Here's a suggestion heard here for the first time. When you buy the land for this truckstop, buy any and all adjoining land for a mile in any direction. Then, when competion wants to come in, YOU have control since you own the land. You can lease the land for 99 years, and laugh all the way to the bank.
If you have a 30 acre facility, make the inside area larger. Hate these Pilots/"J"s with #### all displayed in the aisles, so much so, you have to sidestep. And if you ever got really big and branched out, make every truckstop different. Other than the common sign with the name of the truckstop, have the building/layout set up differently. Different paint schemes, landscaping, interior design etc. I would also have 1 or 2 female "ambassadors" roving around dressed a little sexy and just flirting around with the drivers, but nothing more. They would constantly move about from the fuel island to the t.v. room to the restaurant to the the cashier. Guys love a little friendly female interaction.

Big signs showing the way to the restroom as soon as you walk in the door. And don't put the restroom on the other side of the store where we have to run an obstacle course of shelves and mindless tourists to get to them.

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The best way to rob a bank is to own one.

Showers!!! Make sure they are maintained and well ventilated!! Put a fan in the shower if you have to, and while you are at it use decent towels. Parking is a must, nothing like driving for 11hours to not find a spot at the place you wanted to stay. If you are going to have separate bathrooms for the drivers please don't forget the female drivers, TA loves to do that! Location is also a good thing to keep in mind, for most drivers if they can't see it from the freeway they ain't stopping. Separate entrance for trucks and cars, nothing like grandma holding up the works with her caddy. Grassy areas for drivers pets, yeah I know sounds easy enough but you would be surprised. I won't complain about the prices or wifi other drivers got that covered. Food, yeah we all like to eat, and we are all in the mood for something different all at the same time. I want chicken, he wants a steak, the guy over there is thinking pasta, and the man that just walked in wants breakfast. Just give us variety at a fair price. Maybe even build by an existing restaurant or fast food joint. The list goes on and on. I don't care about the decor or building designs as along as it don't scream I might fall down at any moment we are good.

I like the first part of this statement, but not the second. If you get 5 drivers from one company who like lizards, then you're going to ban every driver from that company? I don't see why. I drive for a company with thousands of trucks. I'm sure there's at least five drivers who are into a little commercial company once in a while. Doesn't mean all of us are, or even the majority of us. So why ban a whole group based on the actions of a few?

Also, I wouldn't split the lot half and half for paying/non-paying. I just don't think you'll have much demand for an idle-free zone. Nor would I put the bobtail parking in the pay lot. That would just give all the bobtails a reason not to use that lot.

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Cowboy up!

I'd like to add, as for the bathroom doors, PLEASE make them PUSH OUTWARD upon exit.

There is nothing worse than washing and drying you hands, only to have to grab hold of that germy door handle to get out!

Judi Kay

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Livin', Lovin',Laughin'...Makin' Friends, & Lovin' Life, Rollin' Down That Big Road!!! Redneck Women RULE!! Hell, YEAH!!!!

That is why I use the paper towel that I dried my hand with to open the door.

I do, too.But, still....it would be nice to be able to just push the door open to leave.

Judi Kay

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Livin', Lovin',Laughin'...Makin' Friends, & Lovin' Life, Rollin' Down That Big Road!!! Redneck Women RULE!! Hell, YEAH!!!!

You guys n gals are awesome we love all your ideas and are doing our best to give you what want or need. Thanks for all your ideas keep them coming!!

Automatic doors on the bathrooms? That'd take care of the ew factor pretty well. Or no doors, just do that clever thing with the walls that hides the entrance from sight.

And decent towels equal big towels. Most of us are over 5 feet tall and some of us are over 4 feet wide. Scale the towels accordingly.

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The best way to rob a bank is to own one.

I say have all the parking PAID parking. Are you running a business or a charity. These drivers want to park on your land for free, throw urine bottles and bags of garbage all of the lot and then leave. Now, you just paid money for them to park. That is STUPID. If they want to stop and spend the night, then they can buy a meal, fuel, parts, service, or whatever - It should be $25 to your coffers either way - and if they want to get something for it, then they need to come in side and get it via a purchase.

Make the drivers pay a deposit to use the restroom. That's right - $10. Don't know how to flush a toilet - $10. Don't know how to hit a urinal - $10. Smear feces or write vulgarities on the bathroom wall - $100 and you're banned for life. We pay a deposit to use showers - why not the bathroom.

Again, you trying to please everyone, or do you want a base of regular, law-abiding, common-sense, respectful customers, who like a clean atmosphere. Besides, these are the only ones who are going to tip your waitresses anyway.

Again, the drivers that don't like this don't need to be stopping anyway - they are just going to ruin your investment and ruin everyone else's evening.

Scenario: I am an owner operator leased on with said big trucking outfit, who gets me a discount on fuel at the big boys. I won't be buying fuel from you and I have already showered at the previous establishment. I pull up to the parking area and REGISTER with the attendant, who hands me a ticket. I back into my parking spot and turn off the truck, because it is Alabama and in the spring, fall, and most of the winter, the weather is nice. I go inside and buy a meal, tip the waitress, and maybe buy something I need for the truck, satisfying the hungry stomach and the $25 parking requirement. I go to my truck, do some paperwork, read on my book, and go to sleep - no lot lizard, no trucks idling, no wrecks - PEACE AND QUIET. I get up the next morning and use the restroom and leave.

It's a win- win for everyone - I got a meal and parking. The owner got business and profit. The waitress got a tip. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY - I LEFT THE FACILITIES IN GOOD SHAPE FOR MY FELLOW TRUCK DRIVER.