just curious for all the different ways that people have made money in this industry writing different books and whatnot i can't believe no one has ever touched on this subject.
my 2 worst are
the TA in Gary, IN
and The Walt Whittman in Philly

I use the TA in Gary occasionally, when I am running 90 into downtown Chicago, since I don't like the traffic patterns pulling to the Flying J nearby, and I must admit that I have never had a bit of trouble there. I pull in, find a parking spot that meets my needs (not on the end of a row, not next to a reefer, usually near one of the waterholes that everyone avoids, etc) and have never had any problems there. I agree, the cb is alive with the guys in the backrow looking for companions, but I have never once been bothered there. Restaurant and service is decent if not spectacular, and I feel safe walking around the parking lot there going to and from the truck.

But if it bothers you much, let me suggest 6 miles up the road at exit 9, Grant St, the Steel City truckstop on the south side. Always parking available, well lighted, places to eat nearby, and I think it's one of the best kept trucking secrets in the Chicagoland area. If I stop in the area, I use it quite a bit.

I would agree with Walt Whitman ts in philly, I think it is the skank capital of america...

I would have to Disagree about it being the Skank capital of the World.. From my Personal Experience the WORST truck stop i have ever been to was the TA East.. in Fontana Ca, at the Milkin Ave, Exit, Its the one that has the Hotel right next to it, and i swear that they have a bay station set up in that hotel for the lot lizards, i dont feel very safe walking from my truck to the truckstop at night it has Very poor lighting and lots of homeless and people selling all kinds of stuff walking arround, but the TA directly across the street from that TA is a bit nicer

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There are Old Truckers and there are Bold Truckers, But there are no Old Bold Truckers.

I once watched 2 pimps duke it out at the Gary T/A.

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I am actually writing a book on truckstops and have been working on it for over 2 years. My personal favorite is Griffis on I55 in MS, great food, cute waitresses, and real old school feeling to the place. Oh and the skankest place on earth is the Twin Pilots on Highway 78 in Memphis, TN It is so bad there with lot lizzards the police gave up and dont even patrol there anymore. Only place in America I have seen people performing lewd acts in the parking lot in broad daylight.

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To each his own or until you get in my way!

Steel City, is well lighted, but there are tons of vagrants there last time i was there, and the staff in the Fuel Island were snotty and basically pains in the *********.

NOW STEEL CITY resturant is a little "greasy-spoon" style resturant, great service, and REALLY GOOD DINER food.


Fontana TA, been through there, scary, luckly one of our terminals is right down the road.

I dont really keep track, if i dont feel safe, I stay in my truck, lock the doors, and use my patented safety device, quick strap on my doors, only way in is through the windows.


K

Since Steel City is about 5 miles from our corporate terminal and fuel pumps, I can't fuel there, so I can't comment on the fuel practices. As for vagrants, I've never seen any problems there. Many of thsoe people aren't really vagrants, I suspect that they are local steel haulers hanging out in the lot. Lots of day haulers park their trucks there, which does make it easy to find a place between two of them and guarantee yourself a reefer noise free night's sleep.

vagrants, crackheads, or whatever you wanna call them they werent drivers, they were def homeless or otherwise street people.


What is the big deal with parking next to reefers, If your truck is running you should not hear my reefer...I cant even tell when it is running inside my cab if my truck is running, unless i get a REAL NOISY one that is, but usually they are quiet.


Kevin

Ah yes, the one on Packer Ave. The only ones I know that could top that are the one in Jersey City NJ, or the TA here in Jessup, MD (I-95 ex 41-A).

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Z-Lady's devoted hubby.