Designing and Paving Concrete Truck Parking Lots: Best Practices

Truck parking lots for commercial use must accommodate heavy loads and larger vehicles. Additionally, mixed-use parking lots should separate slots for passenger vehicles versus trucks for safety and convenience. These are just a few considerations when designing and paving concrete truck parking lots.

By following best practices throughout the design and construction phase, you’ll have a durable, streamlined parking area for your business, campus, or rest area. At K&E Flatwork, we excel at paving truck parking lots that will last for generations. We follow industry rules and regulations and the highest quality standards.

Importance of Properly Designed Truck Parking Lots

Poorly designed parking areas can result in delivery delays, frustrated drivers, and inefficient dispatching. Conversely, concrete parking areas for semi-trucks and heavy vehicles translate to streamlined operations and fewer accidents. Vehicle dimensions play a crucial role in truck parking lot design. The materials used must support the weight of large trucks carrying heavy loads to prevent damage to the pavement and vehicles. A solid drainage system can also prevent your parking lot from becoming a lake after heavy rain.

Smart Drainage System Design

Proper drainage can prevent puddles from forming in your new truck parking lot. A well-functioning drainage system may also prevent moisture from infiltrating the pavement and damaging your parking area. Sloping the lot toward storm drains and other drainage areas is essential.

Some businesses opt for permeable pavers, but we recommend concrete because of its durability and natural water resistance. Understanding the pitfalls of parking lot construction can help you maintain the integrity of your drainage system during and after the construction phase.

Remember that poorly constructed surfaces without an adequate slope can result in standing water and potholes. You’ll also want to invest in regular maintenance to prevent your drains from clogging.  By cleaning your gutters regularly, you can ensure the proper flow of runoff.

Don’t ignore the warning signs of slow drainage because moisture incursion can rapidly escalate. Keep any lawn and landscaping adjacent to the parking lot mown and trimmed to avoid frequent drainage issues.

Asphalt Versus Concrete Lots for Heavy Trucks

An asphalt paving surface costs less than a concrete parking lot to install. However, concrete can handle heavy vehicles, including semi-trucks, much better. Concrete withstands heavy traffic, oversized loads, and extreme weather admirably. That can mean fewer repairs and less frequent maintenance over the years. Rigid concrete parking areas resist dents, cracks, and defects that lead to potholes. So, consider using concrete versus asphalt to build a superior truck parking lot that withstands heat and snow.

Why Permeable Pavers Don’t Work for Commercial Vehicles

Permeable pavers provide excellent drainage directly into the soil. However, they may crack and crumble under extreme loads. For this reason, they’re unsuitable for commercial truck parking lots.

SUVs and trucks weigh in at around 4,000 pounds. In contrast, a semi-truck can weigh 10,000 pounds without a trailer. Heavy loads may add 25,000 pounds or more. With the weight considerations for truck parking lots in mind, it’s essential to design a parking area that can easily handle big rigs.

Match Standard Truck Parking Lot Dimensions

Geometry plays a central role in truck parking lot design. For best practices, work with your engineer and architect to configure entrances and exits to accommodate semi-trucks and other large vehicles. Rigs must be able to turn and maneuver in and out of parking spaces quickly. So, make your spaces long enough to accommodate the traffic expected. For example, if your parking lot will host semi-trucks with trailers, you’ll need several long lots of the proper dimensions.

Semi-trucks with a trailer are 55 feet long and 14 feet wide. However, semi-trucks with an attached trailer are 75 feet in length. When planning your lot, consider these measurements to ensure truckers have sufficient maneuver space.

Other Truck Parking Lot Consideration

If you are building a commercial parking lot for passenger vehicles and trucks, you’ll need a separate area for pickups, SUVs, sedans, and other standard passenger vehicles. Create spots at least 9 feet wide to hold these vehicles.

We’ve noted that trucks and trailers can measure up to 55 feet or longer. So, you must provide at least that much space for backing areas. If your parking lot will house a gas station or other structures, maintain a vertical clearance of at least 14 feet to avoid accidents and damages. In a loading dock area, maintain clearance equal to twice the width of the largest trucks you anticipate.

There are several possible configurations for truck parking lot spaces. Each one has unique advantages. Consider parallel spots if you plan to build a long, narrow lot. For the ultimate convenience of truck drivers, you can’t go wrong with angled spaces. Work with our team to decide the appropriate angle (between 30 and 60 degrees) for your truck parking lot. This design makes it easier to back up and pull out of parking areas. Shopping malls use 90-degree angles in parking lots. This perpendicular configuration works well for expansive lots.

Pavement Hazards to Address for Commercial Parking Lots

Anticipate potential hazards when paving truck parking lots. Cracks, potholes, and other defects can make your parking lot uninviting to both passenger cars and semi-trucks. Poor construction can expedite defects that trip pedestrians and damage trucks and their loads. The highest quality materials can slow deterioration, saving you tons of money in maintenance and repairs over the years. Find a reputable truck parking lot paving company to avoid pavement hazards introduced during installation.

Commercial Truck Parking Lots by K&E Flatwork

K&E Flatwork has the expertise needed for paving truck parking lots for heavy vehicles. We deliver reliable commercial concrete surfaces designed and constructed to last through extreme weather and heavy traffic.