The Parking Zone – December 2018

December 28, 2018

Tyson Fisher

|

Every week, there are several news articles across the nation related to truck parking. They range from a state department of transportation closing a rest area to local city councils preventing the opening of a truck stop.

New reports regarding local truck parking are too numerous and small in scope to report on individually. However, what each of these news items means to the underlying national problem is too significant to ignore. Below is a roundup of the latest truck parking-related news items from across the United States.

Love’s had another good year

Considering this is the last Parking Zone blog of the year, it seems right to give you some year-end numbers. According to a Love’s Travel Stops spokesperson, the truck stop chain added nearly 3,000 parking spots and 35 locations. That’s basically the same numbers it put up last year. Thanks, Love’s.

Meanwhile, TravelCenters of America opened for new TA Express locations with a total of 173 additional truck parking spaces. A TA spokesperson expects more locations to be added in 2019. Official number for Pilot Flying J are not in yet, but check the February edition of Land Line Magazine for a complete rundown of the parking additions by the Big Three truck stop chains.

Boondocks, USA lives!

This story has been making the rounds, so consider this an “in-case-you-missed-it” post. A favorite stopping point for all motorists, including truckers, was rumored to close down. That place is Boondocks, USA in Williams, Iowa. After 45 years serving travelers, the truck stop closed its doors in October.

The closure was supposed to be permanent. However, Anyway Logistics of Fresno, Calif., has bought the truck stop/motel duo for $500,000 and plans to keep the business going, according to The Messenger.

At the time, the popular truck stop is still closed, but look for a reopening in 2019.

Joplin, Mo., considers another travel plaza

Anyone who has been to the Guilty By Association Truck Show will tell you that Joplin, Mo., is very much a truck-friendly town. Chances are it will get much more friendlier.

The Joplin City Council is moving forward with bill 2018-273, an ordinance approving the annexation of about 22 acres just south of Interstate 44 at Exit 13. The annexation comes at the request of Skyline Travel Plaza, which wants to open a new location at the spot. If completed, 100 truck parking spaces will be included, according to The Joplin Globe.

As expected, the request is going through the motions uncontested. After all, Joplin loves trucks.

North Carolina town bans residential truck parking

Truckers who live in Murfreesboro, N.C., will have to find somewhere other than home to park their work vehicle. The Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald reports that the town recently adopted a new ordinance that states “No truck, defined as a motor vehicle with dual wheels and three or more axles, and/or any trailer pulled by such motor vehicle, shall be parked in the streets controlled by the town in any neighborhood zoned residential, except for the purpose of loading and unloading and in any event not overnight.”

Fines will be $50 for each violation. Each day will be considered a separate offense.

During public comments, a trucker and Murfreesboro resident expressed his concern about not being able to park his truck on the side of the street outside his home. The truckers pointed out that no one has complained about it. Regardless, the city council voted in favor of the ordinance. Now, that driver will have to find out what to do with his truck when at home.

Arkansas town also considers new truck stop

Similar to the situation in Joplin mentioned above, the city council in Pine Bluff, Ark., is also looking into rezoning property to make away for a new truck stop, according to The Pine Bluff Commercial.

The proposed site is at 5807 S. Olive St., just south of Interstate 530. Owners of the property also built and opened the Southern Edge Truck Stop nearby. Their next truck stop is supposed to be bigger and fancier.

Hopefully, we will be able to judge for ourselves in the not-too-distant future.

School board in Southern California opposes proposed Pilot Flying J

Pilot Flying J is fighting more opposition over a suggested new location. This time, the Jurupa Valley School Board is causing a delay. According to The Press-Enterprise, the Jurupa Valley School Board unanimously opposed the PFJ plan near Jurupa Valley High School.

The suggested location is about three-quarters of a mile from the high school and less than a quarter mile from a nearby neighborhood.

On one hand, city officials are arguing about air pollution. On the other hand, the city’s planning commission is saying it’s worth it, considering the 79 full-time jobs, $2.5 billion regional economic benefit, and $17 million in revenue for the city the truck stop will bring.

In the end, PFJ won this battle – in California, of all places.

New Love’s and Pilot Flying J locations

Love’s was super busy in December: five new locations and one reopened location. PFJ added one new location. In total, nearly 500 truck parking spaces were added between the two:

  • Love’s at 2105 Barnes St. (Highway 29, Exit 150), Reidsville, N.C. (109 truck parking spaces).
  • Love’s at 3880 Loop 467 (Interstate 10, Exit 404), Sonora, Texas (71 spaces).
  • Love’s at 2241 Fair Road (Interstate 75, Exit 90), Sidney, Ohio (130 spaces).
  • Love’s at 2201 County Road 17 (off U.S. Highway 20), Elkhart, Ind. (85 spaces).
  • Love’s at 9104 Winterberry Ave. (Interstate 64, Exit 21), Low Moor, Va. (56 spaces)
  • Love’s at 11801 E. I-40 (Interstate 40, Exit 161), North Little Rock, Ark. (reopening).
  • Pilot Flying J at 1850 Main St. (Highway 111 and Highway 78), Brawley, Calif. (29 spaces).