The Future of Truck Parking (Shortage Issue) & HomeTime

I am currently building a new Terminal for a 500 truck company. It is state of the art with some of the nicest creature comforts you only find in luxury custom homes. All of our drivers, both Employee Drivers & Owner/Operators are beyond enthusiastic for the opening of the facility. I am planning to replicate this type of development to include overnight parking along the Interstates in various locations across the US. The concept is a "private club" type of membership where members will enjoy easy parking (wide, pull-thru angled spaces) with Shore-Power & Wi-Fi, VERY convenient access to a lodge building with Fireplace Lounge, Luxury Bathrooms & Showers, a healthy Food & Beverage program, a Mini-Spa with an assortment of fitness & relaxation options, Media Rooms, Game Center, Business Center, super nice Laundry facility and more. The grounds will be landscape and offer a park-type atmosphere. I am also considering the integration of a truck wash at most locations. Just to be clear - this is a "non-fuel" facility! It is really designed for the drivers who want a quality "resort type" experience that is high quality and helps make them feel "at home". So, here's my questions:

1) PRICING: If you received all of the above "great parking, shore-power, Wi-Fi, bathrooms within a very short walk and a great "lodge-style" facility with a mini-spa, how much would you be willing to spend per night? Keep in mind you can reserve your space in advance in a gated, fenced park with surveillance and we would plan to offer home-cooked quality meals at a fair price;

2) LOCATION: What areas along the Interstate is this most needed? How close to the Interstate is important to you - willing to drive a mile or two off the Big Road? Please be as specific as you'd like - Route #, Yardstick or other description;

3) DETAILS: It's the details that make the difference - I'm building this for you and I want you to have the best experience ever each time you arrive...... what elements of this type of facility are most important to you that are not being offered at the quality level you'd like anywhere else?

I ask for your input with the highest level of respect and appreciation for the job you do. Please be honest & realistic. I hope you find this discussion as engaging as I think it will be. This project is in the conceptual planning stage and your input will certainly help you love what I deliver. I simply hope that I can create a way to make your experience on the road the most enjoyable and I genuinely thank you for the candor in your feedback!

 

Good input so far - thank you! And you are all correct, the key for this to be a success (and stay that way) is to price it at a point where the driver who has no self-respect and wants to urinate or more in public open space finds another place to stay. Period. Yes, there will be rules (a code of conduct) and surveillance. Those who violate it will be asked to leave without an invitation back and take up the nasty bad habits with the authorities. A Marriot hotel would not allow that kind of behavior and neither would we. I have zero interest in being the "cheap alternative" style of property that is willing to cater to all - I'm looking for the Owner/Operators that see the membership of this group as the upper crest group of drivers who carry themselves with pride and treat the property of their own and others with a high degree of respect. Please keep your comments coming - I think this is a very healthy discussion! Thank you!

 

I can appreciate your comment but like any industry or any group of people - there are the best of class 20% who want something of quality and will treat it the same. I've met some really great people that are drivers who I'd invite home to dinner anytime..... Of the 3.5MM drivers in the industry - I only need about 20,000 who are the cream of the crop