Town of Cochrane Strategic Plan – Final Report October 2014
After accumulating 14 hours on duty truck drivers must take an 8-hour break. 106 The amenities
and services that truckers look for in a rest stop include:
• Quality food (e.g. homemade).
• Large food portion size.
• Quality of service (fast, friendly, efficient).
• Accessibility e.g. close to highway.
• 24/7 hours of operation.
• Access to clean bathroom facilities/showers.107
• Fuel and cheap fuel prices.
• Ability to plug in their trucks to electrical outlets (to heat or cool sleeper cabs and run
auxiliary devices).
• Shopping, mail services, entertainment (casino, movie lounge).
• Wifi access that is free or low-cost.
• Length of stay allowable at the rest stop (unlimited or regulated).
• Access to coffee shop, e.g. Tim Hortons.
• Ease of parking e.g. open space, no anti-truck signs, no barriers or things that would make
parking difficult.108
• Site security.109
Cochrane can establish the community as a desirable place for truckers to stop by developing a
Truck Master Plan as part of the Community Improvement Plan (see 7.3.1.1). In developing a
Truck Master Plan, the community should involve all stakeholders in its development including
the trucking industry, existing businesses, law enforcement agencies, public interest groups,
business leaders, public works officials, and emergency management agencies. For a sample
Master Plan, please see the Hamilton Truck Route Master Plan study.110
The CIP tools and Truck Master Plan can encourage truck-friendly redevelopment along the
Highway 11 corridor. Related tactics may include:
• Review parking policies or by-law amendments.
• Assess current parking infrastructure- availability, size, amount.
• Survey truck drivers, trucking companies to establish demand for services.
106
Ministry of Transportation Highway Traffic Act (n.d). Service Ontario. Available at http://www.elaws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_060555_e.htm#BK6
107
Truckers Report (2010) Truckstop Forum. Available at :
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/canadian-truckers-forum/236499-truckstops-5.html
108
Montufar and Associates (2009). Truck Parking Needs at Rest Areas Environmental Scan. Available at
http://obac.ca/sitespice/files/misc/ENVIRONMENTAL_SCAN.pdf
109
City of Hamilton, Ontario (2013). Truck Route Master Plan Study. Available at:
https://www.hamilto n.ca/CityDepartments/PublicWorks/CommunityServicesRelatedPoliciesAndGuidelines/TruckRouteSt
udy.htm
61