Great Idea...Maybe???

sounds like a very expensive investment. but it would be nice to haave available.

 

good food and good sleep.

 

I've been to several Flying Hooks here East of the Mississippi. Thinking mainly bout the one on I-81 just north of the I-77 split in Wytheville, VA. They have a large driver TVroom with couches adjacent to the Laundry room, which wasn't, to my supprise, too expensive. Did need a few more sets of equipment tho. Shower area was the next room, video arcade/internet/telephone type room was next to the TV room also. Around the corner, was a barbershop. In a 2 1/2 hour time, I got a haircut, shower, and did my laundry. I thought that was great. After I finished my chores, I went back to my truck and took my nap. Then got up and had breakfast and headed on my way. Only things they didn'h have was the pool table or bunk beds, but hey.... I brought my own bunk with me.

Aren't ALL Flying Hooks the same?

 

Nope, some are downright small. The pair you are thinking of are decent (I usually stop at the 80) but some don't have nearly enough room to stretch out and relax.

Suzi, sounds like an interesting idea, and it could work, esp if the truckstops near you are smaller or are mom n pop T/S (not pilot,FJ,T/A etc).

 

I think its a good idea...but at the same time...like said...its gonna cost a lot. Im not even sure how big of a facility you are talking about. I don't know how many would go for a facility AWAY from the truck stop instead of it actually being there.

Its also not just men...but women too...chicks drive, lol.

Here's and idea i have...although it would cost alot...but maybe the local gov can help if there is a need. Not a need for all this jazz...but a need for a truck stop. If there is, then you can open up one with all those goodies.

Find a place for a truck stop and see if you can open up a independantly owned station from Philips 66 or sinclair...or anyone that will let you independantly. From there, you can add a laundry facility that is open to the public...but have machines set aside in one corner or whatever for the drivers. Having a laundry facility for just drivers wont break even....youd be taking $$ away from the rest of the place to pay for the help and thats not good. But if you have it open to the public and have the attendant working the clothes for the drivers...the public part of the laundry will pay for the attendant, while still giving you the machines for the drivers.

Then what you can do is design the building or rebuild it from the inside so that there is only minimum access to drivers only (so the public doesnt enter). There you can have a large lounge with microwaves and the like...pool tables..etc. lol...then youd have to find a place for sleeping and I dunno about you...but I dont like the idea of sharing a room with someone else. Maybe you can have a floor above the station with 10x10 rooms or whatever for sleeping...maybe a tv and pay phone or something. But the thing is..thats all going to cost $$ and the only way to make it work is if it was a larger project like this. Its not going to pay off if its a small operation miles away from a truck stop mainly because you are taking money away from that truck stop. So youd have to get word out to a ton of drivers just to get people to think about it.

The thing is that with my idea (not that its a sure fire winner)...but it is focused on a building that is making money by operating as a gas station...so the $$ from the fuel and other goodies is helping to pay for the services offered. If you buy the TV and all the equipment...that cost is then done...the only upkeep is replacing said equipment or paying for cable and internet.

 

Aside from start-up cost. You're going to be dealing with truckers that are located/parked on private property.

You can circumvent this by advertising on a CB and having the drivers come to you...bags in hand. But, eventually it may come back on the driver, with parking fees to recope monies lost by the truck stop.

One of the many down sides to our new HOS, truck stops closing late at night as they run out of parking spots for other drivers who would normally eat or use other services. Pharro's in PN being one of those.

Parked EMPTY trucks, do not bring money into a truck stop. So expect any truck stop to view your business with displeasure.

 

It sounds like you're wanting to open a t/s without calling it a t/s. Maybe with a few extra details that others don't have.

I personally wouldn't use the bed thing especially if I have to carry & use my own bedding. That's what bunks or hotels are for.

I have two modes of operation. Running like hell or laid over for the next day or two.

When running, i just need the parking spot to sleep & then a shower for when I start back up the next shift. It's ok to have a counter to serve some food. I would likely avail myself of that at some point during my stay. The rest of it would be a waste for me.

When laid-over, that's when I'd see myself taking advantage of the games or tv rooms. I'd still end up in the truck for a nap or other entertainment. A nearby snack counter or someplace to get medicines would be nice but it would only get to use it once in awhile.

I think anyone with a bit of land on a major route could make money in just the parking & bathing facilities.

As simple as that sounds to provide, there's high costs in just these alone. A paved parking lot with lights & markings. A security gaurd to roam the lot or at least a bunch of cameras. Someone to pickup after the slobs leave. Someone to clean the shower facilities & maintain the place. Liability insurances just in case. Lets not forget the municipalities' cut from it all.

A nice idea, the country could definitely stand a lot more truck parking. I could see it happening but it's not going to be cheap or easy.