By Andrew Jones
Truck parking isn’t glamorous. It’s not the shiniest asset class or the one making headlines at the SSA conference. But make no mistake, it’s growing. In Midland, TX alone myself and one other operator were the only guys in town two years ago.
Now there are 12 separate locations.
Here’s a quick-start guide to take you from dirt lot to dependable income
1. Understand the Opportunity
Truck parking is in chronic short supply—especially safe, secure, reservable parking. The 
rise of e-commerce, regional distribution hubs and tightening regulations on hours-of-service have made legal, reliable truck parking more critical than ever.
Most existing options are word-of-mouth yards or overcrowded rest stops. That’s where you come in. I’ve already written about this on another blog post here.
2. Find the Right Dirt
Before you clear the land, make sure it’s in the right place.
- Highway proximity is key — ideally near logistics corridors or urban perimeters.
- Zoning matters. Look for industrial, heavy commercial, or even certain agricultural overlays that allow for vehicle storage.
- Look for the “white tops” a.k.a. the distribution centers. If you can find a plot of land near a highway and next to distribution centers then you are onto something.
You don’t need a perfect site but you do need one where demand is present.
3. Start Simple, Scale Smart
You don’t need to pour concrete on day one. Some of the best-performing lots start with:
- Stabilized dirt or gravel
- Perimeter fencing and gate
- Lighting, restrooms and garbage can
- Cameras
- Access controls (I use Truck Parking Club’s)
From there, you can scale up with other amenities and more as demand (and revenue) grows.
4. Know What Truckers Actually Care About
Forget frills. Here’s what truck drivers and fleet managers look for:
- Security: Fencing, lighting, and gates
- Space: Wide lanes, angled spots, no tight squeezes
- Access: 24/7 availability
- Supply: The number one thing that truckers ask for at Truck Parking Club is more locations
If you can deliver these basics, you’re already ahead of most.
5. Use Platforms That Do the Heavy Lifting
Platforms like Truck Parking Club allow you to list your property and start generating income with minimal overhead. It handles bookings, payments, marketing and customer service—while you keep control of your site.
Think of it like Airbnb for trucks — but with better margins and fewer broken wine glasses.
6. Avoid Common Pitfalls
- Don’t overlook insurance and liability — talk to your agent early.
- Make sure you’re compliant with local codes before you accept a single truck.
- Talk to your drivers on your yard once you start. One of my first customers, Ramon, is now my business partner.
7. This Is Just the Beginning
Truck parking is still the Wild West, but there is a quote from Ken Woolley that lives in my 
head every day: “In the late 1970s, we thought that demand was 1 sq ft per capita and we had no way to measure that. But now it’s about 11 square feet per capita and it can be measured!”
Whether you’re testing the waters with five spaces or building out a 200-truck yard, the opportunity is here. You don’t have to go it alone; I love talking to new operators. I remember the butterflies and, I’ll tell you, it’s worth it.
Interested in getting started?
Reach out to me at andrew@truckparkingclub.com or visit www.truckparkingclub.com to learn more.
The trucks are coming either way. It’s just a matter of whether they’ll be parking at your lot–or someone else’s.
Andrew Jones is the Contributing Editor of Toy Storage Nation’s Truck Parking Blog. Andrew has been in the self-storage business for the last decade working for Yardi, Extra Space and JustStorage before co-founding OTR Truck Parking, where he remains co-owner. He currently serves on the Toy Storage Nation Advisory Board in addition to serving as Vice President of Property Member Optimization at Truck Parking Club, Andrew can be reached at andrew@otrtruckparking.com.
Interested in learning more about truck parking or listing your facility in a nationwide truck parking locator database? Visit Truck Parking Club.
To view all installments of the TSN Truck Parking Blog, sponsored by Truck Parking Club, visit here.
