Since @tryingtohelptruckers has been very much a gentleman & at least read my previous posts, he has gained my respect. And in return, I will gentlemanly give my full & honest preferences in what I would like to see from a quality truck stop.
1) More parking. I dont really have an issue with paid parking as some drivers seem to need it. But, I'd be pretty upset if a corporation decided to make the majority so spaces paid. I think 10% of parking made paid status would be a maximum number in my opinion. Therefore 90% of parking should remain free. But I'd really like to see more parking spaces... like 25% - 50% more spaces for every new truck stop built.
2) I'd like to see at least two handi-cap parking spaces at every truckstop & those being as close to the entrance as possible without interfering with other driver getting around. Even if those two spaces are outside of normal spaces. Along the sidewalk wouldn't be out of the question for me. But again, for everyone's safety, they would need to be parked as not to interfere with other truck traffic.
3) I'd like to see FULL TIME, No exceptions, fuel desk staff.
4) Full time shower attendants at peak times... minimum. Other times they can be washing, drying & folding towels etc, instead of the fuel desk employees doing it & stacking up counters at a register.
5) For future planning of new truckstops, I'd like to see the entrance by the fuel island be placed PAST the fuel island. I'll explain: Entrances by the fuel islands should ALWAYS be placed beyond the fuel island. He's a great example & why:
Look at the Pilot at the intersection of 59 & 69 in Lufkin, TX.
Google Maps
You need to drive past the entrance to enter the fuel island. This means that all the drivers have to fuel, pull forward, then walk back through the fuel island (or at least past the fuel island) to get back to the entrance. This is a huge problem. Many truckers already block the fuel island with no regard to other drivers because they are either low lifes or lazy or both. This layout of this particular Pilot is a huge problem. Few want to pull forward of the fuel island, then walk twice the distance back to the entrance, then twice the distance back to the truck.
If you put the entrance forward of the fuel island, these lazy, low life drivers are more likely to pull forward out of the fuel island closer to the door so they won't have to walk as far to & from the entrance. The entrance actually needs to be at least equal to the nose of the truck. Even farther forward would help so they will pull further forward so that refer driver behind him will have room to pull forward, so he can get reefer fuel.
Always put the entrance forward of the fuel island. NEVER, EVER put an entrance beside and certainly not behind the fuel island.
6) As for a new feature that AFAIK does not currently exist is, I'd like to see cameras mounted all around the truck parking area, with a live feed to a web page & in the app. If I know I am short on hours (or not), I'd be able to go to the web page or the app, pull up a specific truck stop where I plan to stay, and get a live view of the entire parking area to see if there is available parking. Even while fueling at the location for example. Instead of 10 - 15 trucks driving around the lot looking for a space, you could get a live view of the entire lot, before circling or while enroute to the location, etc. Of course no one wants anyone driving & looking at their phone but maybe a co-driver can look etc. Or pull off an exit & look at the live feed. If full get back on the road.
This would be an asset in planning as well. Pre-trip, at shipping or during delivery. 8 am or 8pm.
7) I'd like to see some sort of express lane or someway for a driver who wants to pre-pay with cash or debit card. I know some O/O & small companies especially farm trucks etc, need to pay cash for discounts or use debit cards & need to pre pay. In this scenario, the driver has to park before or in the fuel lane, walk in, wait at the register, make his agreement, then walk back to the truck, fuel, then walk back in etc. There needs to be a pay at the pump or an express lane at the fuel desk just for pre-pay. I'm not saying specifically that, I'm saying come up with something to assist these drivers & every driver waiting due to the current procedure. I'd even suggest possibly putting an attendant booth in the center of the fuel island & staff it for pre-pay, fuel receipts & pump operational issues, etc. Maybe he could even assist with those lazy low life drivers who wont pull out of the fuel lane after fueling. There are many issues at the fuel island but prepay, fuel receipts & even scale tickets could all be taken care of right there. Even trash, windshield scubbers, windshield washer buckets filled up, etc. All these things would be an asset to drivers at the fuel island to keep things orderly & moving along.
I know, I know, these services wouldn't be a direct service that generate revenue but indirectly it would generate revenue. Its services that would get more drivers to stop & spend money. Maybe even stop in that new sit down restaurant. These services put you ahead of the competition & will indirectly generate more potential customer traffic.
Its bedtime. Maybe I'll post more tomorrow.
Regards......
Truckers what do you want from Truck Stops?
Discussion in 'Truck Stops' started by tryingtohelptruckers, Jun 3, 2024.
Page 7 of 9
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Last edited: Jun 5, 2024
Gearjammin' Penguin, Sons Hero, TurkeyCreekJackJohnson and 5 others Thank this. -
We literally have people in this thread singing the praises of Love's one second and then complaining about what they just praised them for the next. Someone please make this make sense....Deere hunter and Long FLD Thank this. -
I'd like to see majority paid parking, no long hood trucks allowed (they take up too much room), and an Arby's that operates on limited hours so it feels like a luxury item when my 6 beef n cheddar's are ready.
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In all seriousness, just more truck stops with more parking is the only realistic thing I see coming. Sit down restaurant is probably a long shot, but even something different like Fazoli's, CFA, Chipotle, etc. would be a decent change of pace.
The monopoly has pretty well set in, so it's pretty much irrelevant now. Chain truck stops are massive, fleet cards cater to them, truckers are too cheap to shower elsewhere, so we all just pile into them and spend our money there anyways.
I don't see a 'revival' of great truck stops coming. -
In the interest of providing constructive opinions (the prior comment regarding retail pricing at convenience stores vs supermarkets is something that anyone invested in a truck stop chain would do well to pay attention to), I think I'll volunteer my stance on parking here:
All truck parking (other than company property or other directly authorized lots) should be officially paid parking, at a standard rate, with funding earmarked as a line item on shipping bills for anything that travels long distance [and doesn't come with its own arrangements], with the motor carrier (not the driver) as the party primarily responsible for payment, and an optional standardized zero-friction payment processing system (similar to what is in place on toll roads throughout the midwest).
In principle, if the lot at least is funded through a proper and consistent source, then the pressures and difficulties involved with non-customers should be significantly reduced (either due to more parking available elsewhere or to at least a guaranteed payment for use of the lot and restroom when they do show up for a 10 hour break and nothing else). -
...Huh???
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Back when I was driving OTR, on the days when i could set my schedule, I liked getting up at about 03:00, and having a GOOD breakfast. Can you even GET a Mexicali omelet, hash browns and coffee at that hour in any truckstop today??
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security to deal with idiots that like doing there 30 minute break in the fuel islands. no sense in pissing drivers off
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