I have not been there in a few years but the Detoiter was the only good think about Detroit. The place was clean both inside and out in the lot.
By far for me... the worst truckstops are Sodom and Gomorrah... the twin Pilots in Memphis. I have had to swap there several times and I have seen things in those lots that just ain't right. I am far from a prude, but.... it just tears at my soul to see young girls used this way. I have 4 daughters, and the thought that my daughters' fears of life would turn them to this, makes me realize that I must do all to be a father to them... anyway, enough of the sermon. This stops are the worst for me. However, there are some good ones out there. The Lee Hi off exit 195 on I81 in Virginia is fantastic. Lots of parking, UNBELIEVABLE food, and alot of respect for the driver. The Chisum in Lubbock, TX; the Mid-Tenn in Cookeville, TN; the Trip T in Tuscon, AZ; and (gonna get some laughs with this) the Walmart in Lexington, NE... are all good places. I look for the Mom & Pop truckstops, they are usually the best. Actually... there are alot of good ones out there. But beware of this word...it usually signals a bad & cramped (if any) parking; absolute no control over the lot; drivers either showering or sleeping in the fuel lanes;and any drug pusher/pimp/thief has a Gold Card to the lot... PILOT... Profiting In Liquidating Other Truckstops... Anyway, this is just one OTR driver's thoughts... thanks for listening!
Heard a driver was hit in the head with a crowbar at TA in albuquerque and died. The TA in ontario ,ca is bad also.
Pilots aren't all necessarily bad - all of the Bosselman's outlets (Pilot franchises) are good stops. I think it goes back to the prevailing crime rate in whatever area you're in. Big metro areas tend to have higher crime rates - and it spills over into truckstops. Atlanta, Dallas, Memphis, LA... the truckstops inside the metro areas all have problems. Its a different story in the outlying areas.
I agree, the bosselmans are awesome especially in Grand Island NE, that is one of my favorite truck stops. Took a 34 there once and I actually kept myself busy between the little arcade, tv rooms, and what not. Any truckstop in a major metro area be it a pilot, ta, petro, flying j are gonna have problems and be nasty because they get so much traffic there. Now the majority of the pilots that are out there i'd say 65% of them are dumps, i've seen some pretty nasty ones that are out in the middle of nowhere. Seems to me that who ever designs the pilots doesnt have any sense or knowledge on what it takes to park a truck, or they make them that way so people wont stay there because they are a pain to park at.
Pilot on I26 exit 159 in SC is always clean quick and has plenty of parking. I fuel there almost every day. Xt 199 is completly different with maybe 10 parking spots.
I use to stay at the Twin Pilots in Memphis til Memphis until the place became tp dangerus. I found a secure place called Secure Trailer Depot in West Memphis AR. Fuel is cheaper in AR and this place is guarded like a prison. This place was safe, easy to get in and out of...
I am a 45-year-old female who enjoyed going with my father and HATED truck stops with a passion. After 10 years, I had gained significant street-smarts, and still had to get off the truck because I was vastly outnumbered by the pervs. I quit going in 1979 because I always felt a need to have an escort. Last year, I met and married a great guy, who promptly wanted to go back to OTR! I'm back on a truck after 30 years and we do NOT spend time in truck stops. We get fuel, grab a shower and get out. I know far too much about the dark side of those places to have any use for them. Our sleeper is stocked and equipped to best our ability, just so we can avoid them.
I didn't read all 30 pages so........ worst prolly the Key in Channelveiw, TX best would be the Lee Hi in Lexington, VA I also like Texas Best in Tyler, TX..
I forgot to mention that little truck stop in Laredo that sits out behind Wally World, Santa Maria maybe ?????? very bad place...