New Truck Stop. What do YOU want?

This applies to all truckers out there. Please read and post your answer here or send to a moderator

I am in the process of drawing up plans for a truck stop. I am a driver myself and know what I would like in a truckstop. However I dont know everything, and everyone has different ideas.
Please post here what you would like to see in a truck stop. I am going to post some things that we are considering.
I am not in competition with any major Truck stop. I have no plans to try out do Iowa 80 or anyother truck stop. They each have their history with generations of truckers.
The truck stop I am planning to build would be located in Alabama, and I would like others continue to expand.


Owners Suggestions for outside conditions

Uhauls, pickups with trailers, and RV's no matter how large will be allowed in any area designated for Trucks. There will be a small lot available for their use and there will be a non refundable charge for them to use the lot.

Trucks that are bob-tailed will have a dedicated 5 acres lot for them. on the paid side so all together there will 25 acres of parking for trucks.

Again this is in the final stages and we are seeking any and all ideas.
Free Wifi will be provided at the lot

1. There will be almost 20 acres of parking.
2. Half of that twenty would be unpaid, no standing guard parking.
3. The other half would be a paid to get in parking, but on the way a purchase of 120 gallons of fuel or 30 dollars in truck stop purchase would be a cause for refund.
4. In both lots there would be roving guard 24/7. Security would be ample enough to provide emergent care or services to anyone.e
5. on both lots idle aire or another vendor would provide services for Driver Relaxation.
6. on the paid side all trucks must have an APU or use the idle aire. there would be absolutly no idling.
7.The entire lot would be under closed circut television with a guard on duty in the control room. All illegal activity no matter how small will be cause to call local authorities. Anyone caught prostituting, promoting it, or using the service will be banned from the lot, there company will be called, and after the fifth occurence from one company will be cause for that company to be banned from the lot.

Owner suggestions inside conditions

1) Right now we have planned 20 toilets and 15 urinals with 15 sinks in the mens room.
2) on the woman side there will be 25 toilets. and the same in sinks
3)There will be 5 single family restrooms for those traveling with different gender grandkids, babies etc
4) there will be 30 showers fully stocked with heads and sinks with mirrors and ventilation with television.
5) The restraunt will be geared toward truckers. There will be a whole section for drivers only with dedicated waitresses, salad soup bar, and their own cooks
6)The travelling public will have a small section to theirselves. and under no circumstances will they be allowed in driver lounge, showers, heads, game room, or restraunt. Waitresses and cooks assigned to drivers lounge will not be allowed to assist in the travelling lounge, however the travelling lounge will be able to assist in the drivers louge
7)the store will be geared to drivers. There will be a dedicated fuel desk for drivers. and for drivers w/o fuel there will be a dedicated counter for the guys to
8) the travelling public will have a counter for them.
9)Rv's or pickups with trailers of uhauls are not considered truckers or allowed the privelages of such.
10)As usuall we will have load boards, etc
11) there will be three tv rooms. with one dedicated to news, one to movies, and one to tv shows. and there will be a movie room playing current movies.

 

There is another thread here, "What do YOU want in a truck stop?" that has loads and LOADS of good ideas.

Judi Kay

 

The 20 split acres isnt in stone yet. In alabama I cant force you to turn off the engine or a no idling law. However I can create a lot that requires you to pay at which point you must adhere to the regulations of that lot. We are thinking about lowering the acreage of the paid lot . to about 10 acres. so that there would be some place for truckers to not have to listen to idling.

restraunt would serve a wide variety. Have a local company that is in the works that will provide the food.

also didnt add but we are thinking about adding a 150 room. it would be small big enough for a bed, tv stand, and a another bed for children. the cost would be minimal I think Vice Pres. said he would charge 10.00 for ten hour period, and there would be communal bathrooms


keep them coming

 

You were gonna spend for 25 toilets for the women drivers, but 20 for the men, who comprise the massive bulk of drivers?
I sort of wonder if you even read this thread.

 

They certainly do!!!


(Sorry, Red Fox....I just HAD to!!! LOL)

Judi Kay

 

We are gonna have urinals for the guys in addition to the toilets. A survey of most large truckstops shows that we will have 5 more heads than needed on average.
Also there will be detached batrhooms on the lot for drivers

 

Sell your diesel fuel at cost. Make you profit off the meals, store merchandise, and gasoline.

 

It never ceases to amaze how many individuals out there have no clue how to run a business. Look through the pages of posts here is testament to that.

There is a reason why almost every truck stop serves semis and four-wheelers. A similar reason exists for no security guards roaming the grounds issuing citations for steering wheel holders urinating on the ground/their tires/slow moving pets. Twenty or more fuel islands, selling fuel at cost, having as small of a markup on merchandise as Walmart, all pull-through parking, etc.

If you want to know what works best simply look at the truck stops that are consistently held in high regard by drivers: Iowa 80 and Bosselman Grand Island would be enough to cover everything you need to know.

The only real thing you could offer at your proposed truck stop that most of the others do not is nice co-located facilities like a Walmart, movie theater or similar. These facilities make some truck stops (the Pilot in Marianna FL, and the independent in Mt Vernon, IL are both next to Walmarts) much more desirable than they would otherwise be. The problem is finding such a location to build next to for cheap enough that you can make it work financially.

As far as your lot goes, I would concentrate more on space than surface. A well maintained gravel lot with a lot of space where I can be almost certain I can get a spot gets me off the freeway much more often than a smaller lot of 10-inch reinforced concrete where I have much less of a chance of finding parking. The key is that it be well maintained -- you'll need some sort of dedicated tractor/grader to keep it touched up.

As far as showers go, follow the lead of the truck stops I mention above and go for something along the lines of 150 square feet each instead of 100sf. If that means going from 15 showers to 10 so be it. As everyone has mentioned above, it is the cleaning crew that will make or break you here. They need to be quick and have an eye for detail -- make sure they have access to CLR or something similar to cut down on lime and scale buildup. The fans need to be cleaned weekly, if not nightly. Having faucets that let drivers adjust flow rate AND temperature (rather than just the latter) would be fantastic. Have one large towel and a wash cloth in each shower and make sure whoever is selling the showers always asks if the driver would like an extra towel.

I'm assuming you won't be a chain stop so consider making all showers pay showers, no shower credits for filling up. This will slightly lower the number of people who will use that service but you'll get paid in full for each shower (and professional drivers either get reimbursed by their companies or write it off their taxes). Use this extra income to incentivise your cleaning staff with higher pay.

As far as food goes, I would avoid going with a single large restaurant. If you had a smaller cafe (10-15 tables and a "seat yourself" bar area then a separate outlet selling something specialized (fried chicken like Popeyes but fewer choices and cheaper prices (think Buffalo Wild Wings type menu), or a really good pizza place) you might capture more of the food dollars from drivers. A good combination coffee/smoothie bar might work as the second food outlet as well. Above all else, dear lord please no buffet.

Good luck with your venture.

Jim