How to Construct a Gravel Parking Area for Heavy Trucks

Design and sketch out the parking area shape and size based on the amount of trucks you need to accommodate and the sizes and weights of the vehicles. The largest U.S. "turnpike double" combination tractor trailer has a total overall length of 120 feet (36.6 m), while in the EU and EEA member states, the maximum overall lorry and cargo length is 18.75 meters. For a U.S. eighteen wheeler, an area of approximately 33 feet wide is required for an 180 degree turn, according to "Truckers Report."

Excavate the parking area with a bulldozer to allow for a new 18-inch thick substrate and gravel surface using the same construction standards as a government gravel road. Plan for the final surface area to be elevated slightly higher than the surrounding terrain to allow for good drainage. Remove any boulders or roots and compact this exposed surface down with a heavy-duty roller or vibrating compactor.

Add 12-inch base of bank-run gravel, which is a natural composite mixture of gravel and sand. Make sure it is free of organic material and then compact this layer down.

Add a 4-inch layer of crushed fist-size stones to allow for drainage and compact these down well. Then add a final 2-inch layer of finer crushed stones and compact these. Crushed stone gravel is better than round shaped gravel because it locks together better and is less likely to shift out of place.