Episode 501: Solving the truck parking crisis with Truck Parking Club
Welcome to this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast. Today, we are joined by Evan Shelley, the co-founder and CEO of Truck Parking Club. This innovative company addresses the widespread truck parking shortage in the United States. Truck Parking Club provides a platform that connects truck drivers with available parking spaces using a two-sided marketplace model. The company leverages technology to solve both the parking shortage and awareness issues, making it easier for truckers to find and reserve parking spots. Evan shares insights into the genesis of Truck Parking Club, its operations, and its impact on the warehousing and logistics industry.
Tackling the Truck Parking Shortage
Evan highlights the critical need for truck parking across the U.S. and how the Truck Parking Club emerged from his civil engineering and real estate background. Evan recognized a significant gap, “There’s a huge need for more truck parking. Municipalities wouldn’t support it, but people in the industry understood the severity of the issue.” The Truck Parking Club addresses this shortage using a self-service model, where property owners list their spaces for truckers to reserve. Evan adds, “We don’t just take existing trucking and put it in the marketplace. It’s also trucking companies, yards, repair shops, CDL schools, and locations currently suitable for truck parking. The easiest way to explain it is that we are the Airbnb for truck parking.” This alleviates parking stress for truckers and monetizes unused spaces for property owners.
Bringing Awareness to the Shortage of Truck Parking
Beyond just a shortage of spaces, Evan emphasized the problem of awareness. Truckers often waste valuable time searching for parking. “If you don’t know there’s available space two miles down the road, you’re not going to find it until you drive past it,” Evan noted. Truck Parking Club’s platform aims to bridge this gap by providing real-time information on available parking spaces. The technology ensures truckers can easily find and reserve spots, reducing the time spent searching and increasing efficiency. This dual approach of increasing supply and improving awareness is central to the company’s mission.
The Truck Parking Shortage Impacts Warehousing and Logistics
The truck parking shortage also significantly affects the warehousing and logistics industry. Evan pointed out, “It costs everyone money if drivers don’t have an adequate place to park and are spending a lot of time looking for parking.” Warehouses often face constraints due to a lack of parking, leading to delays and increased operational costs. By integrating Truck Parking Club’s solution, warehouses can offer parking spaces to truckers, reducing these constraints and fostering better relationships with drivers. Evan shared, “Ultimately, they make money, and there’s less stress, especially in situations where drivers can’t leave due to lack of hours or other constraints.”
Key Takeaways
- Truck Parking Club provides a two-sided marketplace connecting truckers with available parking spaces.
- The platform enhances awareness of parking availability, saving truckers time and reducing stress.
- Leveraging existing spaces, warehouses, and logistics companies can reduce constraints and operational costs.
- Property owners can monetize unused spaces, adding value to their assets.
501: Solving the Truck Parking Crisis with Truck Parking Club
