Questions to Help Improve a Small Truck Stop

Location, location, location, and it's doubly important for truck stops. How a truck stop positions itself is largely dependent of the location, region, local trucking population, and proximity to any large chain truck stop.

Good service by friendly people, clean interiors and grounds, fast pumps with clean fuel isllands layout "that works", reasonable prices for snacks and drinks, a paved lot, or at least a well-mainlined lot with no holes and "small ponds" is paramount for any truck stop.

A lot of other things just depend on the property. A sit-down restaurant might be a boom, or it might be a bust, no matter how well it's ran. It all depends on the capacity you can accommodate and the capacity you can draw in, and the capital available and having restaurant experience [management] to rely on without having to pay a huge salary.

Many truck stops can get a "bad reputation" real quick if not managed well. You can't be letting every logger and/or oilfield hauler use your lot for parking and home time breaks (become squatters). Trashy appearance spreads fast, and nothing trashes a lot faster then being largely filled all the time with "local parkers". It's fine if you want to have a back area reserved for them who are willing to pay, otherwise they will run a truck stop down quick.

As more is learned and shared in the thread, more can be discussed intelligently.

 

#1: Is it an in-network stop for my fuel program? I use a FleetOne account that is tied to the NASTC fuel program. If I have to use it elsewhere, there is a $2 swipe fee and no discount (cash price only), so I don't do that much. FYI - this fuel program includes many Mom&Pop and small chain locations.
#2: Can I get a free shower with a purchase?
#3: Do they charge for parking? If so, is it close enough to where I need to be to make it worth it? Or are there free alternatives in the area?
#4: Reserved parking offered in a congested shipping area? Big huge plus.

#1: Is it a TA/Petro? Aside from them being on my fuel program and the main loyalty card I use (usually have shower points on it). FYI - there are franchise locations. One I'm particularly fond of is White's in Raphine, VA. Another nice one is Nelson Brothers in Clearwater, MN. Now that I think on it, the very best Petros are usually the franchises.
#2: I use the Truck Stops Pro app on my phone. FYI - If I don't need anything besides parking, I'm also looking for rest areas, Walmarts, or other places to park a big truck safely. Especially if there's a clean bathroom close. Get listed on it, and include as much detail as they will allow.
#3: What is near by? Grocery store? Walmart? Nice restaurants? Sometimes I'll stop somewhere I normally wouldn't if I need something else that's close enough to walk to.
#4: If I have time to plan, I use Google maps to look at the layout. I favor diagonal parking: reduces risk of collision and fuel theft. Is the lot easy to navigate? Paved or dirt?
#5: I will favor places that have a place I can walk my dog. Not a small doggie area that's ankle deep in poop and dog diseases already. Some kind of field or wooded area where I can take her to do her business where I don't have to pick it up. I know this is Nevada and I don't go west of I-35, so maybe woods won't be an option LOL.

There are two Pilots I know of with a Moe's inside. Yeah, not as snooty as Chipotle but they make an artery clogging burrito that gets the job done just as well. Moss Point, MS. and Sutton, WV.

 

I'm keeping my eye out for this Moe's you speak of @RedForeman

 

Nice to know more about the Silver Sage. I'll stop on my passes that way.

What makes me want to stop?
1) Competitive fuel pricing and accept efs.
2) Clean facilities! I never litter and won't stop in garbage holes.
4) Clean well sized showers that are free with fuel purchase. I carry my own soaps and carry my own emergency towel but prefer towels be provided.
5) Friendly staff. I have blacklisted several places because of staff with attitudes or rudeness.
6) Paved lot is a plus but not necessary. Dirt is fine so long as it is level and not a mud hole. Striped lots are for sissies! We don't need no stink'n stripes! ;- )
7) A Chipotle would be awesome! If its a sit-down restaurant healthy food choices (grilled chicken, fish, good salad choices etc)
8 ) Fair prices in the store. Fair prices keeps me loyal.
9) Friendly helpful staff.
10) Almost forgot, friendly staff with no attitude.

How I find truck stops:
1)Pocket Truck Stops Guide from truckandtravel.com . I don't see you listed there in edition 24. 1-800-915-9329 to let them know about you.
2)Truckers Path app. Awesome app!
3)Garmin GPS (not very good for finding smaller places)
4)Billboards.

Oh, I almost forgot, I appreciate friendly staff with no attitudes and clean facilities. Clean places show they take pride in their business and that means a lot to me.

TA

 

I almost never go through Ely, but I won't let that stop me from giving my $0.02:

Put up billboards 150 or so miles away so drivers know it is available as a place to stop for the night in 2-3 hours (because there aren't many truck stops on those highways).

Clean bathrooms are so very important. Pilot/Flying J, Loves, etc have someone cleaning bathrooms every hour. Not once a day or once a shift -- which is what most Mom & Pops do. Are the stalls full of graffiti? Is the toilet seat gouged? Have people scratched the mirrors? Are there paper towels all over the floor (place a trash can by the door so you can use a paper towel to turn the door handle)?

A driver's lounge would be a huge bonus -- just to be able to get out of the truck and enjoy some A/C. The lounge doesn't have to be dedicated to drivers -- it might even be a corner of a dining/drinking/gambling area.

I never see people using a video game arcade -- seems like a waste of space so many truck stops have.

Showers should include towels and soap -- liquid soap from a dispenser is fine. Laundry is great -- bonus points if it can be paid using credit card.

I too use the NASTC fuel card and would not fuel there if it was not in network. Wouldn't prevent me from stopping for the night, but I wouldn't buy fuel...

An air hose at the end of the fuel pumps to air tires is a much appreciated amenity.

Clean windshield washing buckets and truck-sized scrubber/squeegees are all but a requirement.

I like buying prepared food, but I often stop after 10pm when restaurants are closed. A cold-case with in-house made sandwiches, wraps, pasta, salads, etc works wonders. If they have any specialty food I can't get anywhere else -- that's the best. Indian fry bread in NM, Buffalo Burgers in OK, etc.

I can't resist buy 2 get 1 free type deals, but mom & pop truck stops rarely offer these. Walk into a pilot flying j and you almost get the impression that it costs you money not to buy something...


As for finding a truck stop, I use:
truck stop pocket guide ( https://www.iowa80.com/DirectionsWE...Pocket+Guide&gclid=CNv0yYjjxMUCFROUfgodob4ALg )
Rand McNally GPS
Fuelbook app
findfuelstops.com
google maps (search "truck stop near ely, nv")


When I'm traveling in my car, I prefer to stop at places where the gasoline is branded (chevron, shell, bp, arco, etc). If I'm out in the middle of nowhere, I would prefer not to take the chance on what I (unfairly) assume to be watered down gas and unknown bathroom cleanliness standards (I know an arco bathroom won't be great, but it'll almost always be tolerable).

I also want it to be very well lit. Fresh paint, clean (no cobwebby windows, no litter blowing around).

And I'd like a fast food restaurant (again in a car -- I prefer sit down when in the truck) so I don't have to make a separate stop.

 

I have never been to Nevada so I honestly don't know but if you're known for any local cuisine have a nice sit down restaurant that serves that type of food. To me a chipotle is just another fast food joint and I can get that at home, I would eat in my truck and save the money but you can bet your last dollar when I'm going through Texas I'm stopping at a real BBQ joint with a lot big enough to get a truck in. Same with a sit down restaurant, don't just serve the same crap everyone else does or I'm not interested, it takes genuine local cuisine to get me to part with my hard earned money.

That's how you get me to spend my money once I'm there, biggest thing is getting me in there though. Like others mentioned get listed with every service you can because we all use something different. I use the list built into my rand gps. Signs well in advance on the highway like double yellow said will help. Then I have enough time to look at my trip plan and see if it makes sense to stop there vs having to shoot from the hip and just jump off at the last minute. Also nobody lists how many parking spots they have on their billboard. If you have a big lot advertise the heck out of the number of spots. I run late at night when parking is tough so seeing a non chain truck stop advertising a ton of parking means I'm going there because there will be at least one spot open.