What is the standard dimension for a turn-around for a semi-truck?

Question

I'm building a business site that will have semi truck traffic; so how much room is needed.

Answer 1

The more room the better,   as when you turn a loaded trailer sharply the tires will  "scrub"  causing a lot of wear to the parking lot surface.   Wide smooth turns reduce this and expensive repairs.  

If possible,  can you have an entrance on one side,  and exit off the other with pull through angled spaces?   (Like a rest area).     If not that,  less space is needed for back-in spaces,  roughly twice the length of the truck or at least 125 feet for angled spaces.   Spaces are best to the left of the truck just before backing starts.

Drivers will thank you for providing a place for them to patronize with good parking,   but there will be those that abuse this also.   If the business is not open 24/7,   will there be alternate rest facilities near?    Trash cans,  if the dumpster is not between parking and the building would be required.    Some will still not avail themselves of this,  lazy human nature I guess.    Rvrs will also use these spaces.

Answer 2

Kind of hard to give a 'standard' when it's not known which turnaround method you're using. A Semi *will* turn in it's own length (jackknifing).  Considering a 50' trailer and 12' of cab, a 62' circular turnaround would suffice but you'd be stretching the air hoses.  

A slot to back into and turn would be much easier for you and the driver.

Chas

Answer 3

Depends on the overall length of the tractor/trailer combination. In the USA, a tractor with a big sleeper, and towing a 53' trailer could be 80 feet long, and needs a bit more than that much space to do a turn-around.  Trucks towing double or triple trailers are even longer, and can't do short turn-arounds. If you're designing a parking lot, then it's best to leave a bit of extra room for trucks to maneuver, or make pull-thru sites where they don't have to turn around.

If you're using an architect to design this project, then they should already have information on standard spaces and allowances for big trucks.

Answer 4

There is a program called AutoTurn that can be used in AutoCadd or MicroStation.

It can track the wheel paths of all different type vehicles.  Many of them are already loaded in the program.................................