Does your business or company have a truck fleet integral to your operations? If you do, you need some place for your truck fleet parking. Whether you operate a fleet that services your local community or you have rigs running across many states and time zones, it’s highly unlikely that each truck is in use 24/7. They might even be parked more often than they’re used, even if they get used all day, everyday. It’s not just a matter of leaving them in any old parking lot, as there are several factors you need to look for in terms of your truck fleet parking.
Space is the first thing you want to look for. If your company has any days off where none of the trucks are out for service or doing business operations, you need to have more than enough space to park them all. For that matter, there still needs to be enough maneuvering room for them to get in and out as need be.
Permission is also something else you need. If you don’t actually own the space where you park the trucks, then you need approval from the ownership in cases of private property or at least permission from the local government in case of a public parking lot. The last thing you want is tickets, towing, or even arrests because of trucks being parked where they’re not supposed to be. That can get confusing in cases where temporary parking might be permitted or certain times of day are okay but overnight parking isn’t. In other cases, weekend parking might be fine, but weekday parking isn’t.
Facilities for your drivers are a good thing to have, especially if you’re dealing with long-haul trucks. Drivers might need places for a hot meal, a shower, and even to crash the night. Even delivery drivers or technicians running around town all day might could use some pit stops on occasion, especially at the beginning or end of a shift. You might even want to give them lockers so they don’t have to risk hauling personal possessions around all day long.
Security is definitely a concern if your trucks aren’t watched over by someone all the time. Even if someone is on-site most of the time, are they patrolling the parking lot? Cameras go a long way in preventing mischief or crime from happening. Even cameras that don’t work are a great preventative tactic that works really well. A full-fledged and active surveillance system is even better, especially if you can surround the lot with fencing so that only authorized drivers and personnel can get in and out of the access points.
How much a parking lot for your trucks costs is also another concern. If you own a lot, maybe there aren’t any rental or lease fees, but you might still have to cover maintenance and property taxes. If you don’t own it, then fees might add up.
Finally, look into how easy it is for trucks to get in and out.
