As with almost every other physical asset in the business world, maintenance is essential to owning a truck parking lot. Not only does it help to keep your parking lot in good shape, but it also helps to reduce the potential for costly problems and accidents.
Below, we’ll discuss some of the most essential aspects of maintaining a truck parking lot and the costs, time, and benefits involved.
Truck Parking Lot Maintenance Checklist
We’ll discuss parking lot maintenance in detail in a moment. First, let’s look at a short checklist of regular tasks that you need to do to ensure that your parking lot is in good working order.
General Maintenance Tasks
- Keeping your truck parking lot clean
Frequency: Weekly - Checking for and repairing cracks
Frequency: Monthly
Summer Maintenance Tasks
- Sealing the parking lot
Frequency: Every two years - Repainting stripes and on-road signage
Frequency: Yearly
Fall Maintenance Tasks
- Remove leaves and other debris from the lot
Frequency: Daily - Ensure you have everything for maintenance during the winter period
Frequency: Yearly
Winter Maintenance Tasks
- Apply a liquid deicing agent before the first snowfall
Frequency: Yearly - Remove snow from the parking lot as quickly as possible
Frequency: Daily, or twice a day, if there is snow - Apply sand, salt, or other deicers to prevent ice buildup
Frequency: Daily, during times of snow
Spring Maintenance Tasks
- Check for and remove unwanted vegetation and weeds
Frequency: Bi-weekly - Ensure that all drainage systems are in working order
Frequency: Bi-monthly
Truck Parking Lot Maintenance: a Detailed Overview
On average, an asphalt parking lot has a predicted lifespan ranging from 20 to 40 years. However, good parking lot maintenance practices can help extend the lifespan by as much as 30 years. Below, we’ll highlight some of the most common and essential maintenance requirements.
General Surface Care
Because truck parking lots are constantly exposed to harsh weather conditions, caring for their surfaces is an ongoing process. Wind, rain, sunlight, and the trucks themselves all contribute to wear and tear.
A range of different types of maintenance should be implemented to keep the parking lot in excellent condition.
Keeping the Truck Parking Lot Clean
An often overlooked part of parking lot maintenance, keeping the surface clear of dirt and debris is essential.
First of all, certain types of debris may be hazardous to the parking lot or the trucks themselves. Nails, tins, cans, and even rocks may pose a risk of damage to truck tires.
Second, when the parking lot has a layer of debris over it, the slightest mist, rain, or snow may make the surface slick, making it unsafe to drive on.
Keeping the lot clear of debris is especially important in fall when leaves are abundant. The leaves of many trees exude chemicals that may eat away at the tarmac, causing larger problems later on.
This maintenance should be done at least twice a week during most of the year, but preferably daily during the Fall. It can be relatively inexpensive since it only takes an hour or so each day. You could probably get unskilled labor assistance for under $250 a month (during peak season) and less than $100 a month the rest of the time.
Finding and Repairing Cracks
One of the easiest ways to avoid major parking lot repairs is to watch for cracks that form from weather exposure. You need to repair these or have them repaired as soon as possible. Try to check for cracks at least once a month and repair them immediately.
You can expect to pay between $0.50 and $3.00 per linear foot for crack repair. If you catch cracks early, the cost will be less than it typically would.
General Maintenance (Usually Done in Summer)
Summer is the best time to perform certain maintenance tasks since you don’t have to deal with overwhelming weather conditions or an influx of debris.
Striping
Stripes and painted-on road signs are essential to your truck parking lot. Consequently, you need to ensure that they remain easily visible and don’t get the opportunity to wear off. This is known as striping and should be done yearly or biyearly.
Depending on the size of the lot, the cost for this type of parking lot maintenance may be as low as $100 or as high as $1,000.
Resealing the Tarmac
Since truck parking lots are constantly exposed to wear and weather conditions, it’s vital to reseal them regularly. This prevents moisture from seeping into the tarmac, where freezing and other events can cause significant damage.
It’s best to have the tarmac resealed every two years, though you may wish to do it yearly in particularly trying climate conditions.
You can expect to pay between $0.10 and $0.50 per square foot for this process.
General Maintenance (Usually Done in Spring)
During the spring season, you may have to deal with some issues that aren’t a problem the rest of the year.
Removing Unwanted Vegetation
In spring, you may encounter vegetation growing on your tarmac. Certain types of weeds are highly resilient and will easily grow in even the smallest spaces.
However, as their roots expand, the plants may begin to crack or even lift the tarmac. For this reason, removing or killing any unwanted vegetation before it takes hold is essential.
One of the easiest ways to do this is to apply a herbicide to the affected areas. In that case, you can probably pay less than $100. If your entire lot requires treatment, this value can go up into the thousands.
Ensure That All Drainage Systems are Working
After winter, it’s essential to ensure that all drainage systems are clear and working properly. This helps to ensure that there’s no standing water in the lot. You might have to do this about once a week for the first month of spring and once a month after that.
It won’t cost you anything if you’re willing to do this yourself. If you pay someone to do it, you can expect to pay up to $100 for the process (assuming there are no major blockages).
Winter Tasks
During Winter, there are certain tasks that aren’t necessary for the rest of the year. This part of truck parking lot maintenance is specifically for regions with snow and ice.
There are three main tasks to consider and perform:
- Treating the lot with a liquid deicing agent before the first snow or ice. This will cost between $4 and $12 per gallon on average and prevents the ice from bonding with the tarmac.
- Keeping the lot clear of snow. This should be a daily task when it is snowing, and you can probably hire someone to do it for as little as $150-$300 a month (depending on how long the process takes every day).
- Treating the tarmac with a deicer. After the snow has been removed, it’s essential to apply a deicing agent. This prevents the ice from bonding with the tarmac and making it slippery. Expect a cost of $2-$3 per 1,000 square feet when using something like salt.
Truck Parking Lot Maintenance Tips
When you’re dealing with the administration and day-to-day of a business, taking the time to invest in truck parking lot repairs and maintenance can seem daunting. These are some of our top tips for successfully maintaining your lot.
1 – Consider Contracting Out Maintenance, Especially in Winter
There are many companies out there specializing in parking lot repairs, maintenance, and installation. Often, they perform these services at reasonable rates, meaning it won’t take a large percentage of your profits.
Leaving the maintenance and repair work to a company like this, especially in the harsh winter conditions, will give you peace of mind and free up your time.
2 – Sign Recurring Contracts with Trustworthy Contractors
Some tasks will need to happen yearly or bi-yearly. In these cases, when you find a contractor who does the job well and that you know you can trust, consider asking them for a recurring contract. This will take the effort out of arranging for the same service every year. Instead, they will come at the same time each year, and you simply have to pay the bill.
3 – For Low-Income Lots, Consider DIY
In certain circumstances, your lot may be in an out-of-the-way location or a town that doesn’t see much truck traffic. In these cases, you may feel that the price spent on contractors is simply too high. This is a good time to consider DIY options, as they can cost you as little as a third of the price.
Final Thoughts
It may be tempting to neglect maintenance until there are visible signs of its necessity, but this can be a fatal mistake. Truck parking lot repairs almost always cost significantly more than maintenance would.
It’s best to maintain a regular maintenance schedule rather than have to deal with the inconvenience of repairing or even replacing your lot’s surface. With the information listed above, you should be able to perform truck parking lot maintenance with ease.
Are you ready to make more income from your well-maintained parking lot? Become a property member with Truck Parking Club today!
The information published herein is for general informational purposes only. Truck Parking Club does not make any representations or warranties about the completeness, reliability, legality, and accuracy of this information. Any reliance placed on such material is strictly at the user’s own risk. Truck Parking Club shall not be responsible for any losses or damages incurred in connection with the information published herein.
