I can easily state that the TA at x15 in Gary, Indiana is getting ready to get much worse than it ever has been. There has always been a big problem there with the day haulers that haul steel parking their trucks on the lot, and I would estimate that they take up 20% of the parking spaces on any given evening. They are in the process of installing 2 rows of Idle-air, and in the process they are going to completely realing the parking lot there. If the day haulers remain, and the Idle-air spots are reserved for their customers, there simply won't be any parking left there for the remaining trucks. If I have to stop in that area, soo the only real options will be on the north side of US 20, at the Crazy D's and the old shopping center next to the Ponderosa Steak House. Slowly but surely Idle-air is killing off the usability of a lot of truckstops.l

Quick question... (I'm learning lots to pass on to my husband who is in driving school right now) What is Idle-Air?

Thanks!

Nina

idle aire is a service that provides electricity,ac/heat,internet etc etc and allows the driver to cut his engine off while at the truckstop...here is a link to thier website....[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

__________________

Thanks for the Idle-Air lesson. It sounds like a good thing, but from the tone of earlier posts, maybe not?? Apparently there is a cost involved to hook up or a subscription fee plus the purchase of the window retrofit thingy.

Nina

That's correct- you pay a fee for usage. Some idle air locations will throw in the adapter for free if you purchase enough time upfront.

Typically, what's cheaper....using Idle-Air or burning fuel idleing?? And I guess many places ban idleing due to emissions/EPA/bad air concerns?

Nina

Yes- that's true- some states only allow you to idle in certain conditions/situations. ANd of course, idling away gets really expensive real fast. Now, with hubby just going thru school, he may find a company that pays for Idleaire, some are putting APU's on their trucks.

Oh yes, back on the subject- last time I was in Nashville (at the TA, what a hole) a lady got stabbed right at the front door (right when I got there) and the next morning a Driver got mugged (as I was walking back to the truck).

One of my personal worst ones...along with pretty much every dump thats already been mentioned is the Petro in Atlanta off of 285 on the west side. Its been a few years since I ve been there but they used to charge $5 for a "secure" parking lot!!! Too bad I had to get out of my truck and kick the ever loving crap out of this moron who woke me up 3 times in a row trying to sell me a watch!!!! The truck parked across from me found it quite amusing to watch me shoving my size 13 boot right up this guys butt!!! Not to mention all the crack hoes running around out front of the place and the absolutely backwards truck parking system they had there.
Most favourite one is a little mom and pop place on I75 in KY just over the OH line. Too bad I cant think of the name or the exit number but it was a great old school truck stop with huge portions and none of this "no fat, no grease and no taste crap".

Another one of my favourites is a place called Garys in Northern Ontario Canada. Nearest town is called Lac des mille lac. Hes an old driver from days gone by and he dont put up with no crap!!! He was having a problem with people just stopping and using the restroom especially a certain race of people who lets just say look like Osama!!! So he made himself a sign which basically said. If I dont like the looks of ya, I aint serving ya, so get out!!! LOL.

I like Little America in Wyoming on I 80. Can be a little windy and cool at times though.

I was reading the thread, and I had another question surface. How do you treat all the scum that comes up to your truck? Do you politely tell them you'll pass or do you tell them off and threaten them with their lives if they don't leave?

Do they mess with your truck? How do you guys deal with them? As for me, knowing myself, I'd get pretty POed if they continued to bother me. I would do something about it. Read into that not the most severely possible action but pretty freakin' close.