New Truck Stop. What do YOU want?

Indeed. Last time I was at the T/A in Ontario it wasn't pay, or that side wasn't. I stopped in, grabbed some chili, went to drop off a load and pick something up, came back to park for the night, and some lady had rolled her fuel tanker in the parking lot. Couldn't get within 5 blocks of the place until hazmat was done cleaning up. Cops wouldn't let us wait either, I had to head back to the dusty terminal to spend the night.

 

I'm at Little America in WY tonight. Yes, I had a BLT (they're the best here) AND a long long soak in the tub.

Frankly if you want a good truck stop come to this one.........not the one in Laramie ...........and just copy it.

 

otherhalftw, thanks for settin' me straight. You're right, it ain't gonna keep out the undesirables. And, you're also right about incurring more expenses on the road. We're already gettin' nickled and dimed to death, enough is enough.

Soooooooo..... Instead of "pay-to-park", I'd like to see a well trained army of cashiers at the fuel desk. Friendly, Knowledgeable, and Courteous. I'm tired of waitin' in line to give someone "MY MONEY".

 

Showers that don't cost 10$ if you don't have a driver payback card. I know truckstops have to charge something for showers, 5$ is a little more like a price drivers can deal with.

Porta potties in the parking lot for those pigs that pee on there drive tires. That would save on the smell of pee-lots and help all the fatboys from getting exercise by walking the 200 yards to the T/S

A nice outdoor area for drivers to eat and hangout in the summer, like just outside the resteraunt.

 

Thanks for your reply our goal is to build the ULTIMATE truck stop for you! Sorry i cant answer where but we are looking toward the Chicago area then plan to spread thru out the U.S. I hope you tell all your truck'n friends to send me there ideas!! We look forward to serving you soon!

 

So, when do we go in business together to start a truck stop chain based on these ideas??

 

PLEASE!

DO NOT cater to "truckers"

DO cater to Professional Truck Drivers

Truckers will piss in their own boots before pouring them out on the ground, speed through the yard and use their Jake brakes to announce their arrival.

Professional Truck Drivers will respect your property, pay a reasonable price for the use of your facilities and recommend a good experience to other professionals.

I think the only way you will keep your facility even half as nice as you want it is to put up a razor wire perimeter fence and a gated, attended entrance. Entrance for CDL holders only and by membership or guest parking fee only. Non-members cannot enter without signing rules of conduct acknowledging they will be forcibly ejected if they violated them.

Outside the perimeter fence, you can provide fuel and convenience store service for four wheelers and "truckers" but no admittance to the showers, laundry, gym, lounge, restaurant, etc. without membership, guest fee or member's guest pass and no parking over 15 minutes without a member's guest pass in the windshield.

 

It would be wonderful to have a nice truck stop in the Chicago area! Spend way too much time after delivering a load trying to find someplace to wait while they decide where to send me next (like dispatch didn't know I was going to be in the Chicago area). I would echo many of the suggestions made here -- but most important are ample roomy parking, clean showers and a restaurant with healthy choices (not fried and drown in fatty sauces) that actually includes real vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus etc) with the meal -- not just corn. All of the other stuff would be nice, but these are essential. I will make it a point to spend money at a ts that is clean and has roomy parking, but will pull in, get my sleep and never set foot in the building of a cramped, dirty ts.

 

I stopped at a station off I-55 in Ms and found a cool idea. They have trash cans, the tall, narrow, rectangular ones, filled half full of soapy water with long handled car wash brushes in them. That was the quickest I've ever gotten my windows and mirrors clean. Way easier than those squeegie sponges.

 

Most truck stops used to have this years ago, until drivers started washig their trucks at the fuel island and stealing the brushes. I have been told by truck stop managers before that they would loose a new brush almost as soon as they put it out.