affordable professional massage in truck stops?

Hi there, I posted this first in Welcome Wagon and havent gotten much response...so thought I would try it on this forum. I would really appreciate some feedback on this topic of massage in the truck stops as I am considering opening a massage service in a Nebraska truckstop. Good idea or not? And, no, I will not offer 'happy endings', but I would provide a great affordable service that would help drivers overcome their body aches/pains/injuries and help destress using either massage chair or table. This service would not be exclusive to drivers but to their wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc...and truck stop employees. Am I way off the beaten path considering this? Thanks everyone.

Orignial Post:
Good Morning everyone! I am a nationally certified licensed massage therapist here in the Omaha area. I have recently graduated with my Associate of Science in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and just left a 25 year carrier as a dispatcher/broker in the transportation industry. I took a job at a spa in Lincoln and after only 1 month have found that I really miss talking to and working with all of you drivers out there...so my thoughts have led me to consider opening a massage center in one of the truck stops here. I know what you all endure bouncing in that seat for 10 hours a day, dollying down trailers and lumping your loads. I am educated on all muscle groups affected by the type of work you do and I feel I could offer a great service to help you overcome aches, pain,s injuries and destress while on the road. What do you all think of my idea to start up a massage center within a truck stop? I appreciaate all input, the pros and cons. I wish for you all to have a great day out there today! Shine on!!!

Best Regards,

Carla

 

Thank you for responding Sdaniel. Did the massasge centers you visited at TS's offer chair and table massage? I know drivers are usually on budgeted time so I thought of offering 15 and 20 minute chair massage... and/or 20, 30 or 60 minute table massage. Another question would be; are drivers more available for massage during the day or during the evening, or is there a time of day any better then another? Just trying to figure out a good schedule to be available. Thanks again for your input.

 

PackRat...thanks for responding. yep your plural for massuse was correct however, the politically correct term for massage practitioners today is massage therapists...we are attempting to get away from the stigma that massage is simply relaxing (as well as the sexual connatation associated with massage)...it is so much more than that...it is healing...yep relaxation is a healing aspect, but to get into the muscles through deep tissue techniquesand Range of Motion (ROM) can actually rectify injury, and strengthen muscles that endure stress and strain...for drivers that would include the head, neck, shoulder, back, glutes, rotator cuff muscles, arm and leg muscles... I would set the boundary right up front on expectations. Im grateful for your honesty...and based on the majority of response I have gotten, I am now feeling torn on whether to move forward with my idea. Having said that, I know I could offer a great service, and once the word was out that this truck stop had a class act for affordable respectable massage therapy, I think it would fly...

 

Hey there STexan...thank you for the guidance on schedule times...it confirmed I was thinking along the right lines as far as time to be available. I will actually be visiting the hair salon at this TS today to get some feedback from her, but I dont think she has room for me to set up. the GM of this truckstop offered me a nice room upstairs where the offices are located, evidently they used to have a walk in clinic...dont know why it no longer operates but will find that out today. the room is big enough for both table and chair, so I was excited about that, but after reading some of the posts in answer to my questions, perhaps I need to inquire about something more visible...perhaps in the drivers lounge. thanks for sharing your thoughts. I came to this forum because I figured who better to ask for advice from then from the drivers themself.

 

Hi Lilbit...thank you so much for adding a positive side to this idea I have to help drivers take care of their bodies while out there on the road. I believe you are correct in saying that the way I set up my buisiness will project my intent...thank you so much for sharing this. My intent is right and good in helping all of you men and women, overcome the stress that you put your bodies through in your every day experiences in trucking. I was a dispatcher/broker for 25 years Lilbit, and I listened to the drivers that contracted with me...I know the job is stressful, you have dispatchers hounding you, customers having unrealistic expectations that is taxing on the physical and mental Self, you lump loads, you sit in a drivers seat for longer then you are out of the seat most of the time, you sleep on uncomfortable bunk mattresses, you climb up and down in and out of your truck, you overuse your rotators when dollying down trailers...there is so many ways that drivers overuse their muscles and cause injury stress and strain to them...not to mention the headaches endured because of lack of sleep or proper diet, driving without stretching for hours on end...and I could go on and on on as to why I feel it would be a great service to provide to drivers regarding therapeutic massage. a 20 minute table or chair massage can help ALOT!!...a 30 minute massge is even better because I can focus longer on areas of the back and neck that are really stressed and tense...massage affects every single system in the human body...that is why it is observed as a healing activity...doctors, chiro's and physical therapists are encouraging the service of massage therapy more and more every day. thanks again for your support...I appreciate your thought very much! Take care, and have a safe trip, Lilbit! Carla