Breaking Down the Truck Parking Crisis with Rig Hut
Interview with Jake Guso, Co-Founder and CEO of Rig Hut
Truck parking is one of the most urgent and frustrating problems facing the trucking industry today.
Whether it’s a driver finishing a long haul or a dispatcher trying to plan a safe overnight stop, the simple act of finding reliable truck parking has become a logistical nightmare.
On a recent episode of Caution: Wide Right, Luke from CNS sat down with Jake Guso, Co-Founder and CEO of Rig Hut, to talk about real solutions for truck parking — and why the industry has gotten it wrong for so long.
The Problem: Inefficient, Outdated Truck Parking Management
Jake sets the stage early:
“You think you’re sold out, but maybe you’ve got ten spaces available in someone’s car. And now you’re either telling people there’s no parking when there is…or you have no idea.”
The current model most lots use is deeply inefficient:
- Lot operators manually walk the yard to track open spaces.
- Drivers are turned away unnecessarily.
- Dispatchers waste time trying to confirm availability.
- Payments are handled with cash, checks, Venmo, or whatever’s available.
The result? Frustrated drivers, lost revenue for landlords, and zero trust between parking providers and the people who need their services.
How Rig Hut Streamlines Facility Management
Operating a truck parking yard has many moving pieces, and Rig Hut’s technology was built to remove the pain points. Here’s how they do it:
- Automated Inventory Management
Forget the spreadsheets and whiteboards. Rig Hut’s system automatically updates space availability based on reservations and driver movement. This prevents lost revenue from unoccupied spots and ensures you can immediately offer open spaces to new drivers.
- Seamless Invoicing and Payments
Managing payments manually for hundreds of tenants is a logistical nightmare. Rig Hut automates monthly invoicing based on real-time data — who parked, when, and how much they owe — while drivers make payments online, cutting down administrative time and errors.
- Smart Access Control
Static gate codes are a major security risk. Rig Hut’s system links gate access to individual driver accounts. Carriers can manage who has access and revoke permissions when necessary, ensuring only authorized drivers enter the facility.
- Reservation Management
Drivers receive automated notifications for expiring daily or weekly reservations, allowing them to easily extend their stay — or risk losing access when the gate locks them out. This automation not only keeps revenue flowing but keeps the yard secure and organized.
Why Truck Parking Is About More Than Just Parking
Luke reminds us:
“Truck parking isn’t just finding a spot. It’s about amenities too.”
Different drivers and fleets have different needs:
- Basic gravel lot: Good for simple overnight parking.
- Full-service lots: Including bathrooms, showers, CAT scales, fuel, and food options.
With these options, it’s clear why smart property owners are stepping into truck parking — and why better management tools like Rig Hut are critical.
How CNS Works Supports Safer Trucking and Parking
At CNS, we understand that safer truck parking is only part of the safety puzzle.
That’s why we offer services like:
- CNS Occupational Medicine:
Helping companies keep drivers healthy through DOT physicals, drug and alcohol testing, and Return-to-Duty programs. - Fleet Safety Programs:
Safety audits, driver file management, and compliance support. - Accident Management Services:
Helping fleets minimize downtime and claims after parking lot accidents or other incidents.
When safe parking is combined with CNS programs like Occupational Medicine and Safety Management, fleets don’t just stay compliant — they stay profitable and protected.
🚛 Learn more about CNS Occupational Medicine here.
Real Estate Opportunity: Turning Unused Lots into Gold
Jake explains the growth of Industrial Outdoor Storage (IOS) — a relatively new asset class born out of the pandemic.
Because so many lots sit unused (especially near highways and urban centers), savvy owners can:
- Quickly set up a lot with minimal investment (gravel, fence, lights, security camera).
- Rent space to drivers looking for safe, short-term or long-term parking.
- Grow amenities over time based on demand.
Jake’s advice?
“Don’t build a movie theater. Start simple and let the market tell you what’s needed.”
Managing Truck Parking: Respect, Risk, and Relationships
At its core, managing a truck parking location successfully comes down to two simple but powerful principles: respect and communication. As our guest emphasized, whether you’re running a hotel or a parking yard, you’ll inevitably encounter a few challenges with tenants. However, setting expectations early, providing a quality facility, and treating both drivers and landlords with respect can minimize issues.
Key operational guidelines, like prohibiting mechanical work on the property, are critical. Why? Environmental risks. A simple oil spill can turn into a multimillion-dollar cleanup, especially in sensitive regions like South Florida, where the water table is shallow. Good management includes:
- Clear rules communicated upfront
- Consistent enforcement without being heavy-handed
- Maintaining a clean, secure, and respectful environment
Platforms like the one discussed on the podcast help streamline these processes, giving owners tools to manage tenants, monitor site conditions, and automate billing — without getting directly involved in landlord-tenant disputes.
Why Truck Parking Is a Growing Problem (and Opportunity)
Truck parking isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s a lifeline for long-haul drivers who must comply with Hours of Service (HOS) rules. Without safe and accessible parking, drivers face dangerous choices: parking illegally, pushing past their allowed driving time, or risking unsafe stops.
The numbers are alarming:
- Estimates suggest a shortage of 39,000 truck parking spaces nationwide.
- The commonly cited ratio — 3.5 million drivers to 330,000 parking spots — leaves roughly 11 drivers competing for every legal spot.
And this problem is not spread evenly. Areas like South Florida, Southern California, and Port Newark are among the worst affected. Urban expansion and limited industrial zoning make finding or developing new parking even harder.
Yet where there is challenge, there is also opportunity.
Truck parking is not a passing fad. It is an ongoing national infrastructure need, growing with freight demand and e-commerce expansion. Landowners and entrepreneurs who recognize this can find real, lasting opportunities — provided they navigate the regulatory and operational hurdles smartly.
A huge hurdle for expanding truck parking capacity is zoning.
Most municipalities either:
- Ignore truck parking in their codes (gray area), or
- Explicitly ban it.
Even when industrial outdoor storage is allowed, municipalities may balk at approving truck parking facilities. Changing these restrictions requires time, money, and political influence — often involving lengthy lobbying efforts with uncertain outcomes.
A real-world example from South Florida shows just how challenging this can be. There, a thousand-acre area — originally restricted to agricultural use — was painstakingly rezoned to allow truck parking. Such victories are rare, costly, and time-consuming, underlining how local zoning laws are a major barrier to solving the parking crisis.
How to Start a Truck Parking Business: First Steps and Considerations
Thinking about opening a truck parking facility? Here’s a roadmap:
- Verify Zoning First
- Use tools like Muni Code to review local regulations.
- Contact the county or municipality to request a formal zoning verification letter.
- Market Research
- Visit nearby truck stops and yards.
- Talk to drivers: Are lots full? What are they paying? Are they satisfied?
- Assess demand in your area.
- Site Improvements
- Key features include:
- Durable parking surface
- Secure fencing
- Controlled entry/exit points
- Adequate lighting for safety
- Focus on bare minimum improvements first, especially if demand is uncertain.
- Key features include:
- Technology for Efficiency
- Use a parking management platform for:
- Inventory tracking
- Payment processing
- Access control
- Reducing labor and manual oversight
- Use a parking management platform for:
- Insurance Needs
- Critical coverages may include:
- General Liability Insurance (to protect against injury claims)
- Environmental Insurance (for potential contamination issues)
- Property Insurance (for damage to site infrastructure)
- Tenant-Related Liability Insurance (if you’re directly managing leases)
- Critical coverages may include:
Before even opening the gates to a parking facility, owners must protect themselves against serious liabilities. Some key coverages to consider include:
- Environmental Protection Insurance: Covers cleanup costs from a hazardous material spill — a rare but devastating event in trucking.
- General Liability Insurance: Protects against bodily injury or property damage claims occurring on your site.
- Property Insurance: Especially important if you have buildings or infrastructure to protect from risks like fire, flood, or severe weather.
- Specialized Coverage: Depending on the location, you might need flood or windstorm insurance as well.
In volatile markets like South Florida, insurance premiums have been skyrocketing. One Rig Hut customer, for example, faced a general liability quote of $38,000 annually for a 2.5-acre lot — highlighting the importance of risk management practices like proper fencing, lighting, gate controls, and surveillance.
You can have the best-managed yard in the world, but it won’t matter if nobody knows about it. Rig Hut recommends a layered marketing approach:
- Use Online Marketplaces: Good for filling short-term spots while you build a monthly clientele.
- Install Roadside Signage: A simple, visible sign with “Truck Parking” and a reliable phone number can drive plenty of local traffic.
- Have a Basic Website: Rig Hut even offers site creation services to help operators capture direct traffic and leads.
- Focus on Local SEO: With limited competition in most areas, a little effort in Google Maps listings and keyword optimization can get you ranked fast.
- Network with Neighbors: Nearby warehouses, manufacturers, and freight brokers are often desperate for parking solutions and could become your first major customers.
Operators should also attend local industry events and trucking association meetings — they’re goldmines for networking and identifying real parking needs in your area.
