By Andrew Jones
I run my yard and talk to operators every day. Here’s the short version: Big highway brands are standing up fast charging, and truck-class charging is finally moving from slides to sites. If you own extra land or run a storage/RV-boat site that already welcomes trucks, this matters to you.
What’s actually happening
- Pilot/Flying J sites with GM/EVgo have fast chargers across the interstates. Most are light-duty today, but it proves sites can be energized at scale when the host, vendor and utility line up.
- TravelCenters of America is rolling out public truck charging—think 400 kW now with 1 MW on deck. (That power draw is the same as 335 to 835 homes per day.)
- The standards are catching up: Megawatt Charging System is real, albeit rare, but it is happening. (You just gotta know a guy.)
Why yard owners should care
Power is what you should be looking for. Transformer and interconnection timelines are the bottleneck. Starting the utility conversation early is the cheapest thing you can do that saves months later. Talk to your municipality and power production companies.- You don’t have to go megawatt on day one. Phase it: Start with shore power or a couple of high-power stalls; keep conduit and clearances ready.
- Fleets pay for secure, predictable properties. If you already deliver good lighting, cameras and 24/7 access, adding power turns your yard into a premium stop.
Where early revenue shows up
- Dedicated fleets are looking for this today. Even if it is 10 spots or less.
- Refrigerated or “Reefer” truck carriers are already looking for this today. Think of the guys that haul strawberries and have an EV air conditioning unit that needs to be charged.
- Driver amenities + energy bundles (security, restrooms, reliable access + kWh).
- Commercial operators are first adopters: Truckers will be first to adopt this before RVers.
12–24 Month Prep Checklist
Site & Civil
- Mark a future charging zone on your plan. Speak to your power providers and municipalities.
- Reserve space for a transformer pad, switchgear pad, optional battery enclosure and simple conduit paths. (Battery enclosures will be huge in the next five to 10 years.)
Power & Interconnection
- Schedule a pre‑app with your utility. Ask for a feeder capacity check and transformer lead times.
- Have an electrician draft a plan so you’re queue‑ready. Start with 0–600 kW now; plan for 1–2 MW later if not more. If you are in California, New Jersey or New York, this is imperative.
Security & Ops
- Commit to lighting levels, camera coverage and 24/7 access standards you can stand behind.
- EV Trucks costs are two times that of diesel pushers. So, make sure to accommodate
appropriately.
Future‑Proofing
- Make sure you talk to an engineer that knows their stuff around this. (They are few and far between, but I can always help you all with this.)
- Ask those same individuals about batteries at the site as they will provide power in a pinch at peak hours of power draw.
Bottom line
- Corridor momentum is real; truck charging is entering pilots.
- Power procurement is the gating item—start the utility steps now.
- Find the right experts. They know power, but do they know truck parking?
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.
