major chain locations

All I can tell you is this, get the loyalty cards if they have them. AM Best is also good, Sap Brothers is another. Some of the locations I would stay clear from if at all possible. For example the Pilot in Richmond, VA tight stay clear from there. The Loves in Nashville (the old pilot) is trashy. You will find in your travels the truck stops you like more than others, the Petro in Glade Springs ,VA or the Hess in Toms Brooks, VA. With the cost of fuel, if your a company driver it should not worry you about the cost, If your an O/O or lease driver you will be getting (or should be ) a fuel surcharge.

 

The Wilco/Hess has been acquired by Pilot, TA sucks. Petro is starting to go downhill because of the TA scumbaggery

 

Cenex
STA MART <<<---- I find myself liking the StaMarts more and more. The Marlins restaurants seem to be the very best out of all the chains. Stopped over at that location in Mitchell, SD on a Friday. All the locals pouring in, packed house. This girl was in the kitchen cracking the whip. She started cracking down on the wait staff, yelling that she needs runners to get the food out. The food was excellent. Have you ever seen young people crank out good food at a pace faster than the waiters can keep up? I asked the waitress if that girl in the kitchen was their kitchen manager, and the waitress said, no she IS the manager and she is awesome. I had to agree. When things slowed down, the manager came out front and greeted the customers. I had to tell her that if I owned a restaurant, I would give her a blank check to come and work for me. Years ago, I would have said that the Iron Skillet was the best chain restaurant, but I haven't seen an Iron Skillet that can match Marlins.

In Fargo and Bismarck, the best truck stops are the StaMarts. This is of course for you guys that appreciate a full service truckstop. On the 2 lane, Cenex. There are more Cenex truck stops than all others combined (at least it seems that way in the mid west). Everything you can get at a Loves, minus the idiots. Every town with a Reduced Speed Ahead sign has a Cenex. Some will have a deli, where they will cook sandwiches, breakfast and burgers for you. Cenex is to the US what the PetroCan is to the Canadians.

 

im on a dedicated run to cal and back now and buy most of my fuel from pfj and petro at the locations where i know i can get in and out quik without havin my time wasted and get a clean shower ...i hate loves as they seem to be a haven for morons that jerk theyre gerkin at the fuel island and cant park theyre trucks like adults .
as far as food goes i pre cook my meals at home and vacuum seal them with the food saver machine i bought because most of the food on the road these days is garbage or when i do find a good sit down meal i feel like iv been robbed when i pay for it .

 

They all have web sites that have location maps, as well as smartphone apps. Loves is pretty much nationwide.

 

The best thing that any new driver can get when they get out on the road by themselves is one of those pocket truck stop books. They cost about $6.00 and list every truck stop and rest area by exit number on every interstate. Off interstate they are listed alphabetically by town. While it isn't comprehensive it is an indispensable tool I use every day, especially when trip planning to figure out where I'm going to shut down for the night or take a 30 with a shower. Most truck stops sell them. There's also a more expensive and comprehensive book, but I seldom use that one. The pocket guide is the handiest one.

Other than that there are apps available that list truck stops. I frequently use Google Maps/Satellite View when I'm trying to get to a Walmart to shop or find an out of the way place to shut down for a 30 or a 10. Get Verizon or AT&T if you plan on being able to use internet in out of the way places.

 

I thought Speedway got Wilco Hess

 

Sapp Brothers is easy, they are on I-80. I believe that is it lol.

ok, just looked, they also have 1 on I-70, 2 on US-30 and 1 on I-29. Good chain though.
Kangroo in some areas also, mostly south.
And yes, Speedway did buy Wilco Hess.
There are some Kwik Fill truckstops around PA and eastern Ohio.