I’m going to start a new page here at One Girl Trucking on Truck-stop facilities. As most drivers know a good truck stop these days can be hard to find. Some of you that are newer to the industry may not know the difference, but if you’ve been out here a while you will remember the good old truck-stops that actually accommodated truckers, not RV’s and traveling folks with their kids…. And before anyone huffs about it, trust me, there is a difference!
These days a good truck stop is hard to find, a clean shower is even further and fewer between! So, I thought I would start keeping track of the good, the bad and the ugly. This should also give the non truckers an idea of how we live on the road and the accommodations given to us!
Two weeks ago I was in California heading up to Salinas to load and I had spent the good part of the last day and a half unloading. I wanted needed a shower come hell or high water! I run up the 101 to King City hoping for a shower since they are far and few between in this area. There was a little truck-stop in the area and my truck stop book told me they had showers… which they did. For $5 bucks I was able to get a shower which was adjacent to the women’s bathroom.
For me, when I walk into a shower room, the first thing I do is assess the situation. I look around, decide just how badly I want to get cleaned up, how long it’s going to be before I get to a bigger truck stop with a cleaner shower, and if I can get by using my flip flops, lysol, and lack of vision (I have good vision, in this case I just choose not to use it) or if I just abort the whole damn shower and get my money back.
As I walked into this place I knew I needed my flip flops and tried not to look too closely at the dirty floor, sink, and corners because I really wanted a shower! The place was dirty, there was hair in the sink that was not mine, which really, really grosses me out, and the corners had not seen a broom or scrub brush in months…. but I needed a shower.
The last thing that took the cake, was the towels they provided or should I say lack there of. I was given two shop towels I’m guessing, that I was suppose to dry off with. Nice. The towel wasn’t even big enough to wrap around my head to let my hair dry! I won’t be back to this place, and I wouldn’t suggest it to anyone else unless your in dire need!
King City truck stop, if you care, you need to think about the drivers that spend their money with you! Give them a nice clean shower, and a decent towel. It doesn’t have to be the Taj Mahal, but a clean shower is worth it’s weight in gold!
If you have a good, bad, or ugly truck stop you want on OGT just email me a few pictures with your thoughts to bethany@onegirltrucking.com I’d be happy to put them up for you!
About Bethany
The old King City has NEVER been the best of places if you want “Clean”.
I’ve been very disgusted by the condition of some of the “Big Chain” truck stops as well. While they are often scrubbed nearly to death, the shower heads don’t work, hot water systems are old or just plain not up to the task and many times the tiles are busted up.
You bring up one of my sore spots. “truck stops” are now “travel centers”. RVs are always more welcome than the truckers that keep the places in business. Areas for professional drivers are either none existent or just plain ignored by the staff as well as by John Q Citizen and his noise destructive kids. This includes dining areas as well as places that the public just has no business in.
I fuel at Loves or Pilot and try to find almost any place else to eat.
Parking is not as big an issue as some would have us believe so any well lit place will do.
t
Hi there….always enjoy your stories! Have you tried action wipes? First big wipe for when you can’t shower!
http://www.actionwipes.com they are great…I use them after biking
and sounds like we enjoy the same music…..you can listen to KPIG online!
http://www.kpig.com
and one more…we have mini daschunds, too Micki and Mini
Take care and enjoy your day!
Annabelle
Terry~ I totally agree with you on everything you said. I mainly fuel at mom and pop truck stops if I can, and when I can’t it’s usually a Flying J.
I too am so displeased with the way the large chain truckstops are taken care of. Like you said broken tile, faucets and the last time I didn’t even get a plug in that worked for my blow dryer and curling iron.
Unless there is a HUGE parking lot, I would rather stay in a well lit place like you mentioned due to the fact so many drivers can not back into a hole and most won’t even try, so they are more than willing to block you in to make it easy for them.
Annabelle~ Thank you for the links! I just ordered a case of Action Wipes!! The first thing that won me over was the tea tree and eucalyptus! Yum! I am SO excited!
I’ll check out the tunes for sure! I would love to see your dachshunds! Are they red or black or otherwise? Long or short hair?? I would like a long hair this time, but hubs wants another short hair red…. We’ll see!
Hi Again…both short hair and more on the brown/redish side…Micki is thirteen and getting grey…will have to take some current pix for you. I love the short hair dachshunds….also the wire haired guys are pretty neat, too!
Hope you got a chance to listen to the music….may have to try it out for $5.00 buck a month….no ads…just their crazy pig squeals!
Being a Truck Driver for many years I really can say I enjoyed your post. Keep up the work.
Just went over an checked out the pictures that you posted under "Truck Stops". The shower there at Sapp Bros. in Fremont, NE reminded me of something. Have you ever stopped at Little Amnerica T/S in Flagstaff, AZ? Girl, you have GOT TO check out their shower's!! They NOT only have tiled lined shower BUT (an you'll love this one) they also have a FULL tub in them, also!! I'm totally serious!!
Thought of another one that also is good its up in the Salt Lake City area. JoAnn's Gearjammer over in West Valley City, UT. Off of UT201, plenty of parking, an good food in the restrauant.
Did some check’in via google an here’s a link to their website: http://www.sinclairoil.com/la-flagstaff/index.htm , but they don’t have any pictures of their showers, Bethany. But, they are nice an big an have large counter area. An the bath tubs are nice an big, too. A soaking tub, I think is what they call it. If you can delete this, B. I’ll do some more checking an see if I can find any pictures online any where.
Hi there, loved your comments. I was afraid that I was becoming a picky old broad. The last couple of T/S in Fargo, ND we were in left a lot to be desired. When I went to the desk to complain, I was treated like a second class citzen!! The guy that cleaned the showers told be that it had been a long day… no kidding…me too. I did so want that shower!!!
But I found a beautiful shower in Minot, ND!!! Thick towels, real bath mats, and super clean.. shower heads that work, and lovely hot water. Roses for the Crossroads Truck Stop.
A big thumbs up to JoAnn’s Gearjammer in Salt Lake.
After this week we are officially boycotting J's and Pilots.
It will be our new policy to not use them unless push
comes to shove. The icing on the cake was after fueling
we decided to grab a bite before hitting the road again.
Walked into the new "Denny"s" to find them with a waiting
list for seating ! I'm waiting for J's to take out the drivers
lounges now since your average Pilot thinks drivers need
to wait in the corner to do laundry or shower.
I think the worst place we ever showered was out East.
Showers were ten bucks unless you fueled. ok
You had to buy your towels. But you did get to keep them.
They were cheap towels and we had our own so no big deal.
The showers I kid you not were a trailer out behind in the parking lot.
The cashier said she'd give us the one that the toilet worked. How kind.
Well the toilet did work, but the exhaust van didn't. It was unbearable.
We attempted to dry off and dressed so we could prop the door open.
Opened the door to find all the water from the shower drained right
out into the parking lot ?
Needless to say we haven't been back.
I have always heard good things about JoAnn’s! If you get the chance to get some pictures let me know, I would be more than happy to post them up!