I thought it was just a rare occurrence....

Don't judge all the Flying Js (or any chain truck stops) based on one experience. If you go to the Flying J in Dallas or Denver, yeah you're gonna wait. But not all are like that.

 

I agree. For whatever reason flying J seems to be the worst especially at night, but it can be anytime. If I want a shower right now TA/petro seems to be the most available or quickest followed by pilot then Loves then Flying J. Don’t dismiss the independents. Some have decent showers with no wait ever and best of all they’re cheap. I paid $7 recently at one in SC. I’ll pay that all day vs only stopping where I have a shower credit.

 

Try showering at the Love's in Tulare, California. Always a wait.

 

Just save the water and use the windshield squeege bucket at the fuel island

 

My experience was there was often a wait around sundown or whatever time most drivers shut down around that part of the country. Could be even earlier in the afternoon in places with less parking. Made sense to me which was why I would try and avoid showering at those times. Other places, the showers seemed to be busy in the morning.

Other than that, any particular location could just be having a problem with help, whether finding any to begin with or simple laziness.

The app is usually key to being able to wait in the relative comfort of your own truck. It worked for me almost always, but there were a few times it didn't.

 

Reason loves has clean showers at night is cause the person manning the diesel desk is always cleaning them. Thats why you stand and wait so long at night for help unless you go to the gas side

 

Anytime after about 1400, even 1300, you might wait just about anywhere.

Off peak showering goes hand in hand with off peak fueling.

You'll discover some showers that are awful in places that you'd not suspect, and vice versa.

 

Well, theres the problem, youre going to applebee's