RANT: Stop Trying to "Solve" the Truck Parking Shortage with Paid Lots

Picture this, you are running out of driving hours after making your delivery and you punch in the closest truckstop into your GPS where you hope you can find a spot. You drive the 15 miles to the lot, only to realize it is one of those paid parking lots. They have spaces, so you decide to go in and find out how much it costs and possibly have a shower.

As you approach the counter the cashier smiles. He knows he is the only truckstop for miles and this is easy cash for him. He says parking for the night would be $18. You ask about a shower, and he tells you that would be an additional $16 bucks. You decide to leave, put your ELD to personal conveyance, and punch in the next rest stop, located 20 miles away. You drive there, its full. Next one, 11 miles further. You go there and find what may possibly be the last spot in the whole lot. In your quest to find a safe, secure and free parking spot, likely cost you more than what the first location cost. But it is the principle of it all right?

We have a major issue in the trucking industry. Safe and secure truck parking. That is something people keep trying to fix, but never really do. Instead, people and companies claiming to want to "solve" the parking issue gobble up what few truck parking locations remain, converting them with pay-to-park locations taking more money from truckers. You want to know why people hate this industry? It is because of these things.