As Charlotte cracks down, truck drivers stress the importance of safe parking

CHARLOTTE — Truck drivers are stressing the importance of having a safe place to park as the city of Charlotte cracks down on illegal truck parking. As Channel 9 reported two weeks ago, the city issued more than 2,600 tickets to truck drivers for illegal truck parking. This comes after the city made it easier to report illegal truck parking and increased the fine from $25 to $100.

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Marcus Howard, a truck driver and freight company owner, has extensive driving experience in high-pressure situations.

“I’m a former Army aviator and one of my additional duties in the military was our transportation officer. I was responsible for coordinating our transportation of our equipment from our base to Iraq,” he said.

Howard owns Bull Rush Transport and is responsible for moving freight across the eastern part of the country. He says one of the most difficult things is finding a safe place to call it a night.

“It is one of the most stressful things as you end your day,” he said. “As soon as the sun goes down, you are pretty much gambling, in terms of being able to find a safe place to park when you’re coming home.”

Jack Conlan, owner of UpTime and On The Spot Parking, recognized a need. He started his truck parking lot business after exiting corporate America during a downturn.

“I saw a need, not only for trucking, but for truck drivers,” he said. “This gives us an opportunity to provide safe and secure parking and serve a much-needed service in the country.”

Conlan owns numerous lots in the Charlotte area. He just opened a new truck parking lot off U.S. Highway 74 and Interstate 485 in Matthews. You can book a space through an app. The parking lots are gated and require a code for entry. He says this is a safer option than parking on the side of the street or exit ramp.

“We want them to get home to their families or get the rest that they need so they’re safe on the road,” he said. “People want to go where it’s comfortable, where they can spend the night in their truck, where they can get a good night’s sleep. There are no distractions here. I think that’s valuable to a truck driver, but more importantly, I think it’s important to the fleet trucking companies.”

Howard says it’s important to find a safe place where you can properly store your equipment.

“If you park your truck in the wrong spot, you can expect that truck to have a boot on it,” he said. “It can be towed and the rates that you know they are charging truck drivers for these types of things are outrageous.”

The North Carolina Department of Transportation conducted a study on truck parking. It found a lack of parking is a safety issue for truck drivers as much as it is for everyone else on the road. NCDOT says that’s because truck drivers get anxious not knowing where to park and when they park on the side of exit ramps or the highway, drivers don’t rest well because they are nervous about being crashed into.

VIDEO: Charlotte cracks down on illegal truck parking