What truck stops are you in A LOT?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by unloader, May 25, 2016.

  1. unloader

    unloader Road Train Member

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    If you were to draw a line from Del Rio, TX to San Antonio down to Corpus Christi... Everything South of that is my route area. And since my boss wants me fueling at only the big chains, plus the fact that I believe in showering everyday, I get to see a lot of the same truck stops a lot. Like the J in Laredo (that just introduced reserved parking recently) or the J in Edinburg, TX north of McAllen (where a Mexican lot lizard is never too far away).

    Of course there are a few loves and pilots sprinkled throughout. A terrible TA (and I mean terrible) in Laredo and a just OK one in Edinburg.

    It's interesting to see how most of these stops are a cluster nearly ALL of the time. The J in Laredo is by far one of the busiest truck stops on my route and often I'll stop in Cotulla at the now quiet J just to have some peace of mind when stopping.

    In fact down here in South Texas its the "we only built these because of the oil boom" truck stops that are nice. Like the pilots in carrizo springs and Tilden or the J near three Rivers. These are wonderful places to park, are quiet all of the time and aren't dirty or torn up inside.

    Everything else? Plan to bring your patience. Showers in Laredo are nortoriously slow. The shop at the TA there might as well give you a change of address form when checking you in. Buying a soda in Edinburg is an act of Congress. And I would NEVER scale there. You could be waiting weeks to get your ticket lol. It seems like all of the locations are either short staffed or just don't give a #### about anything. At all.

    I wish the stripes stops down here had showers, unfortunately I have yet to find one that does. Some have ample truck parking but no showers.

    So for you regional or route drivers. What stops do you get to see a lot? And are all of the busy truck stops just guaranteed to be total clusters? Seems to me like there HAS to be ONE busy truck stop somewhere that has a handle on things.

    unloader
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2016
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  3. AbbandonZK

    AbbandonZK Light Load Member

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    I use independents a lot. I used to drive the same routes down I-40 and I-10 in the middle of the night. My rule is "If it has parking at 2am It's a primary stop". Just go to a mega get a shower then drive up to the spot.

    Going to Anywhere above the 40 from AZ.

    Tucson Truck Terminal Tucson, AZ (The peeelot next door is killing them but they have pure #2 according to the fuel desk)
    5R Deming, NM I-10 ( there is a lotta burger with truck parking before the stop and you can leave in the morning take NM-26 and go around the border patrol. Just don't make the mistake of trying to park in that giant dirt lot in Hatch to buy chile. The grease ball mechanic in the grey house will try and charge you 10$ to park.)
    Russels Xt-369 I-40 (Car Museem)
    Hana Chrome Amarillo, TX (Girl likes to hand out free showes here)
    Big Cabin Big Cabin, OK ( They have a giant lake you can fish in. When I get rich and famous I'll get a breifcae fishing pole set.)
    Hoods Bois D'Arc, Mo ( 5$ showers and a 24hr restaurant)

    I won't play the Makeup a Parking Spot Olympics. Unfortunately I got to see the 5R start to get crowded because it's getting popular. I hope they expand.
     
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  4. Lucy in the Sky

    Lucy in the Sky Medium Load Member

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    When I first started driving I parked exclusively at pilot/J's. Now I hardly ever do. I'll think "there's a mcdy d's with parking by around this town" or an independent with a gravel lot. I LOVE indy truck stops. Park at alot of shippers. But I must say the t/s I'm at most often is the J in St louis off 270 x6b. We have a terminal literally next door so it's very easy to drop trailer and bobtail park at any hour
     
  5. rabbiporkchop

    rabbiporkchop Road Train Member

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    One of my favorites is the Flying J in Las Vegas Nevada because it has a Roberto's Taco Shop inside of it
     
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  6. ShooterK2

    ShooterK2 Road Train Member

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    Interesting thread. We run mostly northern and western Oklahoma, as well as Texas panhandle. I find myself camping out at Cleo Springs a lot, as well as Woodward, Shattuck, and Arnett. Oh, and the Canadian, TX truck stop has been renovated and is a LOT nicer than it used to be.
     
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  7. ZhenyaP1991

    ZhenyaP1991 Medium Load Member

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    Pilot and FJs, this is our only fuel stop. So, I either driver an extra 80 miles and don't shower, or I stop little earlier at pilot, take a shower, eat a chicken skillet, and Netflix and chill, with my self of course.
     
  8. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    Handle your business either before or after Laredo. The TA used to be worlds better when you had to pay to park. But since they opened the parking lot, all the bottom feeders pile in to the place. Its normally a 6 hour wait for a shower now.

    Fueling: Every non sign reading rookie in a POS truck is trying to get into a Laredo truckstop. Huge traffic jam. Dont even talk about the train. If i need to get fuel in Laredo, i stop at the Petro at the 101...(I think it's the 101). If my fuel level is decent, I fuel on my way back up at the Petro in San Antonio. Doing a 34? The motel across the street from the Petro with the statue of Guan Yu, god of war, in the lobby. The little Mexican restaurant has good food and adult beverages and cute waitresses.

    Do not waste your time trying to get into a shop in Laredo. I go to KW of San Antonio. I wouldn't let those clowns at the TA Laredo check a doghouse for fleas.
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2016
  9. nikmirbre

    nikmirbre Road Train Member

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    By choice...the last weekend I stayed out back in January... I stayed the weekend at that one "truckstop" in Corpus Christi. I cant remember where it was but, I know it was a few miles from fleetpride.....a dirt lot.....Oh my..thats the worst "truckstop"!!!!!!!! To answer the original question.... I stay at the Petro in Mebane NC on I40/85 as much as possible.....full of parking spaces and never full....
     
  10. iceman32

    iceman32 Medium Load Member

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    Mostly the Tullo truck stop and Jersey City truck stop. I do my 34 here or park the truck when I go home. Not much except the basics, food, fuel, showers..

    Both are above Staten Island and West of Brooklyn. Don't try to go here, your gps will freeze..
     
  11. Dave_in_AZ

    Dave_in_AZ Road Train Member

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    Well your territory is basically the **shole of the world, I mean exactly what are you hoping for?
     
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