sit down restaurant at truck stops

[lvmci]

is it just my imagination or are Dennys and the like disappearing from truck stops? on I10 from LA to Tucson, each Dennys has been replaced by two fast food stands, lvmci...

[edvanland]

That is the new trend. Don't know how full time truckers are going to get a good meal. Sad but fast food junk makes more money with less overhead than restaurants.

[luvrbus]

LOL is Denny's better than fast food junk ?,I did hear Pilot/Flying J was going to up the ante on their end and Denny's told them where they could go

[somewhereinusa]

I retired from cross country trucking 5 years ago. Even then there weren't very many restaurants left. Today's steering wheel holders want all of that fast food crap and it shows. For most of my 20 years I carried my own food but, occasionally would go for a store cooked meal and those times I wanted a real restaurant.

[CrabbyMilton]

A restaurant can only stay in operation if there is a market for it. These days with the internet, people don't have to work too hard to find something that will suite them but if they don't want or have time to stray too far from the interstate, they may have to settle for what is there. The market determines this. Like it was said, pack your own lunch and save a ton of money too.

[DoubleEagle]

It was five or six years ago that Pilot took over all the Flying J's (that weren't changed to Love's). I used to enjoy the buffet's that Flying J used to have, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Then Pilot changed them all over to Denny's, which ended up costing more than the buffet, on average. I started getting creative and parking in shopping centers to get a better selection of restaurants. The trouble was, when a good place got popular, there were too many trucks parked there and there were complaints. Some drivers ran over curbs and landscaping to get in and out, ruining it for everyone. If you are on the road a lot (in a truck), it is getting harder to get a good diet. A lot of Love's have Hardee's, which seems to specialize in monster 1/2 lb. burgers.

[Dave5Cs]

LOL is Denny's better than fast food junk ?,I did hear Pilot/Flying J was going to up the ante on their end and Denny's told them where they could go

Clifford you beat me to it, LOL
Never cared for Denny's and would not consider that a restaurant by any means. We did notice that Pilot at Lost Hills has changed also to A&W and Karl's
If you ever go off on Lost Hills there is Gabby's Mexican restaurant a mile down that road 46. The Garbage Burrito for Breakfast is great.

[muldoonman]

The way those poor truckers are regulated by the feds now don't think they have time to sit down and eat at a restaurant. Gotta keep those wheels a turning.

[CrabbyMilton]

I guess some of these folks would rather risk having to pay for damages by running over landscape or other objects than just leave the truck at a designated parking area and take UBER to a better restaurant. Better yet, WALK if it's less than a mile or 2. Some of these truckers obviously don't know the meaning of exercise and I see them everyday.

[TomC]

Yes, truck driver's are definitely in the land of pot bellies. I'm 300lbs and small compared to some. About the only exercise truck driver's get is walking into the restaurant to and from their truck. Good Luck, TomC

[bobofthenorth]

I don't think its limited to truck stops.  Its just getting harder to find a decent sit down family type greasy spoon than it used to be.  Its either fast food junk or fancy menu, dim lighting and high prices.  The middle is just gone.

[lostagain]

If you haven't met TomC, he is a tall, big boned guy. Not fat. No belly hanging over his belt.

JC

[belfert]

The way those poor truckers are regulated by the feds now don't think they have time to sit down and eat at a restaurant. Gotta keep those wheels a turning.

I thought the feds were reducing hours of service so drivers don't have to drive so much?  It seems it would be harder to fake a log book with the new electronic log book requirements.

[DoubleEagle]

I thought the feds were reducing hours of service so drivers don't have to drive so much?  It seems it would be harder to fake a log book with the new electronic log book requirements.

You have eleven driving hours that have to be accomplished within a 14 hour period, then you have to take a 10 hour break. Before, you could split your log to take a nap during the day if you felt the need. Now, they might give you a destination that is 10 1/2 hours away, and if you have any delays, you will be stuck in a odd spot to take your required 10 hr. break. The electronic logs are unforgiving and absolute, you could be 15 Min. away from destination with no way to get there legally (except drive under twenty miles an hour so the computer does not send a signal - keep that to yourself). In previous paper log years, a "good" driver would make the load get there if at all remotely possible. I discovered that Qualcomm Satellite tracking systems don't work if the truck is parked too close to a building, or in strong thunderstorms, or if you unscrew the antenna cable.

[flynbanjo]

I sat next to a V.P. from TA truck stops on a flight home Philly the other day.  I remarked that their truck stops need to offer a healthier alternative to all the fast food they are now selling.  He told me what many of you have said.  It is all market driven.  The younger drivers out there want fast food so that is what they got.  Not good.  Stopping somewhere with a better choice is not always an option.  To many folks want their goods delivered but don't want trucks in their neighborhood.  Trucking has become a tuff way to make an easy living.