Is it just me or is every trucker lusting to fuel at the Pilot, and for that matter sleep there too? Whats the deal. All these mom and pop truck stops are 3/4 empty but Pilot is full to the brim, even on weekends sometimes.
I used them because they were on my companies fuel network. I had a drivers payback card from them. That is where I showered and slept most of the time.
Same for me, the last two companies I drove for, Pilot was on their fuel networks. Now, Pilot does have some decent coffee, so a lot of times I would stop there to get a refill. That being said, there are some Pilots I will NEVER go to: 1)Gary IN (exit 6 I80/94)- it has a decent sized parking lot, but it is always a cluster-bleep. 2)Valparaiso,IN (US 30)- teeny doesn't even begin to describe how small this Pilot is (and as most drivers know, some Pilots are TEENY). 3)Minooka,IL (ex 122, I think I80)- (again) Teeny, and getting in and out is a disaster (even by Pilot standards). If I need to stop along this stretch, I go 10 miles west to the Ambest (Morris IL ex 112). HUGE parking lot and the food ain't bad in the restaurant.
We drivers HATE them out here!! Limited parking, big lines at pump and then again at register for food, etc. But my co. goes for best fuel prices, and to heck with driver comforts---in CA it's 50 gal max fillups---enuf to get a shower!! I dont call them truck stops (like Petro, Flying J, and TA), but true 'Travel Plazas' like Loves!! Hate them too!!
Same here on the showers... I could never find a place to park for the night at one but the fuel was cheap.
the heck with pilot...........i have been using TA all last month and this month, they are doing double points on the payback card so it builds up fast..........
T/A has decent fuel prices and food but, my company uses pilot they give them a 6 cent discount. I try and sleep at rest areas as I spend less money that way.
About the only positive of Pilot and Loves is there showers are usually pretty decent. Some TAs have really trashy showers. Loves also has some really good beef jerky . $23 bucks after taxes and I still buy the canister of jerky . One thing I absolutely hate about Pilots is every now and then all my showers will mysteriously disappear off my payback card. And this is before the time limit is up. Aint no telling whats happening to my points.
I don't care what time of day it is, there is a fluster cluck goin' on at the Pilot or Love's fuel island. I honestly don't see the attraction of stopping at a convenience store that sells diesel, but I'm right there in the crowd, almost every day. Automobile traffic flocks to them as well. They must put something addictive in their coffee and fountain drinks that gets us hooked and coming back for more. It can't be the loyalty points because there are very few items worth having in their stores. What is worth having is overpriced. About twice a year I'll catch the Cobra 25 or 29 on sale and will cash in enough points to purchase a few. Then I'll roll them over to a friend at a radio shop for 60 cents on the dollar. Showers are usually good, if I can get parked. They serve a need and purpose, but why the crowd is beyond me...
