A question for truckers about eating on the road and truck stops!

I'll pass on any salad bar at a truck stop. Why? Pay attention when you're in the rest room. How many drivers do their business and just walk out? A lot! And then they head for the restaurant and that salad bar. No thank you.

 

I have started to see a lot of truck stops popping up in Texas now, mostly independent. I work for a company that lets us pump anywhere so I like to stop at many different stops along my route to check them out and the thing that makes me comeback to them is the restrooms!

I love when a truck stop has clean restrooms and 8 toilets. It irritates me when truck stops get built and I go in to find out that there’s only two stalls and both are being used. Like, you built two toilets for a freaking truck/travel stop???

 

Your business plan may well have better success going forward -- if you start out in a location that has an incredible lack of worthwhile truck parking locations/options.

An easy example: Columbus, Ga. There is a truck stop on the south side of neighboring Phenix City, AL -- but I would not suggest to my worst enemy to park there. There is a relatively new Love's on the west side of Phenix City -- but not really anywhere in Columbus, or on the Georgia side of the river there.

Anyway....just some more food for thought (pun indeed intended )....

-- L

 

Like the west?

And well you should.....

"the East is nice -- but the West is best"

-- L

 

some things that come to mind,

Think if you're outside a significant population by 30 to 60 mile, its a fair place to pull up, feed up, rest up before taking on the next day to unload/reload.

Where ever you decide to locate, keep in mind distance for staff to travel. I know of this awesome cafe, great food, terrific views, but struggled to get and keep staff as the distance for them was too great to travel.

Some place with a view out the back maybe with big shady trees, or river to catch a dip on a hot day, or trail to walk the dog or stretch the legs.

I like that home cooked meal idea, stay away from fried or what's common down the road. Maybe some of the left overs can go to decent sandwiches for take away.

Think clean hot showers are a must, but could a few small outdoor hot tubs under the stars be a novel attraction. Or outdoor showers? I recall in New Zealand sitting in a hot bath, meal and beer on a tray that bridged the bath. And yes there was view, it was outdoors,......and it was awesome.

Maybe somewhere to wash a truck, or pay someone to do it. Get a tyre repaired of a few replaced.

Down under out west, we have shipping containers that are like above ground fuel cells. You swipe a card and self serve. They pop up on anything from a flat dirt surface to a sealed one with hard roofing over head. Maybe its a cheaper option to provide a service and encourage a popular fuel brand of to partner with you.

BIG SIGN upon entry....PUT YOUR RUBBISH THE #### TIN, AND DON'T BE CRAP ABOUT IT.

Think you just need to be bit different, not just what the majors do. If you can get the fuel competitive or a couple cents under the majors, plus good food and clean facilities with an offering of two I think you will have it well under way. Down under the majors are not the cheapest for diesel, which is poor as a trucks takes a fair bit. But they are the same boring #### no matter where you are, offer easy parking with OK food, so tick an OK box.