TA in VA I-81, x 150 will close permanently on Nov 15, 2014

I wouldn't be surprised if TA/Petro are bought out by Flying J/Pilot

 

That would be a disaster. No more full service restaurants. I am surprised the government has allowed Pilot to expand to their current level. As I recall, the government forced Pilot and Flying J to sell off some of their stops in order to complete their merger/acquisition. Since that time, Pilot has continued to expand. It is my understanding that most of their expansion since the merger has been only for the fuel. That may be how they are getting away with that growth. Flying J used to have fuel $0.02/gallon cheaper than Pilot and most of their competitors. Now, prices are on par for both of them. The merger has resulted in less competition and higher prices for fuel.

I understand why there has not been more new truck stops being built. It costs a fortune to do all the preliminaries, such as an environmental impact study, before they can even break ground. We could use more truck stops and more competition.

 

TA is not only not expanding, but many of their locations are in serious need of TLC. And this is why Pilot/Flying J is expanding. They've actually put money into their business while TA has collected and not done anything. TA went for the old clientele, while Pilot saw the changes coming. It would not surprise me at all to see TA in serious financial trouble.

 

Those TA restaurants are barely "full service" anymore. Flying J killed itself with very bad management and TA is doing the same. Flying J did not anticipate the changes in the industry. The days of old are gone. Remember, we went almost completely to JIT (Just In Time) service. Appointments for delivery have been tightened up and trucks are governed slower and now the E-Logs. The times for chilling in the restaurants and BSing are almost over. Pilot is doing the same thing Walmart did. Taking over by offering lower prices (bigger fuel discounts for big companies) than the competition and just like Walmart, it's pretty much get your stuff and go. The business model is the same.

 

I always stayed out of TAs except Buckhorn. Jessup MD was the worst little whorehouse in MD. I had to go there once and get enough fuel to get me to Ashland VA. Almost caused a stampede. I was in OKC TA asking a Co driver where our terminal was and some prostitute told me to shut up on the CB. I told her she'd better shut up and she asked me what I was going to do about it. I called the TV station and asked why TA promoted prostitution and when I came back from the yd at 6 PM there were cops and TV cameras everywhere.Our Govt. wants monopolies, easier to control.

 

Good Riddance!!!!

 

I bet Pilot/Flying J will buy it.

 

That place was a joke. Good to see it go.

 

Love's are growing also. Several new ones over the last couple of years.

 

Frankly, I'd have preferred they closed that sorry excuse for a truck stop across the street (Pilot) and left open the TA. But that's just me. Regardless, that's 100 parking spaces gone for now.