With more trucks on the road than ever before, the need for overnight truck parking is at an all-time high. Businesses of all shapes and sizes are now shipping products across the country and the primary way those products get from point A to point B is via truck drivers.
However, there are time and safety restrictions which mean that drivers can’t quite work the long, overnight hours that they used to. In order to cut down on accidents and health concerns, truck drivers are often required to pull over and park for a certain amount of time before getting back on the road.
Big trucks can’t just park anywhere. Often, the only places they can park are designated industrial zones within towns and cities. Regular asphalt parking lots aren’t meant to handle traffic from big heavy trucks on a consistent basis, though, and will quickly break down under the weight and pressure of large vehicles.
There are plenty of opportunities for independent parties to build their own trucking lots and make money, but the right materials are needed for the job. If you’re interested in building a new overnight truck parking lot for drivers or updating your current one, let’s take a look at the best product for the job:
Asphalt and Concrete Can’t Handle Big Trucks
The weight of the average shipping truck is far greater than that of your average pickup truck, minivan, or car. Semi-trucks wreak havoc on regular asphalt or concrete lots, quickly breaking them down and leading to the need for costly repairs on a far-too-frequent basis if they lack an effective telematics system. The only way to build a durable, long-lasting, and low-maintenance lot for overnight truck parking is to use permeable pavement.
TRUEGRID Permeable Pavement is the Solution to Overnight Truck Parking
TRUEGRID makes the highest quality permeable pavement products on the planet. Their pavers are UV-resistant, weather-resistant, and durable enough to handle the weight of daily 18 wheeler traffic.
They are made from 100% recycled plastic and filled with hard gravel, so they will not break down easily like asphalt and concrete. A TRUEGRID Pro Plus paver parking lot will last anywhere from 25 to 60 years, much longer than asphalt and concrete. TRUEGRID pavers also require almost zero maintenance.
Another reason why TRUEGRID permeable pavers are the go-to product for truck parking is that they act as their own drainage system. Stormwater drains directly through them and into the soil below, instead of pooling or being diverted into a drainage system. Installing a drainage system for an impermeable lot is an extra cost out of your pocket, and it cuts down on the amount of land you can use for actual parking.
Permeable pavers eliminate the need for a detention pond and other drainage features. This is substantial because overnight parking lots need to be large in order to accommodate the wide turning lanes and dimensions of shipping trucks, so the more land you can utilize, the better.
TRUEGRID pavers are also far more eco-friendly than asphalt and concrete and have a significantly positive impact on the local environment, in comparison. The installation process is also incredibly fast and, depending on the size of your lot, can be completed in as little as one or two days.
First, the area is excavated to the required depth, with a cloth barrier laid at the bottom. Then, gravel or another type of aggregate is used to fill the excavated area, then compacted to lock the angular gravel base. Next, the interlocking permeable pavers are snapped into place like puzzle pieces over the top of the aggregate base.
Afterward, more aggregate is spread into the top of the pavers and can be compacted into the empty cells with a heavy roller or vehicle. Once this is done, the lot is complete and ready to drive on. There’s no need to wait for materials to dry, and almost no special equipment required.
Large 18-wheelers can drive on a gravel filled grid permeable paver lot without displacing the aggregate. This is not the case with asphalt, as it can unravel even under the weight of large non-commercial use vehicles.
The lot lines in a TRUEGRID permeable paver lot will never fade, either. Instead of using regular paint, TRUEGRID makes special plastic markers of different colors that are snapped easily into place in the pavers. They will stay bright and visible even in snowy conditions or fog.
Overnight Truck Parking is in High Demand
The need for overnight truck parking lots cannot be overstated. Lack of truck parking is a huge problem in the industry and can lead to a plethora of negative consequences. By building your overnight parking lot with TRUEGRID permeable pavers, you can guarantee that you’re offering the highest quality parking experience for big trucks, and save money and maximize land use.
Not only will you save money on drainage and maintenance, your lot will provide truckers with everything they need to safely and securely park their big rigs while they get their much-needed rest overnight. If you want to build a superior-quality overnight parking lot for big trucks, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a pavement professional at TRUEGRID today.
