At Truck Parking Club, we survey our members regularly to understand what’s happening on the ground. In our most recent survey of active members, we asked where truck drivers need parking, what they look for when choosing a location, and what would make them more confident booking somewhere new.
Here’s what they told us.
The States and Cities Where Truck Drivers Need Parking Most
Top States by Driver Demand (Ranked):
- Florida
- Texas
- Pennsylvania
- Georgia
- California
- Illinois
- New York
- Ohio
- North Carolina
Top Metro Areas (Ranked):
- Atlanta
- Dallas-Forth Worth
- New York City
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Orlando
- Houston
- Newark
- San Franciso
- Tampa
- Minneapolis
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The pattern is clear: truck drivers need parking near major distribution hubs and dense urban freight corridors. One driver put it simply:
“The biggest shortage is near massive warehouses in places like California’s Inland Empire and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.“
Drivers finish their shifts near these facilities but have nowhere safe to park nearby, forcing them to keep driving while fatigued.
That’s not an inconvenience. That’s a safety crisis.
What Truck Drivers Actually Look For When Choosing Where to Park
Survey after survey, we hear the same things from drivers. Parking isn’t just about an open space. It’s about whether that space feels safe, looks legitimate, and has the basics covered.
Here’s what our members said matters most when deciding where to book.
Peace of Mind Is Non-Negotiable
Physical security infrastructure was the second most common response when we asked what would make drivers more confident booking a new location. One in five drivers (20.2%) specifically mentioned wanting to know whether a location has cameras, gates, fencing, and lighting before they book.
This is consistent across every survey we’ve run. Drivers are making decisions about where to spend the night, often arriving after dark. They want to know the property before they commit.
For Property Members: If your location has security features, make sure they’re prominently listed and visible in photos. If you don’t have them yet, this is the single highest-impact investment you can make to attract more bookings. Lighting, fencing, and cameras consistently rank among top decision drivers for truckers choosing paid parking over free alternatives.
Photos Are the #1 Confidence Driver for New Locations
When asked what would make them more confident booking a location they’ve never visited, 31% of drivers said onsite photos and videos. It was the most common answer by a wide margin.
Drivers want to see what they’re getting before they arrive. That means high-resolution images, multiple angles, entrance and exit shots, and ideally video walkthroughs. Several drivers specifically mentioned wanting to see the entrance so they know what to look for when pulling in at night.
One driver suggested Property members film a short video tour welcoming drivers and showing off what the facility has to offer. That kind of content builds trust in ways a text description never will.
For Property Members: Investing 15 minutes in quality photos of your lot can directly impact your booking volume. Show the entrance, the lot surface, any security features, available amenities, and the surrounding area. If you can shoot a quick walkthrough video, even better. Drivers told us this is the single biggest thing that would make them more willing to try a new location.
Lot Quality and Accurate Descriptions Matter More Than You Think
Nearly 6% of drivers flagged lot conditions as a concern: potholes, faded lines, debris, and tight maneuvering space.
For Property Members: Your listing is a promise. If something changes at your property, update the listing. If you describe amenities as “nearby,” make sure they’re accessible. Drivers who feel misled don’t come back, and they tell other drivers.
Reviews and Ratings Build Trust
15.5% of drivers said reviews and ratings from other drivers increase their confidence in booking a new location.
Drivers trust other drivers. Seeing that someone else parked there, felt safe, and had a good experience carries more weight than any marketing copy.
What This Means for the Industry
The truck parking shortage is a national infrastructure crisis that won’t be solved overnight. Federal and state agencies are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in new parking infrastructure, but building new rest areas and truck stops takes years. In the meantime, the most immediate opportunity is unlocking existing capacity: warehouses with unused yard space, trucking companies with open lots after hours, industrial properties near freight corridors that could serve double duty as overnight parking.
Our survey data shows that drivers aren’t asking for luxury. Drivers want a safe, well-lit spot with accurate information about what to expect. They want to see photos before they book. They want to know the lot is secure. And they overwhelmingly need more options in the Southeast, Texas, California, the Northeast, and near major distribution hubs across the country.
If you own or operate a property in any of these areas or near a freight corridor and have underutilized space, there are drivers looking for exactly what you have. The demand is real, it’s documented, and it’s growing.
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This data comes from Truck Parking Club’s ongoing member survey program. Truck Parking Club is a platform connecting truck drivers with reserved parking at locations nationwide. To learn more about listing your property or finding parking, visit truckparkingclub.com.
Survey methodology: Responses from active Truck Parking Club members, collected via weekly member newsletter. Responses to open-ended questions were multi-coded by theme.