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TA Travel Centers

Discussion in 'Truck Stops' started by Professional, Jan 24, 2012.

Page 1 of 5
  1. Jan 24, 2012 #1
    Professional

    Professional Bobtail Member

    16
    7
    Jan 19, 2012
    Plano, TX
    0
    I have read a lot of posts here regarding truck stops and most seem to be negative. Are the TA's any better? They APPEAR to be clean and nice on youtube. Do they cost more to spend the night at one of them?

    I'm in the Dallas area...if I were to drive to one would there be any magazines to look at for a wannabe like myself? Could I drive into one in my care and eat or are they only for truckers?

    Thanks. :biggrin_25514:
     
    Professional, Jan 24, 2012
    Professional, Jan 24, 2012
    #1
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  3. Jan 24, 2012 #2
    goodchoice10

    goodchoice10 Heavy Load Member

    806
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    Aug 31, 2010
    The Buckeye
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    They are open to all travelers, as their name states "Travel Centers of America". Pay to park is common in some areas, especially the T/A. But only for big trucks. They give you a break if you spend so much at their store in food/fuel.

    Check it out, look for the signs inside that say "professional drivers" lounge. Go in there and see what they have to offer. Cleanliness? Thats a crap shoot these days.

    Good luck!
     
    goodchoice10, Jan 24, 2012
    goodchoice10, Jan 24, 2012
    #2
  4. Jan 24, 2012 #3
    jimmiesgirl48

    jimmiesgirl48 Bobtail Member

    11
    3
    Aug 31, 2010
    south hadley, ma
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    I have been on the road with my husband many times and we find that the TA's and Flying J's are usually better all around. Most places if you do spend the night and pay you get a voucher to use once you are there, you can use it to take off of your dinner, or sometimes if you buy fuel there you don't pay anything to spend the night. It all depends because not all charge. All truck stops will have magazines for you to check out.
     
    jimmiesgirl48, Jan 24, 2012
    jimmiesgirl48, Jan 24, 2012
    #3
  5. Jan 24, 2012 #4
    07-379Pete

    07-379Pete Crusty Commando-Pete

    2,549
    2,347
    Oct 3, 2008
    Campbellsville, Ky
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    First off Pilots, Loves and the like are not "truck stop". There fuel stops with hot dogs.
    The T/A's Petro's and a few mom and pop style places are full service truck stops and you dont have to be a truck driver to dine in them, but I wouldn't set in the truckers only section to eat, the bull sheet trucker tales are not as entertaining as they once were. Sixty-two mile per hour trucks make for boring lies.
     
    07-379Pete, Jan 24, 2012
    07-379Pete, Jan 24, 2012
    #4
    goodchoice10 and Buffalo Chip Thank this.
  7. Jan 24, 2012 #5
    Emulsified

    Emulsified Road Train Member

    3,663
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    May 6, 2010
    Dallas, TX
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    Usually I'll stay at a TA or Petro if it's convenient. I like a sit down restaurant to sit and read and have a sandwich at the end of the day.
    Usually their showers are a bit bigger and often they have the movie room.
    But it's a crap shoot.
    For instance the one in Las Vegas is a dump. But the Petro in Vegas is very nice.
    Their fuel is usually a penny more per gallon and their corporate discounts on fuel is usually less than Pilot or Loves.
     
    Emulsified, Jan 24, 2012
    Emulsified, Jan 24, 2012
    #5
  8. Jan 25, 2012 #6
    Tinfoiltrucker

    Tinfoiltrucker Light Load Member

    81
    19
    Feb 26, 2011
    Colorado Springs, CO
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    TA generally suck. I spent a day at on in Kansas and the drivers lounge wasn't as nice as my cab. Really , a 12 inch tv?! And it stank.
     
    Tinfoiltrucker, Jan 25, 2012
    Tinfoiltrucker, Jan 25, 2012
    #6
  9. Jan 25, 2012 #7
    Professional

    Professional Bobtail Member

    16
    7
    Jan 19, 2012
    Plano, TX
    0
    Thanks for all of the information! I'll go by a TA later this week once all of the rain is gone here in Texas.
     
    Professional, Jan 25, 2012
    Professional, Jan 25, 2012
    #7
  10. Jan 25, 2012 #8
    25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    18,749
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    Sep 18, 2006
    the road less travelled
    0
    Petro was bought out by TA, and they have come up with a few more, the one at Morris, IL now has new pumps and they are working on the inside, that one has a non corporate restaurant, the Iowa 80 near Walcott has been a TA and that restaurant is also non corporate. The Steel City exit 9on 80/94 IN is a Petro and is going to be remodeled next year, the Steel City at the Demotte, IN exit east of I-65 in IN is now a TA and was being renovated. The Steel City at Porter, IN across from the TA is a fuel stop/c-store, with parking right across from the TA that has been there. They had chicken as well as the roller grill and sandwiches. I haven't stopped there since the changeover.


    It depends on the place, and not all are bad, and certainly not all are that good. Pay to park is a pain I'd rather avoid, it's not the paying, it's getting out when every truck has to be checked for a receipt or pay.


    Most of the areas I go to have free parking at most places, the exception is in New Jersey, and not all of those have pay to park, either. Many places have the shack and gate but the gate is no longer used.
     
    25(2)+2, Jan 25, 2012
    25(2)+2, Jan 25, 2012
    #8
  11. Jan 25, 2012 #9
    skibum_63

    skibum_63 Road Train Member

    2,176
    918
    Oct 12, 2007
    somewhere, USA
    0
    paying to park , is tax deductable, because it's a buisness expense.
     
    skibum_63, Jan 25, 2012
    skibum_63, Jan 25, 2012
    #9
  12. Jan 25, 2012 #10
    7122894003481

    7122894003481 Bobtail Member

    1
    1,996
    Sep 6, 2011
    0
    "You aint gonna believe this one...But my cousin down there in Tennessee, he got one of dem hot rod rigs! Says he can run 67 on flat ground!"
     
    7122894003481, Jan 25, 2012
    7122894003481, Jan 25, 2012
    #10
    double_r Thanks this.
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