Category: truck stop

Trucker’s Home Away From Home: Exploring Trucker’s Favorite Truck Stops

Truckers spend long hours on the road, and truck stops are like a home away from home! A much-needed break from highways, a place to refuel, rejuvenate, and recharge. Truck stops play a crucial role in the lives of truckers, offering a range of amenities and services.

Let’s explore the world of truck stops, a place to find comfort, convenience, and a sense of community. There are currently over 40,000 recognized truck stops in the United States, with the most popular being Pilot Flying J, Love’s Travel Stops, TA Travel Centers/Petro Truck Stops, and Sapp Bros Travel Centers. 

Extensive Amenities:

Truckers’ favorite truck stops are known for their extensive amenities that cater to the unique needs of the trucking community. Some truck stops exceed the basics to offer amazing amenities such as truck stop showers, wi-fi, parking, laundry, driver lounges, and many food options. The best truck stops also feature repair and maintenance services, allowing truckers to address any mechanical issues and get back on the road quickly.

Delicious Dining Options:

Speaking of food options, good food is essential for truckers on their long hauls, and truck stops have answered the call. Truckers’ favorite stops often offer various dining options, ranging from fast food chains to sit-down restaurants. Truckers can indulge in a delicious meal, recharge their energy, and enjoy a much-needed break from their travels.

Community and Networking:

Truckers’ favorite truck stops are not just pit stops; they are a place for the trucking community. These truck stops serve as meeting points for truckers from various backgrounds, allowing them to connect, exchange stories, and form friendships.

They provide a sense of belonging and support within the trucking community. Truckers often share tips and advice, discuss industry trends, and build professional networks that extend far beyond the walls of the truck stop.

As you can tell, a trucker’s favorite truck stop is more than just a place to refuel and rest. They are havens that provide much-needed respite, services, and community for one of the hardest-working industries. With extensive amenities, delicious dining options, and a vibrant community, these truck stops have become a second home to many.

They play a vital role in supporting and enhancing the trucking profession, making life on the road a little more comfortable and enjoyable for the heroes of the highway.

What are some of your favorite truck stops around the US?

Founder of Love’s Travel Stop Passes Away at Age 85

When traveling down the interstate, seeing a Love’s Truck Stop isn’t an uncommon sight. With over six hundred stores in 42 states, and numerous rewards under its belt, including Corporation of the year in 1991 and the President’s Award for Service to God and Country in 1996, it’s not hard to see that it is a very successful business. The company owes its success to its founder, Tom Love who passed away on March 7, 2023, at the age of 85.

In the mid-1960s, Tom and his wife Judy leased an abandoned service station to open their first gas station which later developed into a chain of gas stations located near Oklahoma City. In an attempt to diversify his products and revenue, he got the idea to attach convenience stores to his existing gas stations. As a result, his gas stations became the first to offer grocery items and self-service gasoline in the 1970s. The first Love’s travel stop was opened in Texas in 1981, catering to both truckers and motorists alike. 

Today Love’s offers a wide array of services including roadside assistance for commercial trucks, emergency roadside vehicles, truck maintenance, parking, hot and fresh food items, shower facilities, restaurants, and even hotels at some locations. It is the largest business in its industry and is still family-owned. Tom’s love of sports also managed to get Love’s as one of the partners of his hometown’s NBA team the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Tom Love’s legacy will continue to live on in his widely popular business that continues to offer a number of convenient services for truckers and motorists alike. He contributed a lot to the trucking industry by providing truckers with places to park, take showers, purchase food, and even repair their trucks if needed. Love’s Truck Stop even goes as far as giving away millions of My Loves Rewards points during Trucker Appreciation Week for truckers to use at any Love’s location. They also hold Christmas giveaways for a number of useful items. During Christmas, they have donated to the St. Christopher Truckers Fund, a charity that helps truckers and their families when illness or injury causes them to be out of work. Even after Tom Love has passed, Love’s continues to make a positive contribution to the trucking industry helping truckers around the country.

What You Need To Know About The 40th Annual I-80 Trucker Jamboree

It’s been a busy summer with many miles under your belt, and many more to go, but if you find yourself passing through Iowa then the time is NOW to take a load off at the I-80 Trucker Jamboree!

To ensure that we “Keep America Trucking” it is important to stay energized while on the road and take a well-deserved break when needed.

Come celebrate with dozens of customized rigs and hundreds of fellow American truckers at the “World’s Largest Truckstop.”

Here’s what you need to know about the 40th Annual I-80 Trucker Jamboree if you’re attending this year or plan to attend in the future.

What You Need To Know About The 40th Annual I-80 Trucker Jamboree

The 40th Annual Walcott Trucker Jamboree is currently underway and ends on Saturday, July 13, 2019. Held at the Iowa 80 TruckStop, Interstate 80 Exit 284, in Walcott, Iowa, you can conveniently stop by and enjoy free concerts, fireworks, and of course everything trucking.

This three-day event will also include a Super Truck Beauty Contest, an Iowa pork chop cookout, an antique truck display, more than 175 exhibits, two fireworks shows, and a Trucker Olympics.

This event goes all the way back to 1979 and is still going strong as a great place to celebrate the American trucker and learn about the trucking industry. While this event is a good time and an educational experience, at the end of the day, it is a way to thank you (the truckers of America) for all that you do to keep America trucking.

If you find yourself elsewhere in the country and can’t make it, you should still put the Iowa 80 Truckstop on your list of places to visit! 

It is not only the largest truck stop in the world, it practically has everything a trucker on the road could ask for. They even have a 24-hour Dogomat where you can get your travel buddy groomed and ready to hit the road.

You can also get a haircut, go to the dentist, watch a movie, and so much more all from this one truck stop.

I-80 Trucker Jamboree Parking and Admission

Great news! Parking and admission is FREE at the I-80 Trucker Jamboree! There will be tons of exhibitions for you to visit and learn about what they do for the trucking industry. You can even relax and enjoy an evening of free country music concerts.

However, when you hop back in the saddle on Sunday don’t forget your Heavy Vehicle Use Tax is hurtling at us at full speed. Complete your Form 2290 filing with the 100% US-based industry leader, ExpressTruckTax.

All you have to do is spend less than 10 minutes following our simple step-by-step filing guide to transmit your forms directly to the IRS and receive your stamped Schedule 1 in minutes!

Need some help? Our 100% US-based bilingual support team is available to answer all of your questions via live chat, phone, and email.

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See What’s Happening at the Truckers Jamboree

Truck driver and rig at the trucker jamboree


The 39th annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree is officially underway at the Iowa 80 Truck Stop. They are featuring a truck beauty contest, live concerts, trucker Olympic games, and so much more! If you aren’t able to attend the Truckers Jamboree, we completely understand (we are in the same boat), so to help you feel a part of the fun, we are sharing what’s happening at the Truckers Jamboree!

Here are a few photos and videos of the trucks and event happening at the show:

A few of the entrants from today’s “Super Truck Beauty Contest” at the #WalcottJamboree! @thyssenkrupp is excited to be one of the sponsors and is looking forward to meeting you 7/12-7/14. So, come check us out and find out what it’s like to #drive4tk. #Iowa80 #thyssenkruppUSA pic.twitter.com/lN2eIl4l7M

— thyssenkrupp Career (@thyssenkruppjob) July 13, 2018

— Desiree (@TruckerDesiree) July 13, 2018

Who loves Fireworks? You can see them Thursday & Friday at the Walcott Truckers Jamboree! #walcottjamboree #iowa80 pic.twitter.com/GPymygev3j

— Iowa 80 Truckstop (@Iowa80Truckstop) July 11, 2018

Can you pull this truck? Come give it a shot at the #truckerolympics #TruckersJamboree @Todaystrucking pic.twitter.com/H3FSMdnlaU

— David Henry (@crazycanuckdave) July 13, 2018

Come visit our booth and check out our truck decked out in #RoadWorksMfg accessories at the #Iowa80 #WalcottJamboree this weekend! pic.twitter.com/rSutyKdRlo

— RoadWorks Mfg (@RoadWorksMfg) July 13, 2018

“End of Watch” tribute to fallen Law Enforcement Officers. Designed and built by Jake and Stephanie Robak. @Todaystrucking #TruckersJamboree pic.twitter.com/4hW5tQbR5X

— David Henry (@crazycanuckdave) July 13, 2018

There are 27 trucks parked for the Super Truck Beauty Contest. Who else is on their way? pic.twitter.com/JfWjaXta9U

— Iowa 80 Truckstop (@Iowa80Truckstop) July 10, 2018

Truckstop hosts 39th annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree https://t.co/gy6cL5te4E pic.twitter.com/d0bXoGHLCh

— Quad-City Times (@qctimes) July 8, 2018