Pilot Flying J -vs- T/A

I use small truck stops when I can, I run mostly dedicated so I fuel at truckworld about once a week.

Other than that I pretty much use the Petro in perrysburg Ohio and I'll stop at the loves in conneaut Ohio for a quick stop because loves has the cleanest restrooms.

 

Love's depends entirely on location. The older stores are really cramped as far as parking and usually only have 3 or 4 showers. The newer locations are better designed in their parking areas and showers. I think that Love's learned a thing or two from the Pilot/Flying J locations they acquired after the merger.

 

tas seem to be a lot cleaner than fly/pilots

 

Here is our list:

1.Flying J/Pilot - Clean modern showers. Excellent rewards program. Consistent selection of items. Lots of locations.

2. Loves - Consistent selection of items. Lots of locationsm. Newer ones have McDonald's.

3. TA/Petro - Friendly staff. Lot of them have Popeyes. Showers are hit or miss. Inconsistent selection of items. Biggest problem with them is that you never know if the TA/Petro you stop in at will have the things you need.

 

I really don't like any of the big 3. The simple reason is they overcharge for EVERYTHING. They especially do it with truck related items and services. I don't know why anyone traveling by car would buy anything in their stores. When I travel by car I never stop at a truck stop.

 

With a few notable exceptions, TA stands for "Toxic-waste-dumps of America."

Exceptions that come to mind are Breezewood (PA), I-80 (IA) and Sierra Sid's (Sparks, NV). I know that there are a couple more, but . . .well, only a couple, and I can't remember which they are.

One of the things that prompted me to become an owner operator back in 2002 was to get away from TA-only fueling (required by the company that I worked for). In the areas where I was mostly running they were disgusting. They're not so bad in the West, but rarely are they anywhere that I CHOOSE to go into.

 

i recently did an informal calculation of my fuel mileage comparing my QT fillups, TA/Petro, Flying J/Pilot and independents (including valero) and Loves

i got, on average 6.8mpg using QT, about 6.8 TA, about 6.4 Pilot, about 6.8 using Valero (and others) and 6.0 using Loves

this is an unscientific study (weight, terrain, wind were not calculated) just an overall yearly average including all variables

 

I am a company driver, so usually I have to go to a Pilot

personally if I'm stopping I like to go to Flying J, it has a more friendly atmosphere, is more open, also they have an on-site deli (usually)

Loves is growing on me, they usually have something in their stores I find cool (I find almost anything cool)

nothing against TA/Petro but they aren't really as, well, nice. most TA's are built with a very straightforward build they are very small and simple but they have a laughable deli. (get your fuel, food, coffee and pay for it and get out others are waiting)

 

WRONG
TY TA for making sure I can reserve a place to park at 1 AM


but I fuel at P/J cause that is what the boss says
i like thier coffee unless the TA has Dunkin

Morris IL best food on I70
along with Truckworld Hubbard Ohio

 

you guys endorsing this "reserved parking" are leading the industry on a dangerous path

the more people who use it, the more widespread it will become, to the point that "paying to park" will become the norm

you are shooting yourselves in the foot