Truck Driving Jobs

GirlnamedShannon · Joined: 14 Feb 2004 Posts: 356

Of the three million drivers on the road, less than 5% are female (so half that 300k to 150k) and many of those are driving with their husbands or a male partner which makes it even less feasible, overall, and especially is you make it female only when the majority of females aren't driving alone.

And me, personally, being a solo female driver, I agree with what everyone else says. If I am going to pay for a shower, period, it's going to be in a hotel and for the night. Otherwise, I can wait to soak when I get home and hang with the free shower w/ fuel until then.

GirlnamedShannon · Joined: 14 Feb 2004 Posts: 356

katie wrote: Thanks for everyones input thus far - positive or negative!

Since Sunday we've had 175 visitors to the site and 50 folks have taken the survey (thank you).

Thus far, the answers have been as follows: 78% would use from 6- Midnight,50% would spend $ 15 (35% = $ 20), 43% would use 4 times/month (78% would use more than twice/month).

Again, thank you very much for the input, good or bad, keep it coming ladies.

P.S. We've had such a good response from the ladies, could you see this being a LADIES only facility???? Last reports says there are 300,000 females drivers on the road!

Some other things to consider:

Your survey is skewed because you don't have the option to answer lower than $15 or 0 times a month

If you're gearing this to truck drivers and business travelers, understand that most business travelers need a place to sleep as well as shower. Truckers sleep in their trucks, obviously, but most other people on the road are going to need somewhere to sleep, as well.

It's hard to sell this as a luxury experience if you're going to need space for truck parking and the noise of trucks idling. It's not terribly relaxing if you're not used to it (ie anyone who doesn't drive a truck) and if you disallow trucks to idle and/or park longer than they have paid for your services forcing them to backtrack elsewhere to shutdown for the night, you've essentially lost any trucker business you may have had.

If business traveler's wanted to shower with truckers and sleep in their cars, they can do that at a truck stop for a lot less money.

If you're planning to have this near rest stops, understand that the ''luxury experience'' you're selling will be available to every hooker, junkie, homeless person and thug that mill around rest areas. Again, if people wanted that, it's available at every truck stop, at no charge.

If you're planning to set up shop near existing truck stops, see above re: junkies, hookers and run of the mill bums. Truckers are accustomed to sharing space with everyone; the general public: not so much. And I don't see people who can pay for a hotel room ponying up for a shower experience that, again, can be had at any truck stop.

Rev.Vassago · Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:35 pm Post subject:

katie wrote: Thus far, the answers have been as follows: 78% would use from 6- Midnight,50% would spend $ 15 (35% = $ 20), 43% would use 4 times/month (78% would use more than twice/month).

Your survey is really lacking. I'll give you examples:

Quote: QUESTION 1. What time do you like to "freshin up" while on the road?

There is only one real answer to this question, which isn't an option in your survey. That answer is: It varies, depending upon the time available, and where the driver happens to be when the time becomes available. Usually this time becomes available when they are fueling at a truckstop, hence the fact that they use truckstop showers.

Quote: QUESTION 2. How much would you be willing to spend on a therapeutic shower/jacuzzi tub while on the road?

You give three options: $15, $20, and $25. Where is $0? Where is $10? It also doesn't say how long you get this "theraputic shower/jacuzzi tub" at that rate.

Quote: QUESTION 3. How many times a month would you visit a luxurious facility, if it was in walking distance of truck parking

Again - where is 0 in the choices?

Quote: P.S. We've had such a good response from the ladies, could you see this being a LADIES only facility???? Last reports says there are 300,000 females drivers on the road!

I would love to see where you came up with that number.

This is a ridiculous service. Truck drivers don't usually have the time for this kind of thing, and if they do, they will likely just get a hotel room. I hope that if you have investors on this venture, they did more research into the industry than you did. :wink:

murph · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 30

From the posts I can see that you are starting out well. People who are not interested in your service will be the majority. Your niche is the minority that will look forward to your offerings. Cater to the minority who will value this service and use it regularly. That way you are bound to succeed. Great idea, good luck!

Truckfam · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 166

I don't drive, but my husband does. I read the forums fairly regularly. This would have to be along someones route for it to be even feasible. You could have 5% of the truckers interested, but at what % would actually be able to stop and take their 10?

I think this idea would be much more feasible to turn it into a luxury truck stop with fuel, a place to eat, and a free shower. The gym equipment would be good for those who do want to execrise. A small fee could be paid to use gym equipment and jacuzzi tub.

If you are gearing this towards luxury and women, you really have to think security. Only letting in trucks and motorists that check in at the front gate, and exit gate with both being monitored by someone. A gated fence around the entire area. Also think of having roaming security on the lot just to make sure everything is on the up and up.

The lot will have to be large enough to hold a fair amount of trucks. I suggest not being skimpy on the isles. I regular parking lot will not do at all. There has to be enough room for trucks to turn. The more the better.

You would be missing on some money to be made by not offering rooms and comfortable beds with private showers for the entire night or even at 10 hours at a time long enough for a trucker to get in their 10 hour sleep/break. Some may would just like to crash for two hours on a bed for a change.

With roaming security, there may be more truckers willing to leave their truck and sleep on the bed since the trucks will be in a more secure area. bums and lot lizards should have a hard time getting in let alone trying to do any business or anything mischievous with all the security around. Include security cameras also. Heck you could even have a special gated parking area where only the drivers of the truck staying in the rooms to be allowed in and out of that area. Have at least two security guards for that area alone. One at the entrance/exit, and one roaming.

I guess to me luxury really does equal safety. Don't believe me, then read all the threads about women who want to get into trucking, but are concerned for their safety and well being.

If geared towards women, have call boxes in various places in the parking lot. The lot itself will be huge, just because the trucks are so big. This way women truckers can possibly use the call boxes to ask for a security escort to the rest rooms and/or facilities late at night to feel safer.

acranger · Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Posts: 96

Did you ever think about how many 10 dollar showers you would have to sell to cover the amout of overhead you suggested?

jgreen428 · Joined: 25 Sep 2006 Posts: 12

Like previously stated, with what you would have to pay to provide these services, prices would escalate so high that noone would use them. Good luck anyway!

Doktari · Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 84 Location: Tampa, FL

I personally think you may be on to something but I'd think most travelers/truckers would be more inclined to visit a place where they could get some healthy meals, good coffee, maybe some fruit drinks (smoothys) and while there get a clean, hot quick shower. I see it like this:

Park your rig, use the restroom, go in, order a nice turkey sandwich, lettuce, tomatoe, etc.. the real stuff here, a side salad, and a grande mocha all to go. Hit the shower for 15 minutes, in the mean time the sandwich is being made FRESH, have that ready for me in a to go container, and I'll pay for it just before the door hits me in the ass as I'm heading back to my rig.

I'm not driving yet but that's what I think I'd like to see. Hell, I'd stop in there doing a road trip in my car. The key would be quick, clean, affordable, and quick. Did I say quick?

That MY 2 cents.

Rev.Vassago · Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:23 am Post subject:

Doktari wrote: I personally think you may be on to something but I'd think most travelers/truckers would be more inclined to visit a place where they could get some healthy meals, good coffee, maybe some fruit drinks (smoothys) and while there get a clean, hot quick shower. I see it like this:

Park your rig, use the restroom, go in, order a nice turkey sandwich, lettuce, tomatoe, etc.. the real stuff here, a side salad, and a grande mocha all to go. Hit the shower for 15 minutes, in the mean time the sandwich is being made FRESH, have that ready for me in a to go container, and I'll pay for it just before the door hits me in the ass as I'm heading back to my rig.

I'm not driving yet but that's what I think I'd like to see. Hell, I'd stop in there doing a road trip in my car. The key would be quick, clean, affordable, and quick. Did I say quick?

That MY 2 cents.

You just described a truckstop (or at least what they are SUPPOSED to be)

Nulldev · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:54 pm Post subject:

Oh wow...

As a truck driver, and a commerce student... I would suggest this would probably fail.

Your target market *is not* "all truck drivers in the United States/North America/Canada/whatever." Your target market is "all truck drivers passing through our location who want elegant facilities."

I'm sure you'd get some use of the facility... however, by and large, truckers are on the road to... truck. When they aren't driving, they are sleeping, fueling, pre-tripping, loading, unloading, etc. They are busy, and generally want to get wherever they are going sooner than they possibly can - to either make more money, or to get back to their families. You'll get some use of the facility - some people will want it, it sounds nice, etc. Personally, I would never use it. It wouldn't be too relaxing, because I would be cutting out an hour or two of sleep I could be getting. What is nice is a nice warm shower, and that's already provided. Some will use it, but not anywhere near enough to pay for it.

Now, let's say you did set this up close enough to a truck stop that truckers could visit it... and by a miracle you were profitable! The truck stop would probably install a jacuzzi, and charge people ~$10-12 to use it, undercutting you, taking the customers, and driving you out of business.

I would not invest in this.

Justruckin · Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 179 Location: SE Michigan

Nulldev wrote: Oh wow...

As a truck driver, and a commerce student... I would suggest this would probably fail.

Your target market *is not* "all truck drivers in the United States/North America/Canada/whatever." Your target market is "all truck drivers passing through our location who want elegant facilities."

I'm sure you'd get some use of the facility... however, by and large, truckers are on the road to... truck. When they aren't driving, they are sleeping, fueling, pre-tripping, loading, unloading, etc. They are busy, and generally want to get wherever they are going sooner than they possibly can - to either make more money, or to get back to their families. You'll get some use of the facility - some people will want it, it sounds nice, etc. Personally, I would never use it. It wouldn't be too relaxing, because I would be cutting out an hour or two of sleep I could be getting. What is nice is a nice warm shower, and that's already provided. Some will use it, but not anywhere near enough to pay for it.

Now, let's say you did set this up close enough to a truck stop that truckers could visit it... and by a miracle you were profitable! The truck stop would probably install a jacuzzi, and charge people ~$10-12 to use it, undercutting you, taking the customers, and driving you out of business.

I would not invest in this.

I hate to say it, but it is true. Truckers are the underbelly of the underbelly. They squeek over a penny, but would not know what to do with a bazillion of them. Get my drift? Ain't no money in the run of the mill truck driver. Because I know what they make. Sad, but true.

But that is our own fault as an industry, again, sad but true. :cry:

just_froggy · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 9:55 pm Post subject:

katie wrote: We appreciate your input! We don't expect to make every driver a customer, but we think some of the drivers would use this facility.

As far as finding a hotel that provides the amenties we provide (other than a bed), its going to cost a minimum of $ 175/night. Our facility would be $ 15.00 - $ 20.00.

Again, we know its not for everybody, but there's millions of drivers on the road and if we can be of service to 1% , then we would be happy.

$15 -$20 for your service, compared to the motel 6 sign down the street advertising 39.99 for the night. Which one do you think I am going to pick? The majority of drivers don't pay for their showers now. So many of us barely get paid enough to survive, so what makes you think they are going to start paying now. I'm not even trying to be bitchy. I am just stating a fact.

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