The Parking Zone – July 2018

July 31, 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.

Georgia town denies truck stop due to traffic woes, BUT…

The city council in Stockbridge, Ga., recently denied a request for a truck stop, according to a Henry Herald report. The reason: issues with traffic and accessibility of emergency vehicles.

Although the city council denied the request by a unanimous vote, it is not a complete loss for the trucking industry. Council members understand the need for a truck stop. The report says they just do not like the particular location on Rock Quarry Road.

$2 million travel plaza coming to Iowa city

That’s right. According to The N’West Iowa Review, Co-op Gas and Oil Co. will build a new facility at Highway 60 and Highway 18 in Sheldon, Iowa.

With work on the project slated to conclude next spring, the facility will include fuel for trucks, a 5,000-square-foot convenience store, a fast food restaurant and an 8,000-square-foot service center.

Everyone in the article appears to be excited, including the community development director. Why not? They help solve an industrywide problem and make money at the same time. It’s a win-win situation.

North Carolina city bans truckers from parking big rigs at home

On July 9, the city council in Rocky Mount, N.C., approved of an ordinance that bans commercial vehicles longer than 25 feet or weighing more than 10,000 pounds on residential property, the Rocky Mount Telegram reports.

The move comes despite a CSX terminal opening soon in the city. A new terminal in the city can likely attract truckers to move to Rocky Mount, but maybe not after this ordinance has passed. However, a councilmember suggested truckers can park their vehicles at the shopping center. I’m sure that property owner will be ecstatic to hear that.

What about recreational vehicles that exceed the accepted dimensions? They can park behind a residence. Double standard?

Long wait for rest area reopening comes to an end north of the border

Anyone who travels along the Okanagan Connector highway in British Columbia is probably aware of the Loon Lake rest area. The $4.2 million rehabilitation project has taken what seems like an eternity. It is now open.

According to Kelowna Now, the rest area has been closed for nearly two months. This would not be too unusual if not for the fact the rest area just opened in February. The facility had water issues that needed to be repaired.

All is good now, and there is truck parking in the area. The facility also has flush toilets and free Wi-Fi.

Texas town about to give truckers what they want…truck parking

After some resistance, a developer received approval from the Belton, Texas, City Council to build a truck stop off of Interstate 14, according to the Temple Daily Telegram.

Initially, the developer ran into problems with zoning ordinances. Long story short, there was some confusion about the definition of “truck stop” and “truck parking lot.”

However, one councilmember recognized that any truck parking available in the city would be used considering how many trucks are parking on the side of the highway. Because of this amazing thing called “supply and demand,” the city council voted in two unanimous decisions to amend the zoning ordinance to allow a truck stop.

Tip of the cap to the city of Belton, Texas.

Slow month for Love’s and Pilot Flying J

June was a busy month for Love’s and Pilot Flying J. Eight new locations were opened, four each. Unfortunately, July was a slow month. Only one new Love’s location opened off of Interstate 70 (Exit 272) in Abilene, Kan., with 74 truck parking spaces.

The good news is that both Love’s and PFJ are doing an awesome job adding new parking spaces in 2018. Since February, PFJ has added more than 400 parking spaces, putting it on pace to exceed the 500 new spots added in 2017. Meanwhile, Love’s has added more than 1,300 truck parking spaces. Keep it up!