Are There Generally Walmarts, Supermarkets And Grocery Stores Along A Trucker's Route?

Where, along an OTR driver's route, in America and Canada, besides a truck stop, are there places to buy food that a semi can actually park?

Forget those little convenience stores like 7-11. Expensive and limited healthy food selection.

I mean full-on grocery stores or supermarkets, including Wally-World super-centers, with metal shopping carts you push.

Also, are there actually restaurants with table service where a semi can park nearby along a trucker's route OUTSIDE a "truck stop"?

Do some drivers here actually park at a truck stop for the evening to settle down then hire a local cab to chauffeur them locally in town to various business establishments that don't happen to be within short walking distance of the truck stop?

I may have to restock my coolers every three days or so over a road trip and may need a taxi to make such a grocery run while in a town so I would not have to be paying for an expensive taxi every single day. Perhaps, a clever driver can even figure out how to stock a whole week's worth of food (frozen microwaveables, milk, bread, sandwich stuff, fresh fruit, picnic supplies) in his rig at a time depending how many days he will be away from home on a single outing.

Diesel semi trucks, you know, aren't exactly the wieldiest of vehicles to park at most in-town establishments.

The key things is having provisions for an 18-wheeler driver to actually park as a consumer.

The only time I have ever seen a semi at Walmart is at the loading dock or on the verge of backing in to one.

This is not a troll question but something a serious career planner must ask. It is an important question that any rookie should address.

I am trying to formulate a daily-living plan for the long term as a possible OTR driver int he near future. I am a very analytical man by nature.

I understand a trucker on the long haul will have limited places to park a 75-foot vehicle and a limited choice of establishments along the way which he can practically frequent as a customer. It's a truck, not a Honda Civic!

Check out the app called "trucker path" it shows most major truck stops, some independents and virtually every Walmart along the way. I like to pick the Walmarts just off the highway and or closest to the TS I might be shutting down at. As far as getting around to visit restaurants and such while I'm going to shut down, Uber is what I use.

JJ

Yes, many Walmarts are truck friendly. In fact my gps has a search function that shows Walmart locations along my route. Quite often you'll find one very near the interstate. Once I find one I'm interested in, I'll pull up a satellite image on my phone to show the best entry/exit. Many even allow/encourage overnight parking in their lot.

Yes, many restaurants are also truck friendly. You just have to pay attention to where they are and remember them. Once again, I rely on my gps to point out good ones on my route. Also, I'll sometimes hit up other truckers on the cb for recommendations.

Finally, yes I'll cab or uber it from a truck stop into town or to a nearby attraction. At the moment I'm sitting on a load till Tuesday morning when the receiver opens. So the wife & I will likely rent a cheap car tomorrow to cruise around the back roads of Wisconsin. Gotta make the best of all situations out here

Yes, many Walmarts are truck friendly. In fact my gps has a search function that shows Walmart locations along my route. Quite often you'll find one very near the interstate. Once I find one I'm interested in, I'll pull up a satellite image on my phone to show the best entry/exit. Many even allow/encourage overnight parking in their lot.

Yes, many restaurants are also truck friendly. You just have to pay attention to where they are and remember them. Once again, I rely on my gps to point out good ones on my route. Also, I'll sometimes hit up other truckers on the cb for recommendations.

Finally, yes I'll cab or uber it from a truck stop into town or to a nearby attraction. At the moment I'm sitting on a load till Tuesday morning when the receiver opens. So the wife & I will likely rent a cheap car tomorrow to cruise around the back roads of Wisconsin. Gotta make the best of all situations out here

Thanks, Turtle and Jim:

This pretty much covers my "logistics" concerns for the food and personal errands for an OTR driver on the highway. Even renting a car sometimes! Wow! There may even some drivers who pack a folding bicycle for such stopovers. Nah, Uber or cab makes more sense. Can't carry much on a two-wheeled vehicle anyway. If I were to be sitting on a load for a receiver, I would most likely be sleeping in the cab or walking about for daily exercise. It might also be a good opportunity to Uber for a grocery run. A creative trucker can probably find many things to do while sitting on a load.

Happy Memorial Day weekend.

Yes, many Walmarts are truck friendly. In fact my gps has a search function that shows Walmart locations along my route. Quite often you'll find one very near the interstate. Once I find one I'm interested in, I'll pull up a satellite image on my phone to show the best entry/exit. Many even allow/encourage overnight parking in their lot.

Yes, many restaurants are also truck friendly. You just have to pay attention to where they are and remember them. Once again, I rely on my gps to point out good ones on my route. Also, I'll sometimes hit up other truckers on the cb for recommendations.

Finally, yes I'll cab or uber it from a truck stop into town or to a nearby attraction. At the moment I'm sitting on a load till Tuesday morning when the receiver opens. So the wife & I will likely rent a cheap car tomorrow to cruise around the back roads of Wisconsin. Gotta make the best of all situations out here

Come visit me. I live in Milwaukee and I'm taking hometime this weekend. :)

Finding grocery is easy. Search a close walmart , target in the area then go to the dock area. Make sure you are not blocking anything. I've done it in all state , I park behind the building to where trucks normally dock. As long as you are not blocking anything they will not tow you out.

With all State I love Oklahoma City. Right there along I44 close to Love's you will see the biggest mall in Oklahoma, plenty of choices for parking. I normally go behind target..Theres Camera , plenty of lights so I feel safe. Take note that area is in the middle of shopping center!! Cinema, Mall and others..

Along I40 plenty of Walmart like Gallup, they have walmart thats very truck friendly. Wyoming has one too along Rock Spring..

If you also want decent food for stop I would suggest Nick's Barb-Q & Catfish along I40 exit 193 in Arkansa. North 40 Truck Stop along I40 in TN , Cowboys restaurant along I40 in Oklahoma who serve unli steak every weekend, Russel's Truck Stop along 40 just off Texas/New Mexico Statelane..

Those are just few of my fav stops to eat. Truck friendly!!

Oscar a couple of additional Walmart points. Not all of them allow overnight parking, check with store management whenever doing that just to be sure. Let them know your intention to shop at their store, they'll like that.

Unless you are familiar with a specific store, check Goggle for an overhead view of the store layout. Many do not allow truck entry through the main parking lot and have side road access. Stores in congested urban areas tend to be more difficult to enter. Agree with Flatie, if at all possible park behind the store away from the cars, carts and kiddies.

G-Town suggests:

check with store management

The quickest, easiest to find store management is the checkout supervisor. No, they're not management, but they do know what's going on.

Trucker Path reviews are very good at letting you know a store's policy. If you "hit it" right, WM parking is also planning for restaurants and even a laundry. Of all the store parking available, WM is the most consistent for allowing trucks to park, an overnight for your 10 hour break.

Three of my faves:

• Queen City in Meridian MS (I-20)
• Newborn's in Tallapoosa GA (I-40 at the GA/AL line, fantastic buffet)
• Grady's in Pulaski, GA (I-16 west of Savannah)

G-Town suggests:

check with store management

The quickest, easiest to find store management is the checkout supervisor. No, they're not management, but they do know what's going on.

Trucker Path reviews are very good at letting you know a store's policy. If you "hit it" right, WM parking is also planning for restaurants and even a laundry. Of all the store parking available, WM is the most consistent for allowing trucks to park, an overnight for your 10 hour break.

Three of my faves:

• Queen City in Meridian MS (I-20)
• Newborn's in Tallapoosa GA (I-40 at the GA/AL line, fantastic buffet)
• Grady's in Pulaski, GA (I-16 west of Savannah)

I have never been to an excellent buffet. Most of that food tends to sit out a long time and get stale.

I am a stickler for quality not quantity.

Walmart's can be a truckers best friend. I have found that most Walmart's tolerate big trucks, especially if you are there to shop as well. Older Walmart's especially in cities just don't have the room. Some Walmart's even have parking setup and marked off for trucks. (Manchester, TN on I-24). There are even newer Walmart's that don't have room for trucks. Best bet is look at satellite view and check the area out. If a Walmart is particularly truck friendly usually you will see trucks parked in the satellite view. It can give you an idea of where to park and look for ways in and out.