Truck Stops originated in the 1940s as an ordinary place to buy diesel fuel in the U.S., and provide parking not normally available at small gas stations.
As the interstate highway system grew, so did the population of Truck Stops.
How many are there?
There are about 10,000 Truck Stops in the United States. Some of the biggest chains include Petro, Flying J, Wilco, Loves, T/A (renamed America’s Travel Centers as a marketing theme in the late 1990s), Pilot, and the list goes on and on.
What’s the biggest chain?
On January 1, 2007, the merger of the two giants, the Great Savings Network and Truck Stops Direct, created the largest Truck Stop chain in North America. The merger provided greater purchasing power for all the independent Truck Stops that joined the group. In the summer of 2009, just under 300, they had now signed more than 400 deals and were growing. Welcome to Roady.
Who’s the best?
As a truck driver for over 20 years, I personally enjoyed Sapp Bros, Iowa 80, Bosselman’s, Loves, and the odd T/A, of course, traditional Mom & Pop Diners just found their way through the beating. Always more personality and, of course, home-cooked meals, almost better from time to time than my own mother. A survey of drivers revealed that Petro is the best of the big chains, and if I were to choose between the big ones, Petro Flying J would be my first choice from second.
Where’s the biggest one?
Founded in 1964 by the Standard Oil Company, Iowa 80 was born in Walcott, Iowa. In 1965, Bill Moon took over and bought it from Amoco in 1984. As a commendation for drivers, in 1979, Walcott Truckers began jamboree and to this day still has its home at Iowa 80, with a barbecue, truck show and brightness, live entertainment, and several antique trucks.
Parking loads, fuel islands, washing bays, cat scales, shower, chrome shop, and most jobs under one roof, Iowa 80 makes the world’s Largest Truck Stop.
