Ten or fifteen years ago I’d pull up to a fuel island, any fuel island at any truck stop and two or more truck stop employees would be there before I’d popped the brakes. One would take my information (company name, truck number, etc, etc, etc) while the other(s) would pump the fuel, clean my windows and mirrors, check my oil and check my tires. Some places did more but that was pretty standard. Then I’d park the truck and go inside to a nice, quiet relaxing meal. Visit with the waitress maybe or other drivers. Then I’d leave a tip, pay at the cash register and leave. When “I” wanted to, on MY Schedule.
I remember a sign the old “76’s” used to have posted. Something on the order that this is a truck stop, truck drivers are why we are here . Truck drivers come first. If you’re a tourist you come second.
Sigh. I haven’t seen that in a long time.
Ten or fifteen years ago when I was stuck on the road during …say….Thanksgiving or Christmas…The food was free….at least one meal and sometimes more.
Ten or fifteen years ago when I was hung up with a wide-load over a weekend or on a holiday….you guessed it…..the truck stops took care of me.
Ten or fifteen years ago there were…….the “Old” 76 truck stops (my favorites), TravelPort, Burns Brothers.. Rip Griffins….and for the REAL old timers there was Husky. All gone now.
Bought out, Corporate Acquisitions.
Ten or fifteen years ago there were individual truck stops….not affiliated with any chain…that had character. Do you remember “Panty Hose Junction” north of Sacramento on I-5 exit 554 near Dunnigan, Calif? It used to be that the waitresses there wore black fishnet stockings and black “foo-foo” dresses. Nothing showed….shoot…you could see more skin at a Junior High Prom…but it was unique…it was different. Pilot bought it…all gone.
Ten or fifteen years ago there was “Sierra Sids” in either Vegas or Reno…I can’t recall which. Each town had an old “76″ that had a “thing”. I seem to recall the one in Vegas had an extensive handgun collection said to have once been owned by Elvis….behind glass. Good food both places. Gone now…TA bought em out. No sit down restaurant in one…it has a burger king.
Ten or fifteen years ago there was PuckerBrush Junction? TA bought it too…just another TA now.
Ten or fifteen years ago there was a small chain called Rip Griffins. We called it “rip-off’s” cause the prices were high. I never heard complaints about quality or service though. They had a good shop too. The one in Terrel, TX and the one in Moriarty, NM helped me out …. TA bought them….and put up a plastic “wall” in front of the fuel desk in Terrel…like at a Port…or a Bank. I suppose they’re afraid of us mean old drivers and need protection….talk through the little hole….give us your money and go a way.
Ten or fifteen years ago there was the Giant on I40 in New Mexico. It was supposedly the largest truck stop in the world. Huge parking lot. Limo service…call on the CB and they’d come get you after you parked. The building was a mall. Must have been ten or twenty stores…two or three GOOD sit down restaurants….movie theater….barbershop. Gone. It’s just another Pilot now.
Ten or Fifteen years ago near Edwards AFB in California…at Four Corners there was a Fuel Stop…I forget it’s name now…something like Fatso’s or Stinkies…or Skinnies….some kinda name like that. It was nothing much….just a few pumps and a restaurant..dirt lot. The thing was…they were glad to SEE you. When you walked in the door there was a waitress that escorted you to your table and you had tea or coffee AND water in just a jiffy. The service was great…the food was good. Just another Pilot now.
Love em.
And TA just bought out Petro. I could go on and on….but I won’t. I take medicine. It’s for the high blood pressure I’ve developed recently due to all the fatty-starchy junk food they have now instead of sit-down restaurants. So I won’t say much more. It’s bad for my blood pressure.
I will say that when I can I avoid the “chains”…..too much stress…..I try to look for the small “mom and pops”….what few remain…. the chains are putting them out of business by predatory marketing practices.
You might try them….but better hurry…they’re going fast.
I loved the visual imagery you gave me of the past where a trucker would dine and relax. Maybe a book could be published by you and other truckers of diners, places you best remember and the people you remember best. We need the visual imagery to relax from corporate America! We need such a personal connection.
forgot one of the better “dumps” at I-15 and hesperia….the old outpost truck stop…great food and great air conditioning…pilot bought them out
Isn’t the restaurant still the Outpost? I haven’t been in there for quite awhile, but it sits off to the side, not really connected.
Very interesting reminiscing — about favorite truck stops in the past…. I remember when I first started OTR trucking back in 1995 — I obtained a copy of a small pamphlet called Favorite Truck Stop Diners…. before I could get around to check them out several were either closed or bought out by one of the larger truck stop chains… TA, Pilot or whatever.
In some cases they were definitely worth a stop — some were just good local restaraunts with a large enough lot to park a semi-truck and trailer… It is definitely sad that the Mom and Pop truckstops are a part of history now…. good service is almost a thing of the past in most truckstops anymore….. The new HOS rules make it almost impossible to have a relaxiing dinner unless it is part of your 10 hr break or 34 hr restart….