Truck Stops

Continuing proliferation of self-serve mobile tech reducing in-person contact at truck stops

As the coronavirus continues proliferating, drivers and truck stop operators are minimizing contact with more tech-based innovations. Details here on Overdrive.

October 22, 2020

A window on mostly touchless options available in the Pilot app.

Truck stops see enduring shifts in food, other services in pandemic’s wake

Even with some reduced capacity dine-in options returning, a change in customer behavior is likely to continue well beyond the duration of the coronavirus.

October 21, 2020

The deli at White’s Travel Center in Raphine, Virginia, has seen a huge increase in business as dine-in options were limited by state mandate through the pandemic, said owner Bobby Berkstresser. The mandate accelerated an existing trend in dining preferences, at once, as also happened in access to telehealth service reported last month in the previous part in this series.

POLL: What aspect of the truck-stop experience, broadly speaking, has most significantly changed since COVID?

If you weighed in with this poll prior to 10/15/20 at 11 a.m., weigh in again, as our prior poll did not report results correctly. Which of these areas has seen the most change when it comes to how you interact with truck stops since March 2020?

October 15, 2020

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Pilot Flying J launching fuel network program for small fleets

One of the key factors in the new One9 Fuel Network is lines of credit for smaller trucking companies, which can be personalized and flexible based on the small fleet or owner-operator’s needs. One9 customers will have access to 250 One9 locations, along with 750 PFJ locations.

November 19, 2019

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Love’s giving away rewards points throughout September for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

Every time drivers swipe their My Love Reward card in September, they will be entered to win 10,000 My Love Rewards points. Winners will instantly receive points as part of this giveaway. Drivers can also visit any Love’s with a touchscreen kiosk and follow the steps to be entered to win a million My Love Rewards points

September 4, 2019

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Love’s opens new location off I-80 in Illinois

The new Love’s offers drivers 137 truck parking spaces; Chester’s Chicken, Godfather’s Pizza and Subway restaurants; eight diesel lanes; seven showers; laundry facilities and more. There is also an on-site Speedco for truck maintenance.

August 27, 2019

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Pilot Flying J gearing up to celebrate Truck Driver Appreciation Week

Steven Root, senior manager of loyalty marketing for PFJ, said at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas Friday that each day in September, drivers will receive an offer for a free drink each day. Some days will be coffee, others could be soda or water, but each day drivers can get a free beverage at the truck stops.

August 23, 2019

Pilot Flying J will soon add a night mode to its app to make it easier to view at night, or if users just prefer a darker theme.

Kenly 95 Petro gets new TA Service Center

The company says the new 26,000 square-foot facility is fully climate-controlled with heat and air-conditioning in all six bays. The new service center also adds DPF cleaning equipment to the location.

August 13, 2019

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Love’s opens new truck stop in Texas

Love’s Travel Stops has opened a new location in Brownsville, Texas, offering truck drivers 39 new parking spaces in the South Texas region.

August 12, 2019

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Love’s adds historic shower data to mobile app

The graph idea is a result of feedback from truckers who said they wanted a better way to plan when to stop for a shower. The app already allows drivers to check in for a shower at a Love’s location and skip the fuel desk.

August 8, 2019

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Love’s opens new Arkansas travel stop, seven new maintenance locations

The new Love’s Travel Stop is in Lake Village, Arkansas, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 82 and U.S. 65. It offers 52 truck parking spaces, Chester’s Chicken and Petro’s Chili & Chips restaurants, four diesel lanes and more.

July 30, 2019

POLL: Should truck stops impose time limits on shower use?

Following the lead of a question one operator asked recently in the Overdrive’s Trucking Pro Facebook group, this question explores current practices around shower use time limits and whether imposing them is a necessary supplement to basic etiquette. ….

July 19, 2019

Love’s opens new location along I-40 in Arkansas

The new location, in Hazen, Arkansas, offers 111 truck parking spaces, 10 diesel lanes, seven showers, an on-site Speedco opening soon, laundry facilities and more. It also offers drivers Chester’s Chicken, Godfather’s Pizza and Subway restaurants.

July 19, 2019

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TA-Petro offering deals on hot dogs for National Hot Dog Day

The truck stop chain is offering drivers two hot dogs for $1, or a free hot dog with an UltraONE kiosk coupon. Drivers can stop into any TA, Petro or TA Express location to take advantage of the deal. The offer will only be valid on July 17.

July 11, 2019

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Pilot Flying J opens three new west Texas locations, one in California

Pilot Flying J announced recently it has opened three new travel centers in the west Texas Permian Basin and will open three more later this year. PFJ has also opened a new location in California.

July 3, 2019

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Love’s opens new North Carolina, California locations

The Charlotte, North Carolina, location, off of I-85 at exit 29, offers 69 truck parking spaces. The Westmorland, California, store, located near the intersection of Highway 86 and Martin Road in southern California, offers 82 truck parking spaces.

July 1, 2019

Love’s set a company record in 2016 with the opening of 47 new locations across 20 states. It plans to open another 50 stores in 2017.

Love’s opens new locations in Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania

The new Michigan store is located in Bridgeport off of I-75 at exit 144 and offers 87 truck parking spaces. In Illinois, the new Love’s is in Hampshire near I-90 and U.S. 20 and offers 177 truck parking spaces. The new Pennsylvania store is in Slippery Rock off of I-79 at exit 105 and offers 48 truck parking spaces.

June 24, 2019

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Love’s opens new locations in New Mexico, Illinois

Love’s Travel Stops this week opened new locations in Eunice, New Mexico, and Rochelle, Illinois, adding nearly 200 truck parking spaces to its nationwide network.

June 14, 2019

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The trucker cap in teacher Amy Watson’s selfie from the day she was tested for COVID-19 later inspired her choice of “long-haulers” to describe COVID survivors with persistent symptoms. “My school’s mascot is a squirrel,” she said, which she finds appropriate, given that her pre-school students, with their short bursts of activity, are “very squirrel-like.”

Trucking’s bit part in the 'COVID long-haulers’ name

A teacher's trucker cap provides inspiration for her to borrow trucking's "long-hauler" designation for COVID-19 survivors who discover they're facing an indefinite period of further suffering.

Small-fleet owner Jesse McGinness was going for originality with the look of this 2021 Peterbilt 389, spec'ing the black Alcoa rims from the factory. After his maiden voyage in a Class 8 tractor years ago, in a Peterbilt 379, he fell in love with the classic square-hood series. He plans to modify the stacks, the grille and more to all-black finish -- committing sacrilege, says the operator who took him on that first 379 run. McGinness'll maintain plenty in chrome/stainless accents, not to worry. The flattop with lift-axle is powered by the X15 Cummins at 605 hp, with an 18-speed transmission. 'I wanted this truck to be a truck that I thought was cool,' McGinness said, in addition to doing the tough over-dimensional/heavy hauling he'll require of it.

'WTF' stresses service for long-term success

The glider market grew from a few hundred sales a year in 2010 to upwards of 10,000 as recently as 2017. Gliders sported pre-emissions-regs engines -- no exhaust gas recirculation or selective catalytic reduction components and, thus, no need for DEF. With simpler technology and refurbished engines, the products were much cheaper than new trucks with new engines, making them attractive buys for small-business truckers.

Glider kit market hits fatal nosedive with latest emissions regs

Fuel Fueling Truck Stop

After weakened demand in 2020, diesel prices jump back to pre-pandemic levels

Junior Elmore’s Marmon caught Christner's eye right off for a very simple reason: 'I’d never seen a Marmon cabover in the flesh before,' he wrote. 'Up close, it’s easy to see why a Marmon cabover was used in the movie 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' as the Autobot Optimus Prime. Elmore’s Marmon COE #31 HDT-BC-86 was Manufactured 03/1977 in Garland, Texas. This is a complete truck with no parts taken off. Still running when parked in 1999. A good honest work truck that’s nicely spec’d out.' Find more details, and history, via this link.

Look back at Junior Elmore's classic 1970s rigs

Beware: Human smugglers luring truckers along the border

More episodes »

The Business Manual for Owner-Operators

Overdrive editors and ATBS present the industry’s best manual for prospective and committed owner-operators. You’ll find exceptional depth on many issues in the 2021 edition of Partners in Business.

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