A Visit To Love's Truck Stop!

Decided to drop by the Love's truck stop this afternoon, just to get a 'feel' and see what they're like.. There were 7 lanes at the fuel island, and trucks were backed 5-6 deep waiting to fuel. All the drivers looked to be around my age, some older, some younger-but the ONE thing it seems they ALL had in common is that they were a bit 'rotund' if you know what I mean. There was a McDonald's there, so that probably explains a lot...

There were a few places for rigs to park (I've been hearing that most truck stops have NO parking) BUT this was in the afternoon-probably couldn't BUY a spot at night. Not QUITE as noisy as I thought, but it still won't be easy sleeping..Those big diesels have a ground shaking growl. Checked out the showers and found them sparkling clean, (they smelled like Clorox) with plenty of room to shower, shave, change clothes, etc. and an attendant wiping everything down. NICE!!! (I heard that it was nasty at these places).

TONS of goodies for your rig too! DC converters, powered coolers, even dash cameras. Jackets, knives, Blu-tooth headsets (gotta get me one of them) and LOTS of CB and GPS stuff.Toys, TVs,just about anything I would need...(uh-oh..there goes my paychecks)...

I watched the drivers for a while, no one seemed to be overly tired, they all seemed pretty alert, fairly friendly. They all opened the hoods and did lots of checks...Those engines are HUGE!!!!

Picked up a bunch of those free min-magazines, just to browse through.. All in all, it was quite an experience. I was wishing I was one of them, walking back to my big ol' rig, getting ready to head out...SOON ENOUGH!!! Can't wait to meet some of y'all!! (I'll be the skinny one)

Hey that's really cool Gary! The truck stops are a little world of their own. In fact, when you're living on the road you don't feel like you're really part of the "real world". You're pretty much isolated in this world of warehouses and truck stops. When I would go home for time off and I could actually get in a car and go to malls and restaurants it was like, "Wow! I'm in the real world again! Cool!"

ALL had in common is that they were a bit 'rotund' if you know what I mean. There was a McDonald's there, so that probably explains a lot...

Actually, most truck drivers are fat - that's the explanation. The fact that there was a McDonald's there was purely a coincidence.

I'm glad you went up there and got to look around a bit. I remember well how exciting it is when you're ready to enter the world of trucking and you can't wait another minute! I used to hang out on a bridge going over the interstate when I was in truck driving school. I used to watch the trucks fade away into the distance wondering where they were going and what their story was. And of course I'd wonder endlessly what life would be like for me once I got out there.

And let me tell ya - the trucking industry didn't disappoint. It's always tough - always a challenge - but an amazing lifestyle if you're adventurous and love a challenge.

Yeah like brett said...truckers are fat because they are fat. And not let us forget lazy. Fast food and sitting in a seat for 10 hours a day is only an excuse to enable their excuse for not loosing weight. Honestly its the amount of sugar we as truckers consume that is the undoing of a lot of people. Sodas. Candy. Junk food. People are consuming more calories than they burn due to there job. If everyone would just count calories they would loose weight. The average health active adult needs 1900 to 2100 calories a day. Due to our job truckers only need 1200 to 1400 calories a day. But with fast food and quick grab snacks like candy bars and the like its not hard to get well over 2100 calories a day.

I saw a lot of that stuff guyjax, but another thing I noticed, right before I walked out, was a little stand with apples,oranges and bananas. I also noticed the baskets were FULL...I don't know about y'all, but I LUV fruit!!!!

I used my points on my Love's card to help purchase a Sirius/XM antenna.

Dave

I used my points on my Love's card to help purchase a Sirius/XM antenna.

Dave

Yup...that is a really good way to get some of the cool stuff. Doesn't take long to build points when you fuel constantly...especially if you get Platinum status at Love's and get triple points.

As to the fruit ...I usually eat a banana and an orange a day. Life or Special K for breakfast. Snacking on the road is usually trail mix or jerky. I like orange juice and V8 instead of Coke, although it's much more expensive. Coffee no sugar or cream.

I do the fast food now and then, but truck stops with a restaurant offer some healthier options.

I do have a weakness for the dang Tornados though!

Decided to drop by the Love's truck stop this afternoon, just to get a 'feel' and see what they're like.. There were 7 lanes at the fuel island, and trucks were backed 5-6 deep waiting to fuel. All the drivers looked to be around my age, some older, some younger-but the ONE thing it seems they ALL had in common is that they were a bit 'rotund' if you know what I mean. There was a McDonald's there, so that probably explains a lot...

There were a few places for rigs to park (I've been hearing that most truck stops have NO parking) BUT this was in the afternoon-probably couldn't BUY a spot at night. Not QUITE as noisy as I thought, but it still won't be easy sleeping..Those big diesels have a ground shaking growl. Checked out the showers and found them sparkling clean, (they smelled like Clorox) with plenty of room to shower, shave, change clothes, etc. and an attendant wiping everything down. NICE!!! (I heard that it was nasty at these places).

TONS of goodies for your rig too! DC converters, powered coolers, even dash cameras. Jackets, knives, Blu-tooth headsets (gotta get me one of them) and LOTS of CB and GPS stuff.Toys, TVs,just about anything I would need...(uh-oh..there goes my paychecks)...

I watched the drivers for a while, no one seemed to be overly tired, they all seemed pretty alert, fairly friendly. They all opened the hoods and did lots of checks...Those engines are HUGE!!!!

Picked up a bunch of those free min-magazines, just to browse through.. All in all, it was quite an experience. I was wishing I was one of them, walking back to my big ol' rig, getting ready to head out...SOON ENOUGH!!! Can't wait to meet some of y'all!! (I'll be the skinny one)

Yep, lots of big fellas out on the road. Even if you haul boxes or reefers you can make a few simple choices that help you keep in shape. I'm 52, 6' tall and about 170 lbs and want to stay just about where I am, but I haul cars now and loading/unloading is a workout big time. Prior to that I only went to truck stops when I needed things you can only buy at truck stops. I'd keep a cooler or have a frige in the cab and kept lots of healthy food nearby. In AZ I'd park at road side pull overs and hike in the desert a bit. In NV you can find places along two lane highways for your 10 hour break where you can find some fire wood, pull out the cooler and a small folding chair and enjoy the clear sky. Be creative and find different places to stop. Gets you away from the fumes, keeps you a bit more active, and lets you get into the sights that lots of us wanted to see when we got started. You can always find a Walmart you can pull a truck into to re-load the cooler. I will say, once or twice a week I like to get a big fat T-bone, eggs, hash browns and toast for breakfast. Usually not at a major brand truck stop. I go to less crowded mom-n-pop centers. Lots of parking, not a mad house, and better food. Cee Gee's exit 57 I-5 in Oregon, Dive on west side of I-5 in Oregon at exit 99, a couple of diners in Austin NV while running the back roads to Vegas, etc.

Cee Gee's exit 57 I-5 in Oregon, Dive on west side of I-5 in Oregon at exit 99, a couple of diners in Austin NV while running the back roads to Vegas, etc.

Cee Gee's is in WA @ exit 57. I know, that is where I grew up. That was the exit to get to the farm that I grew up on.

Ernie

I only have a small amount of fat just above my belt line. Right Daniel.

It gets real hard after 50.

But I have eaten hardy for many a years. But, I'm not Fat and Lazy. Just Husky. Big Boned?

It's best to stock your little frig your self. Cheaper all the way around.

But look at Santa! He delivers more than all of us put together and in just one night. So, fat guys can be very productive.

I wear my DICIDO hat with pride.

LOVE'S! Is that with handles?

Actually, most truck drivers are fat - that's the explanation.

Hey...I'm not fat, I'm fluffy.