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...

Originally Posted by Burky

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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.

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