How do you go shopping while on the road?

or you can drop the trailer at a company yard and bobtail around. I love my GPS for telling me what stores and restraunts are around me

 

Wal-marts are your best bet for shopping while on the road, most places have no parking for big trucks. There are some malls you can go to and park. Last summer i had a load go to a Sears store in Great Falls MT and it was at the mall. I just got my tax return and did all my summer clothes shopping there, best part, no sales tax in Montana. Once your on the road for a while you start to find the hidden gems for restraunts. My favirote is next to the Flying j in Richfield UT. Best steakhouse ive been to. Had a steak and eggs breakfast there (my must have 1 time a week) it was so good, i quit eating steak and eggs for almost 2 months, becuase you just could not top how good that was.

 

I unloaded at a home depot in the Dalles Oregon once around 7 pm or so,, i told them at the dock i was out of hours and could i stay in their lot for my ten,, they said sure just dont block the dock or driveway, They were really great about it as there are no truck stops in Dalles Oregon, nearest t/s is milepost 104 which is to far to go when out of hours.

 

I have yet to be chased out of any store, and I've gone to some doozeys lol. Letsee, we even been to the mall a few times, mostly after delivering at Sears at 7 AM and getting stuck by 100 cars when we get done getting unloaded, Sears has a notorious rep for taking 5-6 hours to unload. We are careful to try and park in the back whenever possible, and we prefer to go during non peak hours. We've gone to Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, a trailer place, various fast food restaurants, chilis, and so on. Just be prepared to walk a bit, its not right for you to park in the parking lot if it can be avoided, stay in the back area near where trucks are supposed to go. That area is reinforced for the weight of our rigs the blacktops arent and we do serious damage to them especially in hot weather, and of course, you won't be taking spots from car customers, getting in any car truck issues, and less likely to be chased off.

 

The Home Depot in Independence, Mo used to let trucks park in their oversized lot...until someone dropped their trailer through the asphalt...whoops!

 

Some of the Wal-Marts have dedicated truck parking such as Sidney, NE, (I-80), Lexington, NE, (I-80), Vandalia, IL, (I-70).

At times you can find a truck stop that is across the street from a Wal-Mart. There is a QT in Oak Grove, MO (I-70), that is only a block away from a Wal-mart, but which ever town it is, do not go to that Wal-Mart to park your truck. They have height barriers to keep trucks out. Geneseo, IL, (I-80), has a truck stop across from a Wal-mart, but it is not a super Wal-mart.

 

The Quiktrip in Oak Grove, Mo doesn't have very many spots. The Walmart there does have truck parking but you have to go past the first entrance and there are only a few spots.

 

How do I go shopping while on the road?
When I first started, I was into the whole wal-mart thing...the whole cooler thing...the whole cook in your truck thing....but not anymore...
I found all that took to much time and energy...

My appetite has gone way done, I don't eat a whole lot anymore...so i don't need to stock up on anything...

But here's what works for me...I'll go to any truck stop and got to the resturant and order a all you can pile on dinner for whatever they want...

They give you a styrafoam plate and a salad bowl...and whatever i fill it up with lasts me for days...
The $8.00 to $12.00 I pay may seem like a lot...but in comparison to buying chips and hot dogs and drinks in the store...it's more than a bargin...at least to me...

 

I shop at Wal-Mart and Target. Wal-Mart a block away in Phoenix, I just bobtail over from the terminal and pick up stuff I need. If I'm on the road, I'll stop in Payson AZ, Farmington, Gallup or Grants NM (this one actually has truck parking and is closed at night, and has a Denny's in the parking lot next to it). As far as the rest, since I deliver to Targets, I'll just shop there after I finish delivering. Kind of convenient.

I have never been chased out of a parking lot for parking to do a 10 (even though I don't technically do it anymore).

 

Thats funny Big DOn I was a receiver at Home Depot- I know exaclty where you come from. I always tried to get the trucks in and out fast as possible. Most drivers loved my store- I actually cared about getting them on the road. That had to do with my father in laws stories- he's been driving for longer than I have been alive.

We stop at wally world pretty much exclusivly. Supercenters are great to hit late at night. Don't take your DOT brake there, many have these security that will run you off in about 2 hours.