Capital Drop Yard LLC has applied for rezoning and approval from the City of Memphis to develop 7 acres of land on East Shelby Drive - Parcel ID: 060232022229 (4 miles west of the Lamar Corridor) into an environmentally friendly, highly secured, completely fenced and gated, lighted and monitored, full service semi truck parking facility. This 200-space facility will be the only facility in the country to offer truckers truly idle-free solutions enabling them to turn their trucks off and still have the comforts of electric and HVAC in their sleeper cabs. We have identified 3 critical areas of Memphis' logistics infrastructure that we feel that our parking facility can significantly improve.
Memphis is North America's Logistics Capital because of its access to runway, rail, road, and port. We are one of the few inland ports in the country with 5 Class I railroads (BNSF, CN, CSX, NS and UP). A few miles away, the Memphis International Airport (MEM) is the busiest cargo airport in North America and the second-busiest in the world. The vast majority of this logistics is in district 3 in or near the Lamar Avenue Corridor.
Our market analysis underscores a critical shortfall in the availability of environmentally sustainable truck parking in the Memphis area. The U.S. Department of Transportation reported last year [2023] that for the roughly 3.5 million truck drivers in the U.S., there are only about 313,000 truck parking spaces (that's one spot for every 11 trucks). Until this year Memphis had just two major truck stops (Pilot Travel Center & Loves on Lamar Ave) to service driver's needs for things like diesel fuel, food, showers and overnight parking. Last year one of those 2 truck stops (Pilot Travel Center) was demolished leaving just one major truck stop to serve 20,000 truckers that come to or through Memphis on a daily basis. Drivers are legally required to rest 10 hours for every 11 on the road, so they rotate in and out of the parking spaces at different times as spots come available. However, due to the parking shortage you often see these trucks parked along Interstate exit and entry ramps, in vacant lots and other unsafe locations, particularly at night.
Challenge #1: Idling Trucks create Harmful Emissions & Noise Pollution in our Communities
Drive through any truck stop with your window down and you will hear almost every truck engine is idling. On any given day thousands of truckers that deliver to Memphis shippers and receivers are parked and idling their engines as they take their 10-hour break, await appointment times or their next dispatch. In addition to the noise pollution, each idling truck consumes about 1 gallon of diesel fuel per hour which emits 18 - 25 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) and countless cancer causing air pollutants into the air. Diesel truck idling is among the worst sources of pollution for our community and the atmosphere. The EPA estimates that a typical 100-space travel plaza, with an average 66% occupancy rate, generates over 2,500 tons of emissions at that location each year from idling, burning over 240,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
At this time there is no truck parking facility that offers drivers of diesel powered trucks idle free parking solutions; not in Memphis and not in the country! Some truck stops offer electric hookups for trucks (TSE) however electricity alone does not provide essential air conditioning or heating to the driver's cab since virtually all diesel powered semi trucks on the road today require that their engines be running in order to provide air or heat to the driver's cab.
Studies show that people are disproportionately impacted by air pollution, including those who live in low-income communities. The EPA has reported that people living near sources of air pollution including major roadways, ports, rail yards, and industrial facilities [such as those facilities concentrated in District 3] are at higher risk of falling victim to health effects like asthma, reduced lung function, cardiovascular disease, and premature death.
Our Solution: Capital Drop Yard will provide diesel powered truckers with the only truly idle-free truck parking facility in the country. Our easy to use proprietary HVAC & Power stations will allow truck drivers to park in our safe and secure yard, turn off their diesel engines and connect the window mounted control module to the passenger window. The control module provides the driver with 120-volt electrical outlets, a thermostat, carbon monoxide / smoke detector and a fresh air vent. The driver simply sets the desired temperature on the control module and the system pumps fresh / filtered air conditioning or heat through the hose so that the driver can remain comfortable with their engine turned off.
Our HVAC system is a 15,000 BTU closed filtered system that draws air from inside the cab and filters it about once a minute. The filtered air is then cooled or heated and treated with ultraviolet light to kill bacteria, viruses, and spores. Use of the system will greatly diminish both air and noise pollution and increase fuel conservation and will therefore have beneficial effects not only for the environment, but also for neighborhood residents and drivers. Truck drivers save money and get better sleep without the engine noise, vibration, and exhaust fumes from idling. Better rest for drivers will make for safer drivers. Electric hookups for refrigerated trailers will be phased in as well.
Together, we can save millions of tons of dangerous emissions from polluting our environment and contributing to climate change.
Challenge #2: Cargo Theft and Crime in the Lamar Avenue Corridor
Truck stops such as Loves and Pilot provide a lifeline of essential resources for hard working truckers, particularly for long haul truckers that live in their cabs while over the road. Due to the severe shortage of overnight parking in the Memphis area many of these truckers are forced to park illegally and in unsecured areas that are not designated for trucks. The very few truckers that are fortunate to find an overnight parking spot at the Loves Truck Stop on Lamar Ave often find themselves victims of cargo theft and crimes against drivers due to the unsecured nature of these truck stops.
While filling a valuable void, truck stops lack the fencing / gates, electric fencing, adequate lighting necessary to safely secure the valuable cargo that is parked on their lots. Data Hub reports that in the past year Love's Truck Stop on Lamar was the site of 137 police reports, dozens of which were related to semi trailer break-ins. These thefts are often tied to highly sophisticated organized crime operations, some even located in other countries. Memphis is in the top 10 cities in the country for cargo theft according to FBI statistics. Countless shooting deaths and serious injuries take place at the Lamar Ave Loves on a regular basis. This year alone shooting deaths were reported at the truck stop on March 17 and July 2.
Our Solution: Our plan is to provide truckers with a safer and more secure alternative to parking at truck stops which lack necessary deterrents and barriers to keep thieves out. Capital Drop Yard will have 8ft high chain link fencing with razor wire, 7,000 volt electric fencing, gated entrance and exits, bright LED lighting, perimeter motion sensors and state-of-the-art CCTV camera systems which feature AI for intruder detection and 60 day backup footage. About half of the parking spots will have backup bumpers that prevent thieves from opening the doors on loaded trailers.
Challenge #3: Congestion in Lamar Avenue Corridor & Lack of Semi Truck Parking
Congestion in and around the I-55 at I-40 connection ranked No. 42 on the American Transportation Research Institute’s list of top 100 worst bottlenecks in the country for 2022. The congestion and parking shortage is particularly acute along the heavily trafficked 5 mile stretch of Lamar Ave in the Lamar Avenue Corridor. To address the severe congestion in the area, The Lamar Avenue Corridor project was recently funded in part by a $71.1 million grant from The U.S. Department of Transportation to alleviate congestion and improve the flow of commerce through our "logistics corridor." The U.S. Department of Transportation reported in 2023 that for the roughly 3.5 million truck drivers in the U.S., there are only about 313,000 truck parking spaces (that's one spot for every 11 trucks). For this reason truck drivers give up an average of 56 minutes of their available 11 hour drive time per day parking early rather than risking not being able to find parking down the road. The time spent looking for available truck parking costs the average driver about $5,500 annually in lost compensation and thousands of dollars in overnight parking fees charged by truck stops, according to American Trucking Associations. The shortage of safe and environmentally sustainable idle-free parking and resources for these drivers is occurring in the context of a burgeoning freight transportation sector which is set to intensify the demand for additional parking solutions. Last year [2023] the Arkansas Department of Transportation opened an 84-space commercial truck park in West Memphis. The $6 million facility provides a rest area for the more than 20,000 commercial trucks that pass through West Memphis each day.
On any given day there can be hundreds of truckers that are contracted to provide time sensitive ad hoc freight services to Fedex or UPS. These drivers are required to be in close proximity to the Memphis Airport to provide immediate service for shipments that cannot be shipped by air. Due to the time sensitive nature of these shipments truckers generally sit at or around the Loves on Lamar idling their engines awaiting dispatch from FedEx / UPS, further exacerbating the congestion in the area.
Our Solution: Capital Drop Yard, if approved by the City of Memphis, will be conveniently located 4 miles west of the congested Lamar Corridor yet in close proximity to the Memphis Airport. We will provide a full-service drop yard facility that leverages many years of relationships with local vendors to provide on-site services to truckers. The full service nature(see below) of the parking facility means drivers will be on local roads less, resulting in greater driver efficiencies and considerably less congestion in and around the Lamar Corridor. The site location sits less than 1/8 of a mile from the Memphis International Airport, this will serve as a perfect location for Fedex and UPS ad hoc drivers.
Drop Yard Services Available to Truckers (onsite):
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DOT Inspections -- Rescue Repair Service
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Tire Pressure Management
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Truck and Trailer Wash -- Rescue Repair Service
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On-site Cross Dock & Freight Storage (in rental trailers)
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Windshield Repair / Replacement -- Universal Glass Repair
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Brake & Tire Service for trucks and trailers -- Rescue Repair Service
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Full Service Trailer Shop (partner / vendor on site) -- Rescue Repair Service
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Pre & Post-Trip Inspections (trucks and trailers) -- Rescue Repair Service
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Safety & Compliance Services -- Thompson DOT Safety & Compliance
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Permitting / Tag / Fuel Tax Services available to carriers -- Perfect Choice Permitting
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Insurance -- MidSouth Truckers Group / Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance
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Dispatch / Load Planning Services to maximize driver efficiencies
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Regular peer group meetings with guest experts / leaders from the industry to discuss best practices for small trucking business - 90% of small trucking companies fail
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Partnership with The Transformation Doctor to help educate drivers on diet & fitness
Our onsite Driver lounge will be available to all drivers that pay to park with us:
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Free Private Showers
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Free Laundry
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Restrooms
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Conference Room / Business Center / Free Wifi
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Fitness / workout room
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Kitchen - meal prep recipes and healthy eating classes for drivers
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Free WIFI
Almost all of our partner vendors are local business that we have developed relationships with over many years. All except for one below are located in District 3.
Partner Vendors:
Rescue Repair Service
3441 Knight Arnold Rd
Memphis, TN 38118
Perfect Choice Permitting
3865 Viscount Ave
Memphis, TN 38118
Thompson DOT Safety & Compliance
3131 Farrisview Road
Memphis, TN 38118
Universal Glass
3695 Lamar Ave
Memphis, TN 38118
Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance
2670 Union Ave Ste 100
Memphis, TN 38112
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this with me further I can be reached on my cell phone at 901-305-1456 or by email at capitallogisticsgroup@yahoo.com
Stephen Christides
Capital Drop Yard LLC / Capital Logistics LLC Online at www.capitaldropyard.com
