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Orl, FL. to Marion, NC - Truck stop recommendations?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by The Duck, Jul 31, 2011.

  1. Jul 31, 2011 #1
    The Duck

    The Duck Bobtail Member

    12
    1
    Jul 23, 2011
    Orlando, Fl
    0
    So, as a part of my continuing "Should I leave my current job to become a trucker" research, Im taking a solo road trip to visit some family in NC to get an idea of what OTR is like. I know, this does not even come close to what ya'll do every day, but it's more educational than my current 25 mile commute to work and sitting in an office all day. Question is: Can anyone recommend some good, busy, truck stops along the way? Im lookin to see what its like and maybe talk with some truckers about the industry. Heck, if you know some bad ones, Ill take those too. Im lookin to learn as much as I can, good, bad, and ugly.
     
    The Duck, Jul 31, 2011
    The Duck, Jul 31, 2011
    #1
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  3. Jul 31, 2011 #2
    Bigarmin88

    Bigarmin88 Road Train Member

    1,791
    376
    Aug 30, 2008
    Tampa Bay Fl
    0
    What interstate(s) are you taking?As far of my experience,T&A been the nice ones I seen,Pliot and then Petro.
     
    Bigarmin88, Jul 31, 2011
    Bigarmin88, Jul 31, 2011
    #2
  4. Jul 31, 2011 #3
    Truckernurse

    Truckernurse Light Load Member

    85
    36
    Sep 21, 2010
    Jacksonville, Florida
    0
    Try stopping for gas at the Pilots on 95 (St Augustine/CR210), Flying J, Pilot Brunswick, GA (exit 29), TA same exit, TA Richmond Hill, GA, Pilot Savannah (Dean Forest Rd), Pilot Port Wentworth (Exit 109), Kenly,NC, (takes deep breath) and others too numerous to name. Hope this helps!
     
    Truckernurse, Jul 31, 2011
    Truckernurse, Jul 31, 2011
    #3
  5. Jul 31, 2011 #4
    kid_cardiac

    kid_cardiac Medium Load Member

    687
    316
    Feb 24, 2008
    Florida
    0
    I'll fill in South Carolina.
    Exit 5 (Hardeeville) - Mom and Pop operation. Took 10-hour break there a few times when the Pilot in Port Wentworth was full.
    Exit 119 (Manning) - TA
    Exits 164, 169, and 170 (Florence) Two Pilots, a TA, and a Flying J
    You could even try South Of The Border
     
    kid_cardiac, Jul 31, 2011
    kid_cardiac, Jul 31, 2011
    #4
  7. Jul 31, 2011 #5
    WitchingHour

    WitchingHour Road Train Member

    3,424
    2,143
    Apr 1, 2011
    Broomfield, CO
    0
    Yeah, I like T&A, too. But I hate truck stops. Pilot is generally utter crap. So is Love's. Every now and then, you do find one which is pretty nice. The Ambest is Center Point, Iowa seems to have been recently built, has new showers, etc. But the lack of a drivers lounge puts me off a little bit. There's one in Watertown, SD which I thought was pretty nice.
    But as for NC, nothing I'd write home about.
    For all the fuss over the Iowa 80 - and it's little miniature renditions in Joplin and Oak Grove MO and Kenly - I really wasn't that impressed. Lots of overpriced and useless crap for sale. But they do have ample parking, at least.
    Simply put, truck stops are nothing to get excited about.
     
    WitchingHour, Jul 31, 2011
    WitchingHour, Jul 31, 2011
    #5
  8. Aug 1, 2011 #6
    fortycalglock

    fortycalglock Road Train Member

    6,151
    6,582
    Jun 25, 2011
    Tourist Town, FL
    0
    Don't forget to document every 15 minutes of your travel at every stop you make. Truckstops are a dime a dozen up 95 and usually have huge signs you can see from miles away. Be adventurous. Heck buy yourself a $30 CB and a $30 Wilson magnet mount antenna and try to get some of us on the radio. Sure you'll have your super truckers call you out but you also stand the chance of talking to some great drivers. Asking a driver your coming up on if his company hires students out of FL would be a great way to break the ice.
    PM me with any specific questions if you'd like. I had a professional sales career in Orlando before going to trucking school. Been there, done that.
     
    fortycalglock, Aug 1, 2011
    fortycalglock, Aug 1, 2011
    #6
  9. Aug 1, 2011 #7
    The Duck

    The Duck Bobtail Member

    12
    1
    Jul 23, 2011
    Orlando, Fl
    0
    Wow! Awesome info, thanks ya'll! @Bigarmin88 - I'll be comin up 95 most of the way, still gotta plan out the rest of the route. And on a side note, the reason Im going up there is to work with my cousin on his new late model. We'll be racin at Hickory on Saturday night - I'm pretty stoked. @fortycalglock - Good advise. Ill be getting a cheap little economy rental car for the trip. For some reason, the visual of a light blue hyundai accent with a cb antenna makes me laugh. Probably would get my butt kicked for rolling up to a truck stop with that, haha. If I can find a CB before I go though, I just might do it. Either way, Ill post up here when I go. Im headin out Friday morning.
     
    The Duck, Aug 1, 2011
    The Duck, Aug 1, 2011
    #7
  10. Aug 5, 2011 #8
    The Duck

    The Duck Bobtail Member

    12
    1
    Jul 23, 2011
    Orlando, Fl
    0
    At the Love's off Exit 29 in Brunswick Ga. Probably gonna stop again off i26 in S.C. somewhere...
     
    The Duck, Aug 5, 2011
    The Duck, Aug 5, 2011
    #8
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