ComplaintsforMarathon 102

• Initial Complaint

  11/14/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This place is ripping truck drivers off . I went to this place lastnight in the middle of a storm to shut my truck down in sleep . I woke up this morning to a boot on my truck and I had to pat 575.00 dollars to get it removed along with 8 other trucks. I asked about why I was being booted they told me because I don't have a parking pass which is 3 bucks . I told them I didn't know I had to pay they then said it was Nothing they could do about it . I went to check for a sign I finally found it far from the street small sign in a pitch black truck stop with no lighting. Upon doing my research I found thousands of truck drives complaining of thee exact same thing . A ton of tictok videos and reviews. This place are scamming truckers out of money and no one is doing anything about it .

  Business response

  12/14/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 10, 2022/12/06) */ At the request of our local customers in need of somewhere to park we instituted parking passes. This is not a money making scheme or a scam, but a low dollar amount to cover the cost of having the parking lot cleaned, maintenance, security and lighting. At $3 a night or $10 a week we will provide a place for customers to park. Several years ago city regulations made it so trucks could not park in vacant lots, fields or on the city streets where they lived. This became a cluster within our parking lot and we had multiple calls that trucks were parked and left in the driveways making it impossible for trucks in the back to get out of the parking lot. Abandoned trucks and trailers littered the parking lot and were taking up parking spaces as well. We tried to control these problems on our own and tagged vehicles that we thought were abandoned. After a couple weeks with no response from the owners, we had them towed. This process was getting us nowhere as more and more drivers were coming in asking for a spot to park. We simply could not handle the load of all the trucks in the surrounding area. This was when we took the drivers up on their request. We designated "prime" parking spots at a higher rate and overflow parking in the back. Same situation as before. We issue parking passes. Small amounts just to deter more trucks versus parking spaces. This worked fine for a little while but we had same complaints. People without passes were flooding the lot and disrupting the flow. We would walk through and tow unaccompanied vehicles and trailers. The problem wasn't solved even with this method. We received a call a few months from a company that controls parking lots all over our region and specializes in truck stops. We were very hesitant in doing this but there was no way we could keep our loyal customers happy. Imagine getting fuel at our stop 3 to 4 times a week and paying for a space to park and then coming back for the weekend and your parking space has been occupied. This did not sit well with any of us. This is our Marathon store but we are in the trucking business as well. We know and hear the complaints of our drivers. We consulted with them and after several weeks we allowed this new company to regulate our lot. We have no control over prices and do not receive a dime from them. They pop in at random times, check for parking passes and boot trucks or trailers that aren't authorized to be there. There are multiple signs at the entrance and around the parking lot to explain this. Most truckers loop around by the fuel isle, get a pass and proceed to park. Others park and come inside to pay. There is no time frame and the company usually doesn't sit out there, but drive around randomly and proceed to their next patrolled lot. The lot is lit and they have helped us keep it cleaned from clutter and broke down and abandoned tractors and trailers. We do not own the whole lot, only the front half so I can't speak for that shop and his clutter in the back. We have had mostly good response from allowing them to patrol. There are some very vocal people on social media that do not like it and have tried to harm our business by calling this a scam and saying we are charging $600 to park. This is simply not true. But once the slander stops and truckers hear the truth, most understand. This is not a money making scheme for parking or a scam to make people pay higher prices. Like I said before, we only get the parking money. We do not get a dime from the third party booting company. This is an effort to control our parking lot and provide truckers that need a place to park a space. It has kept our driveways free and clear and has also freed up parking spaces. Sorry to make this so long but I wanted you to fully understand the reasoning behind why this policy was instituted and to understand what it has done for truck drivers as yourself.

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