Yes, watch the Nashville area; it's just sad to say. I stopped at the Loves there which is very small to fuel and bump the tires. Several gun shots going off, police sirens, people running like they were on fire right in front of my eyes. I was honestly expecting the camera crew to come into view, this has to be a movie RIGHT? Nope, it was real. I try to trip plan and avoid that area to be quite honest. Anyone ever run out of time and had to spend the night at the Greater Chicago I55 Truck Stop (that is a retired TA type of deal)? They charge to park there which is ridiculous but if you're out of time, you have to shut it down someplace. There is a large parking lot directly across the street. I've parked there before to avoid the overnight parking cost and to avoid all the hustling that's going on. Another place to turn your radio off when you pull into because you're going to hear all kinds of BS that should not be realted to this trade and or industry. A shame, just a shame... Drive safe!
Bakersfield CA Bruce's is closed and is still not as much of a lizzard lot as the 24/7 across the street even with security trying to run the girls off ,some of the folks around that place looked like they came right off the set for a mad max movie
The Pilot in Burns Harbor, IN, right off of I-94 is a pretty bad one. I just didn't feel safe the entire night I was there, and I had a knock on my door at 2:30AM. I didn't answer it, because I figured it was a lizard, and sure enough the next morning, all of the other truckers there were talking about it around the coffee pot.
Klein's was bought up a while ago. Is EZ Trip the new owner? I remember the local media gave it some coverage, calling it a "Fresno landmark since the 1930s," or something to that effect. This is the one on Golden State Blvd? I drove by that place yesterday, and paid it no mind aside from traffic checks. Of course, I'd only stop there if I was homeward-bound and on sailboat fuel. After reading some of the posts in this thread, I'm beginning to change my thinking about team driving...
Yes it's right off of Golden state blvd. Looks like an adult book store on the inside. This place is AWFUL.
Bolingbrook, IL truck stop I-55, on 7/19/12 Four Truck Drivers were taken for over 1,000.00 in a 3 card game scam... They were told a guy just won money at the casino and is giving $100.00 to truck drivers. They start with 3 guys and before you know it they are about 8-10 guys all together on the scam they will create confusion and wait for you to show your money and before you know it the money is gone! All white guys, one short skinny have a colorfull tatoo in his right forearm, an older fellow wears glassess, stocky built blonde guy, if I didn't know any better " this is my opinion" they look like a group that works at carnavals but they make you fell like they are truck drivers.
If you ever go to Hattiesburg, Ms., and stop at the texaco travel stop with that krystal burger beside it, you'd better be very careful. Twice now, i've seen the same 3 guys doing the 3 card monte scam. They will stand in front of your truck, and start talking real loud saying someone has won some money. When you ask 'em what's up, they will try their best to get you to follow 'em to the back somewhere, where they WILL get your money. They will hang around just long enough to try to make a few bucks before the cops show up and then they always walk back to the highway. And yes, they do look like" some" truck drivers, or carneys. Best to go on down U.S. 49 to Dans and stop.
Came across a Marathon station in Michigan City, Indiana. On US 20 about a mile and a half west of rt. 421 (exit #34 off of I-94) It was clean, quiet and plenty of room. Could hold about 40 trucks and was not even half full on a wednesday night. Not much of a food selection but the showers were clean and cheap. Would use it again in a pinch.
I am *at* this truck stop, and I hadn't even gotten out of my truck yet before a guy pulls up directly in front of me and another guy and wanted something. I waved the guy away and he got in his car and drove off. But this place doesn't look that great. This stretch of I-59 doesn't seem to have any Pilot's, TA's or Flying J's, only Mom and Pop truck stops. But hopefully it will be safe. I will try another location next trip through.