What Are The Best Truck Stops, And Why?

Like grumpy old man, I like the kittery circle k in Maine and most toll plazas are nice but for the biggies I prefer in order, pilot, flying j, loves, ta, petro. Although I like ta for showers because they give 2 towels a hand towel and a washrag where most just give 1 towel and 1 rag (i know, what more do i need right? Lol) but will use anywhere I have shower credits that's on my route. For my 10s I will take any legal spot happily though or rest areas for more quiet. From time to time I have a few shippers that allow overnight on property that can save my hiney in areas without much parking or if I can't find any empty spots elsewhere. I have learned from a previous post of mine to try to stay away from the fuel island if at all possible at truck stops because of jake braking noise. I have never and will never nose into a spot. I think most that do have trouble with backing but get into more trouble when it comes time to back out but they hope the lot will be emptier when they leave. Oh and I wont park on an on/off ramp at all.

Personally I love Kwik Trip they have a bunch of groceries not that I need that with a day cab , and the best bagles i have ever had. Their doughnuts and other in store prepaired foods are good too. I wish they had them on my route in Indiana and Illinois.

I am still trying to understand the 10/14. Is it ok to go on your 10 while you are moving slowly and travel less than one mile. If you are in line for fuel more than 30 minutes, are you allowed to count that as your 30 minute break even though you drive just a little in the line? What about waiting long times to load or unload? There are some that will say that during those times, you are still responsible for your load.

The answer to your first and second question: NO. You need to get parked securely before going on your 10 hr. DOT. It should be very rare for you to move during that 10 hr. Example: I was on my 10 at a weigh station, legally parked and I get a knock on the door. It was a guy driving a lead car for a super load. He asked me to move because the super load needed my space to get in. No problem, I moved to a nearby spot, slowly, and my duty status didn't change.

Technically, you could do the 30 minute in a fuel line, but my company policy is to log "on duty, fueling" when in a fuel line. Besides, your 14 hour clock is still running. Only once did I get stuck in a fuel line long enough to get a 30 minute DOT in, and that was because I got behind some idiot who fueled, pulled up and went into the Pilot for 30 minutes plus. I couldn't move ahead and there were two trucks behind me. I finally went into the store and had the clerk call this guy out on the PA system for blocking the fuel lane. Once that I could see he was much smaller than me, I may have said a naughty word or two while he was getting back in his truck. I think the two drivers behind me actually were in the process of plotting to kill this guy.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Kwik Stars and Kwik Trips in the upper midwest, but I don't get up that way too often.

Loves has the easiest parking, with spaces that seem like they're a mile wide, but they don't have reserved/paid parking and tend to fill up too early so I rarely stay at one.

Newer Pilot/Flying Js are my favorite actually. Awesome showers, larger/more parking generally than Loves, and they do have reserved parking (I tend to run later in the evening). Cannot stand the smell of that Cinnabon crap though.

The TAs and Petros are generally the largest truck stops by far with say 150 to 350ish parking spaces, but most of it is that nasty blindside angled parking with narrow isles. Awesome repair shop, showers are usually nice, but the restaurants are nothing to write home about. I despise "Country (No) Pride and not a big fan of Iron Skillet either.

I like staying at the mom and pop stops. It's a nice change and I've found some real gems.

I enjoy Loves out of the huge national chains, clean, nice parking, and the people usually seem in better moods. However i rarely get to stop there since my company mainly uses Flying J/Pilot. Which is fine, we usually only have time to stop and shower anyway when were teaming.

Now my favorite Truck stops are Quik Trips, Which their only downside is they dont have showers..yet. and also Kwik Trips they are super nice as well!

And Caseys for the pizza haha

I like the Petro at Waterloo NY

Had my airline cut at Waterloo, which is strange, didn’t even talk to anyone there😯😯😯😯

Caught it on my pre pre-inspect(before starting clock) for any major things like flats, leaks, bad air lines..

Joplin Petro is like being a kid in a candy store

Joplin Petro is like being a kid in a candy store

June 7-8 will be the annual “Joplin Truckers Jamboree” this year. Big truck show.

I think truck stops will alwaus depend on the person and their personal interest. People want and need different things so just find out what works for you bud.

The best truckstop is the one that has a spot available. I’m a parking sluut. I’ll park anywhere, except on the side of the road or shoulder of a ramp. I take my showers in the afternoon, so for the night I’m just looking for an available space. My first choice is always someplace where I can get coffee in the morning, but sometimes that doesn’t work out, which is why I always keep a can of coffee in my plug-in cooler. Right now I’m in a parking lot next to a truck stop, parked in the lot of a closed business, surrounded by a bunch of other trucks. I’m sure I’ve missed out on plenty of good ‘diner’ meals that have been spoken of here, as I make my dinner every night in my truck. Truck noise doesn’t bother me; I sleep like a rock.