The holiday season in the USA is a time that both residents of this country and tourists from all over the world are waiting for. For many Americans, Memorial Day, celebrated on the last Monday in May, marks the unofficial start of summer and the summer travel season. The unofficial summer season lasts until Labor Day, which usually falls at the beginning of September, which translates to a 14-week summer season.
American highways crisscrossing the United States from north to south and east to west are filled with giant truck stops, which are much more than just places to refuel. These roadside oases are a home away from home for truck drivers, offering a wide range of services and goods, as well as a sense of community.
The first truck stops were established in the United States in the 1920s. Initially, they were simply places where truck drivers could rest and refuel. Over time, truck stops have evolved into comprehensive facilities offering a wide range of services.
And these services can be used not only by truck drivers, but by all travelers, car drivers, motorcyclists and even pedestrians. A typical truck stop has sit-down restaurants, fast food, showers, laundromats, shops, and even service centers. Of course, truckers have discounts on some of these services, due to the fact that they systematically refuel, and it should be remembered that a one-time full tank fill-up (long-distance trucks usually have two tanks or more) is several hundred gallons of diesel.
From souvenir stands to themed restaurants, truck stops are a reflection of American culture, especially highway and road culture.
American truck stops are an integral part of the transportation infrastructure in the USA. They are extremely important both for truck drivers and for the general public. Thanks to their services and amenities, they enable efficient and comfortable travel for professional drivers and are an irreplaceable supply point for travelers, especially in sparsely populated states such as Wyoming.
It should be remembered that not all truck stops offer the same quality of services, so we reached for the ranking of the best of the best chain networks of truck stops created by Trucker Path and here are the top three:
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores: The Love’s network is known for its clean and well-maintained facilities, with plenty of parking spaces, diverse dining options, and driver-friendly service.
Pilot Flying J: Pilot Flying J is one of the older, reputable truck stop chains, offering similar quality services to Love’s.
TA Truck Stops: TA is also a well-known brand, as they opened their first truck stop back in 1972. They are known for their large maneuvering areas and parking lots, as well as a wide range of truck service services.
There are many other great truck stops that are not chain stores and offer services for everyone. A very good example is IOWA 80 in Iowa (180 miles from Chicago) which claims to be the largest truck stop in the world and probably is!! We recommend it!!!
Wishing you wide and safe roads from ALL ABOUT TRUCKS & TransLab!! We put Truckers first!!
