Forgive me (seriously) if I misunderstood the first part of your reply. His answer to your question was actually quite factual.

Generally speaking the majority of truckstops...at least the major chains are pretty decent, though the one poster was right when he said the old 76's that are T/A's now can be less than desirable. And wearing flip-flops is a necessity...even if the place is clean. No, its not as bad as your friend made it sound. I've stayed in supposedly "nice motels" that weren't as nice facility wise as some truckstops.

One thing that I find to be true as far as "Pilot's", if you take your showers at the ones with the "green roof" that used to be Williams Travel Centers, the showers and whatnot seem to be a bit better. Petro's and FlyingJ's are usually pretty decent as well. Little America T/S on the 80 in Wyoming is really nice... the facilities are like a Hyatt Regency hotel!

Don't know that there are any or many of them hereabouts, though there is one driver here that has the signature that says "Friends don't let friends drive for CRST or Werner".

Personally, I know nothing about them, so I can't say anything.

 

If you must wash up in your truck, do the old trucker's bath.

Wash down as far as possible. Then wash up as far as possible. Then wash POSSIBLE. ops:

 

be very careful with Flip-Flops the bottoms of them are not to good as far as quaility goes you can and will fall and bust your butt,the best is the swimming shoes that Wally has during the summer or some sort of shower shoe.

Out of all the showers the wife and I have taken out on the road we only run into one real nasty 1 it was in Ohio,also take a couple real good towels a piece we have beach towels we take.some of the T/S towels feel like sand paper when you are drying off.

 

What a great bunch! Thanks for all of your replies. Lots of good stuff. My Father was a trucker for 30 years, we both know it's not an RV vacation and a good job! Sounds like truck stop showers will do fine. We are in our early 50s and in very good shape.

 

Most of the drivers I know also carry lots of wet wipes just to freshen up when they feel kinda grungy...

 

Let me preface my RV remark. I have had a few drivers in my employ. A few, not all, looked at the job and equipment that I gave them as their own private little play things. I swear they thought they were on vacation, and to hell with the job part. Costing me many of thousands of dollars. That is why I no longer employ anyone, and will probably never again.

That was the reason for my RV remark. I have been out here long enough to know that there are people that get into trucking for this very reason. It's party time, until they find out that there is work and long hours involved. I meant no offense.

 

Flying J's have the nicest showers on the road. Pilot is not too bad but stay away from TAs. If I have a choice I will always take my showers at a J even if I have to pay for it out of my pocket.

Soladad

 

That is probably some of the most useful advice I have read here. This is definately a tip im going to remember when I get in my truck!

-Drak

 

And you all wonder why so many think so little of us... Go figure?

 

my wife and I went into trucking last year... showering at a truck stop was something new to us also. like they have said most truckstops are clean... you will learn real fast the ones not to come back to ... as far as company terminals .... will .... we do our best to stay out of them .... most of the time their filled with the loosers of the company
to save time and money ( showers can cost up to $9.00 each unless you have a fuel card with points on it) we shower together ... unless on a secure load then one of us has to stay with the truck at all times. when your a H/W team you will not shower everyday as you will not have the time, and that will take some getting use to .... we run around 5,000 to 9,000 miles a week ... we carry wet wipes ... this is a different way of life ... but can be real rewarding ... and H/W teams are needed by every company ... hope to see you out there on the highway we wish you the best ...