Question:
I visited a truck driver training school just to see if I would enjoy getting into this field so far i don't think i would but i just have a question concerning truck stops. Which ones are the best ones? and are the showers clean or are they gross cause i've heard both.

Answer:
whether it's a "national" chain, or a smaller "Mon and Pop" type of operation. I've seen the best and worst of 'em. The bigger ones such as TA and Petro tend to have cleaner showers and restrooms, but the Pilots have (IMO) one of the worst cleaning crews, not to mention the smallest lots of those mentioned.
Also, some that have been around for 50 years or more tend not to be too good, either, as there might be exposed pipes, walls, etc., plus who know what else has been on that floor before you.
You're doing good by asking questions here, but - there's nothing like talking to a driver FACE TO FACE to get his take on the profession.
Now granted, you may run into some "sourpuss'", but that could be just the day their having, so if they tell you to "bugger off", don't take it personally.
One of the big things you have to have driving a truck is time management. If you don't have it, you won't last long, as there are loads that are JIT (just-in-time) that MUST arrive on time, or it throws the receivers schedule off.
Now, you can ask all sorts of questions, and get 10^2 number of answers. You're not really know if you are going to like it unless you actually DO it. Keep it mind, I am NOT trying to push you into it...
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I'm not a truck driver, I'm a professional tourist!

Answer:
On the whole the bogger truck stops have the better facilites over all. Petro in my book seem to be the most consistant. The rest are kind of hit and miss and really just depends on the management of that particular truck stop.
As pointed out earlier the independant truck stops tend to be a bit more ratty because they dont have the big bucks of a national company behind them to make the updates/repairs needed, though I have been in some of these Mom and Pop joints that would put the nicest big boy truck stop to shame.
Only two things I know of are infinite. The universe and human stupidity, and I am not real sure about the universe.
Answer:
A suggestion since you live in the Phoenix area:
If you want to see a cross section various kinds of truck stops try this:
First, go fill up your gas tank at the Circle K truckstop on 35th Ave and Van Buren in Phoenix.
(don't stay there too long )
Second, go to 59th Ave and I-10 and have lunch at Wendy's in the Pilot and bum around a little in the store.
Third, go out west of Phoenix on I-10 to Rip Griffin's in Tonopah and grab a snack and bum around a little.
Last, come back to Phoenix and have dinner at the Flying J at 67th Ave and I-10.
By doing this you will see two of the major truckstop chains (Flying J and Pilot) a decent privately run stop (Rip Griffin's) and a very bad one (Circle K) and it'll give you a general idea of what truckstops around the country are like.

Answer:
That is some of the best advice I've heard yet Thunderbolt thanks for all the info I'm definitely gonna look into it.

Answer:
That should take care of the truck stop info needed. I personally don't like any of them very much. But Petros are usually the cleanest.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
and don't forget to add a trip to Eloy for your education. If you want some real fun do all of this at night, when the truck stops are usually full. Nake sure you have someone with you to enjoy the fun. If you have a cb radio it gets so much better
the circle K at 35th is SO much better than it used to be

Answer:
Originally posted by LoriAz:
That is some of the best advice I've heard yet Thunderbolt thanks for all the info I'm definitely gonna look into it.
Lori, my bad. That Circle K truckstop in Phoenix is on 35th Ave and Buckeye Rd. Not Van Buren. I lived in Phx for 5 years, you think I'd know better.

Answer:
Originally posted by Thunderbolt:
Lori, my bad. That Circle K truckstop in Phoenix is on 35th Ave and Buckeye Rd. Not Van Buren. I lived in Phx for 5 years, you think I'd know better.
Like it matters... you see one group of skank nasty crack (edited) working the lot at a Circle K - you've seen them all!
"As God as my witness... I thought turkeys could fly!" - Arthur Carlson

Answer:
Petros, Flying J's are usually always clean and plenty of amenities and parking.
TA's and Pilots are hit and miss some are really nice, but some are kinda nasty.
The independant ones can be some of the best or some of the worst, just ask around on the CB...
GREG - a.k.a. Married Man
"Hakuna Matata...Means No Worries"


Answer:
Thanks trucking4jesus I have read alot of your posts out here and you seem really cool. I don't think God has called me to drive a truck but I screwed something up really bad and nothing that I am doing to straighten it out is working so I started looking into this. I don't know but I really enjoy reading your posts and GBU HUGE!!!!

Answer:
Use nasty ones when you have to get parked and you dont want to play games finding a parking spot.
Use nice clean ones when you have a bunch of time to drive around and around the parking lot looking for and open spot to park.
Usually but not always the cleaner ones are out a ways from any city. City trk stops are usually nasty due to the high traffic they get from being full all the time. They cant keep up with all the trkers coming and going.
Also keep in mind the quality of the food and how much it cost. Ya can be in the cleanest of all trk stops but if the food is no good and it cost ya and arm and leg for little bit of nothing whats the point.
Case in point Rip's is very high on everything I buy the one liter pepsi bottles and Rip's is usually 50 to 60 cents higher on their price than anyone. I usually only sleep at Rip's and try not to buy anything from them.
"A choice between doin' ten years, and takin'out some stupid !@#$,ain't no choice at all."
Mr.White (Reservor Dogs)

Answer:
I maybe only a newbie but I tell you what the big so called (truck stop chains)like TA or Petro are more tourist attractions and trying to afford to eat at them is impossible not unless you don't have any bills. Hell Ive seen some of them where of cup of coffee costs $1.10 that is outragouse but they are cleaner and nicer than the Ma & Pa truck stops but their food is better and cheaper. Thats just my point of view of the very little that Ive seen. Oh yea I also heard that some Petro's have special sections that only CDL holders can get into food cheaper and service is better but thats just what I heard. Happy shopping in the wonderful world of truckingand good luck in what ever you do.

Answer:
Truck stops are expensive places to eat! Yep.
Better food at the Ma & Pa stops? Not that I've experienced. Some are good & some aren't. I've been at this since '79 and things are much better at the big chains than they used to be with independents improved as well. All in all I'd rather eat at a Flying J or a Petro than whatever that giant chuckhole in Fontana is called (actually, good food but who knows when the last time anybody cleaned up was) or some of the other independents around.
Things are expensive at truck stops because we are captive consumers. Get used to it and plan around it as best you can. Bring snacks & stuff from home if you can, drink water with your meals and fill your thermos when you fuel, etc., etc., etc. There's ways to save money and still take advantage of best the big chains have to offer (frequent fueler programs, etc.).
If you've only been on the road for 6 or 7 years you might not be able to appreciate how much better it is now than it used to be. Private showers were few and far between. Lot security was non-existant, laundry facilities were rarely sufficient and often in total disrepair (still true in some places). Services, in general, were nothing compared to what's available now. About the only thing I can say that was better 20 years ago was the supply of parking spaces after 5 p.m.
Somebody, in a previous post, mentioned the Circle K in Phoenix and it's true there are holes like that here and there that persist but with continued competition from better and better truck stop operators these places will continue their disappearance from the landscape.
IMHO the best of the big chains is Petro with Flying J a close runner up and Pilot bringing up the rear as the worst. As far as independents go there's quite a few good ones out there. Get a truck stop guide and check 'em out yourself.
"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." ...Soren Aabye Kierkegaard


Answer:
Yea although somewhat expensive and the 3 Petro's Ive been to seem to be the better ones but there is this place at the ????...uhhhh- Alabama/Georgia border I think. anyways it somewhere down there. It wasn't much for parking or fueling actually I had to ask what to do due to the fact that I am used to the electronic age(yep I had to fuel the old fashioned way) not much of a store although they had a remote controled Tractor/Trailer for about $100 man I wanted to buy that for my son I really wish I had the money. going back on track(somewhat) When it comes to food I say that was the best truckstop I've ever ate at so far, so good me and my trainer went there twice once down and once back kinda funny how that worked out. Darn shame I don't remember what the name of the place was all I can tell you is that it had a dirt parking lot and wooden statues all over the inside of the place(looks like John Wayne). Well anyways just felt like typen gotta get it out of me before I go OTR again. Thats gonna be a fun change going from a job where you litterally sprint from the cab of a trash truck to the back throw everything in the back as fast as you can the sprint back to the cab jump in (don't use the clutch)shut off the speedup and pop it into first and go as fast as you can(SAFELY!!!)to the next stop and do it all over again about 500-800 times a day-Im gonna go from that to sitting on my butt all day and driving all day. Anybody ever go through that???
Well I'll shutup Adios Amigos