Did there used to be more truck stops

Used to be a lot more mom and pops back in the day, especially when the 2 lanes were the main roads.

 

I suspect a lot of the older abandoned properties that you witnessed remained undeveloped because of fuel leakage from the tanks for a lot of years and any new construction (truck stop or otherwise) would have to include expensive hazmat clean-up.

 

One statistic I saw said there's twice as many trucks on the road as 30 years ago, and half as much truck parking.

 

Thats a large part of it. Another is people dont want trucks anywhere near them. Understandably too considering how nasty many drivers are. We have gained a reputation as disgusting stupid people who only go around killing people (thanks hammer!) polluteing everything, throwing trash everywhere, destroying things and getting in the way.

As a result many truckstops get shot down before they even get past the licenseing stage and may citys will activly chase older truckstops out to bow to pressure from residents who hate us. Add on to that how expensive the EPA permits are to begin with and you end up with the situation we have now.

 

There where gas stations on every corner, prime land,the fact they were gas stations did not stop the property from being developed. Old truck stops produced a lot of sales tax for the local economy.

 

My hometown, which lies in a busy freeway hub in Southern Idaho used to have 4 locally owned truck stops, some were complete with diners, service facilities, showers, scales, generous parking, and fuel. The last of these hung on until about Y2K. Now there are none, and trucks fly right through our town on the freeway without so much as a second glance...
There are a couple of PFJ's and Loves 20-50 miles away in either direction, but it's kind of sad when I think about it. Reminds me of a different time, perhaps a better, simpler time, or it could just be nostalgia... I do sometimes wish we still had at least 1 decent truck stop though...

 

What's even worse, I think Jackson's is the only place in a metro area of over 60,000 with high flow pumps, at least until the new Maverick opens on Tuesday.

Kinda nuts, if you think about it.