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Truckstop Tips

Here are a few general truckstop tips of what to do and not to do while visiting the truck stops. I will be adding more as time goes on.

-Try to park beside a curb if possible. At least that side of the truck will be protected from getting snagged by someone pulling out. You'll usually find these spaces at the back of the parking lot.

-Don't do your regular shopping at the truck stops, the prices include a convenience fee for those who don't plan ahead. There is probably a department store near, if you need to buy a lot of stuff.

-If you go to the buffet, get your food from the back of the pan. If the buffet is accessible from both sides get your food from the middle of the pan and cross your fingers. People are always going up there that don't wash their hands.

Tips for Choosing A Truckstop

Some truckstops are better to stop at for different things. You'll probably find yourself leaning towards a particular type depending on what's important to you. Or actually, it could just depend on what your mood is at the time. Here are some things that determined which truckstop I stopped at. First I will list the intended purpose of stopping then I will list the order of choices from 1st choice to last.

Truckstop Tips for Doing Laundry

The first 3 truckstops on average all have game rooms and tv. Petro may have a little more of each. Still my first choice usually is determined by how much it costs. Make sure you your laundry detergent with you from home.

Flying J - Usually the cheapest
Petro Truck Stop- More options for entertainment while washing.
T/A Travel Centers - Almost All have machines but I think they are the most expensive with old machines. Odd
Pilot - Not all pilots have machines
Loves - Not all loves have machines

Of course there are other truckstops that I wash at when I need to these are just the common ones.

Best Truck Stops for Washing Your Windows

Something so simple but it tells a lot about the mindset of the people in charge of the truckstop and the franchise I suppose. You notice easily that some truck stops pay more attention to the drivers needs in some areas. My top choice is Flying J because they have they usually have the long windshield washer handles on the brushes and actual washer fluid in the water.

In the truckstops defense, they may do more about keeping us with good brushes and fluid if clowns stop trying to wash the whole truck with them.

( Message those drivers . . . Listen clowns, this is for washing your windows, stop washing your truck with the brushes. Go pay for a truck wash!)

Anyway here you go.

Flying J - Long handles and washer fluid in the water is most common

Petro - Close behind the flying J with long handle sometime has fluid in the water.

Pilot and Loves almost always have the brushes and wash buckets but not so much fluid in the water and very few have the long handles on the washer brushes.

Other truckstops may have wash buckets and brushes and they may not.

Truckstop Tips for A Hot Meal

To me the food at the truckstops is real close among Flying J, T/A, and the Petro. I guess it kind depends on what you like to eat, so you will have to check them out and decide for your self.

Its a lot of variations to compare. Different foods in different regions. Drivers complain at each one. To me the food is decent in all of them, then again, I am not all that picky.

For Baked Fish I do the T/A
For Hamburger (Which is what I eat, don't care about steak)I stop at the Flying J
For Salad I usually go to the Petro they have more stuff to put in the salad. They have more stuff to put in the baked potatoes too.

Stopping At The Truck Stop For A Coffee Break

To me and apparently many other truckers the Pilot is the best stop for Coffee. (Saw the result of vote yesterday the picked the pilot for the bet coffee.) One of the main reasons I like the Pilot is because they have those extra caffeine shots that you can add. These work well for me cause if I do stop to get some coffee most of the time I get the frozen coffee and add that shot of caffeine to it.

This is not for all drivers cause it can be habit forming.

Anyway after Pilot, my preference for coffee is

Loves thenThe T/A Travel Centers thenPetro

Best Truck Stop For Down Time

For your down time it depends on what entertains you the most. If I want to play Area 51 a little bit (hey it's a good shoulder workout and hand eye co-ordination exercise) I do the Petro. Some Flying J's have them too but Petro is a safer bet if you want to play video games or watch movies on tv.

Flying J is better if you rather just watch television or cable out in the open room. Better for people who are claustrophobic or can't be quiet during the show. They usually have a operational computer for internet access and dependable wi-fi access for laptops. (Most of the other truckstops has hi speed internet connection for laptops too. None of them are free.)

I will have other truckstop tips when think of them.

Have A Great Truckstop Tip?

Do you have Truck Stop Tips. If you see truck stops that are trying to make healthy food available to drivers or provide some other benefit to serve drivers let us know.

If you have any other truck stop tips feel free to let us know too.

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Other Tips

Click below to see truckstop tips

Most Pilot Truck stops Now Have Oatmeal   Not rated yet
Been meaning to post this for a while now. Finally I stopped procrastinating. Yep, the pilot has flavored oatmeal over where the coffee is located. Cheap,...

Laundry Tips - Saving Truckers Money  Not rated yet
There are portable, compact, inexpensive washers and spin dryers at http://www.laundry-alternative.com which can be useful for truckers on the road. They ...

Mississippi Loves Truck Stop I-20 exit 165 serves fresh fruit  Not rated yet
While everyone else is pushing candy bars at the counter like crack to an addict. Especially the Pilots with these Snicker bars, the Love truckstop at ...

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