus offer other basic mechanical services (oil change/trans oil change, greasing ( chassis and 5th wheel ) air filters etc ) given that it was already a secured facility, id have priv sec in too keep out the vermin,like lot lizards, etc. want this too be a good clean truck stop, where a driver and their pet ( pet rest area planned as well ), can relax and not have to deal with much nuisance ( not much i can do about the trucks coming and going ). i also considered offering laundry services. both a do it yourself laundromat, and a pick up an wash/return. plus showers would be offered. too top it all off, restaurant services ( think golden corral style ) so both buffet, and a menu order option. in time id like to be able to offer fuel service.

 

To be honest, you would be better off by building up the parking area and just renting out spaces to local guys on a monthly basis. Put up a good barbed wire fence and good security system in place and you will have no problems making revenue on your investment. Depending on how nice the building is, you may want to tear it down as well to free up some extra revenue making spaces. Secured parking in S. Florida is a premium, and you could easily get $150 a month per sopt. As I said, make sure it's secured parking, with video survailence and have a good insurance binder and waviers on file for each renter. You could easily hire a security guard and just make them a nice place to hang out as well (security shack of some sort)... that is what i would do.