What is a "truck stop"?

[Speedy]

As a truck driver I usually fuel in truck 'fuel stops' because they are typically quicker to get into and out of and the fuel is often cheaper. All I patronize are open 24/7.

A fuel stop has twin high speed pumps, a convenience store catering especially to truckers and little more. Usually very little parking.

A truck stop has much more. Especially a restaurant, drivers lounge, showers, truck stores carrying most things a trucker might require, mechanical parts store and repair shop, plenty of tires; some have truck scales, motels and load brokers. Usually they have many more pumps. They are frequently staffed with people who are knowledgeable about trucking. And lots and lots of parking.

[mjgkramer]

Racer X wrote:
[quote=chopper]
Also, little known fact: there is free wireless at most Iowa hiway rest areas.

and Washington State as well.
Free wifi in Texas Interstate rest areas also.

[JoeH]

Most of the truck stops in this area of the country are in between what Speedy listed as a fuel stop and a truck stop. Moderately large parking area, multiple high speed pumps, a diner with clean up facilities at least, some with rooms for the night. Usually because they do not have room available to expand into the kind of large stops seen in other parts of the country, especially in the central states.

[RAMd®d]

They were frequently little dumps with a GREAT diner...

Hence the vernacular "choke and puke".

I remember a great place near/in Livermore CA called The Hungry Truck. It was a truck stop with tons of room for big rigs to fuel and park. It had a diner/restaurant for truckers/families.

The restaurant had a western motif with paneled walls, wagon wheels, etc. The food portions were huge, and as a kid, the stack of three pancakes seemed about a foot-and-a-half across.

It was a great place to eat. There were a lot of big rigs there, but there were always more cars than trucks on Sunday morning.