In the past few years, the world of trucking has been a wild place. For starters, there was that global pandemic you may have heard about. COVID simultaneously increased the amount of goods being shipped, while the number of truck drivers decreased, and we suddenly blamed all our problems on the supply chain. Dropped your sandwich in your lap at lunch? The supply chain did it. Your girlfriend broke up with you? Maybe if the supply chain situation wouldn't have been so stressful, things would have worked out.
Also, just prior to the world being upended, the implementation and enforcement of electronic logging devices (ELDs) restricted truckers' ability to control where and when they park. The resulting chaos has caused a couple of colossal problems in the shipping industry.
Productivity is being lost
First, productivity is dwindling. In a perfect world, a driver would pull over the moment their clock strikes zero, but of course that’s not always possible. However, the closer to zero they can get, the greater the productivity. After all, truckers are only making money when they are on the road. Studies have shown that this issue is costly, with projections as high as $5 billion for the industry as a whole.
Secure parking can be elusive
Second, we’ve created an environment that’s not conducive to safe parking. In fact, 98% of drivers say they regularly have problems finding parking.
What happens if a truck stop or rest area is full? You’ve likely seen what happens–truck drivers pull over on the side of the highway or on an entrance or exit ramp. This practice is dangerous for both the truckers and any other drivers on the road, plus it is illegal in most states.
Within drayage, the problem is distinct. It’s not ELDs, but space availability putting stress on operations. Land near key ports and rail hubs is in short supply. Rents have grown at a rapid rate, meaning smaller trucking companies that cannot afford expensive leases struggle to find the space they need, given that access to drop yards near the terminals is often a necessity.
What’s the solution to the parking problem?
Much of what has been done up to this point has increased visibility into parking options, but ultimately the problems outlined above will not be solved until there is an increase in the number of locations. Greater density of affordable parking and storage options will relieve pressure on demand, increasing productivity and creating a safer environment on the roads.
Understanding the expense of building new locations, we at SecurSpace have focused on recruiting companies with the right industrial real estate to list with us, monetizing their open space and bringing new options online. The model we employ is like the one Airbnb has used in the hospitality industry. If you have a secure location and some space along the back fence, you can list your space to make some extra money. If your operation is not large enough for the yard you have, let us help you fill it up.
Landowners may ultimately not fully resolve the parking problem by offering much-needed parking spots to trucking companies willing to pay for a safe place to store their truck, trailers, and containers, but it offers reprieve and solutions where there have been very few options available.
