how do they pay for free showers?

It's the same company. Doesn't matter what state you fuel in and shower in.

 

It has to be that way to provide the services demanded by the trucking industry. Besides, a trucker fueled in Baytown but showered in San Antonio, so it evens out. When I started trucking there were few chain truck stops and you were issued a "shower ticket" with a date stamped on it and you pretty much had to shower where you fueled in many circumstances. Glad things have progressed in that regard.

Pilot and Loves are all corporate owned/operated as far as I know, although some of the older operations (such as Road Ranger) that were bought out may still be locally owned/operated and franchise with Pilot and must honor Pilot programs and standards. Someone else can clear that up, I'm not sure.

 

I am pretty sure they have a crew working the exits with signs asking for money.

A lot of truck stops hire people to hold up signs asking for money so they can cover overhead like free showers and free refills.

 

Not to sound like an a.. but honestly... once you get your free shower, who cares. They (Pilot, Flying J, Loves, etc...) are going to get the money regardless, so the LEAST they can do is make sure you have clean towels and hot water to clean yourself with.

As stated, all the big ones are franchise owned so they work in sync with each other. Pilot and Flying J are owned by the same company now. So is TA and Petro. So it works out in the end. As long as drivers are taken care of, that is all that matters. Let the big wigs worry about how they get their money.

 

No they don't rearview. It's paid by a Lot Lizard Tax!

 

Dang it rearview...

That video...

I was one of the lucky ones who came back pretty much un-scarred.

As a fellow vet, thank you for putting that in your Sig. Some people just don't understand what it took and takes to serve.