FlyingJ,no parking asked to leave.

Someone should get smart and start making a sole business of paid parking lots for trucks ... Like secure areas fenced in .... And facilities nicer than a average truck stop.

With the parking shortage , some high traffic locations could make stupid money if it's done right ....

 

A guy in SoCal brought up in another forum section a few months back that he was starting a feasibility study for such a business in the Hesperia area (parking and maybe regular food trucks, but no fuel or store sales). But as I noted, I'm an exception. I'll pay for quality, reserved parking space in many situations, but 7 out of 10 drivers will simply refuse to "pay to park" no matter what all other sorts of value-added amenities the price includes. It simply violates every sensibility they have to work with.

But the most prohibitive factor is the land, site development, advertising, and permits in a prime, easily truck accessible area.

 

That's the problem. It's not economically feasible in urbanized areas where there is a shortage of truck parking and in less developed areas there's no demand for paid parking.

 

itll never make $

 

Bulldoze the vacant buildings down, set up basic parking for trucks, and enough bull dozing will lower crime(many of these places are just havens for you know what anyways) Put 24/7 guard in guard shack for entering and exiting trucks, basic camera system, optional would be a portable bathroom on site. I have my own rolling kitchen so I don't care about the food deal , but I know mobile food vendors that would love to have the account. Most of us in areas where no parking is would not have a problem with paying a reasonable fee to do our break at, I know I wouldnt. All these vacant lot/buildings, bulldoze them down and let them get some stupid money goin. Just sayin. Maybe it's gonna take girl power to get this going across the country..lol

 

No we're not and no we don't.

 

I think this is a bigger part of the problem. Why do you have "no options" exactly? Did you drive by a perfectly good place to park an hour ago? Did you not plan for the potential of not finding parking? Are you always running your clock out of hours every day?

There are always emergency situations and unforeseen problems that arise, but if this is happening with any regularity, I think it might be a driver problem, not a truck stop problem. It's not Flying J's (or any other company) responsibility to provide you with a safe place to park. They are a business like any else and have rights to govern their private property as they see fit.

There definitely is a parking shortage across North America, but as a professional driver, you have to recognize this issue and plan accordingly.

 

If I had the capital, I'd already be investing. And not as a for-profit business either, but just general good-will towards truckers.

I think the whole "it needs to be near all the conveniences" mindset is what makes it so expensive. All you need is a lot with lines, some bathrooms and a couple staff to man the gate and general maintenance/housekeeping. A $2-5 fee at the gate would pay their wages forever.

 

Part of the problem is the "ma and pa" truck stops are either being bought out by the big chains or being "run out"(of business) by the big chains.