US drivers: why is Loves the preferred travel stop for most of you?

Posted by truckmonkey12@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 14 comments

It seems like loves is the first choice travel stop for most US based professional drivers. Since I am from Canada, I personally prefer PFJ since they operate north of the border and therefore I can use their showers much more regularly.

With that said, here are the main disadvantages of loves in my experience:

Virtually all of them have <100 spaces. I began referring to them (along with any other location with a low amount of parking) as “midget truckstops”. Loves tends to fill up quickly, and many of them are also way smaller than PFJ and TA/Petro locations, so backing into the single spot left can be extra challenging.
Their showers, while usually cleaner and better maintained. Often lack good water pressure, and are very scarce. Most loves locations I have been to only have 5 showers, and there is almost always a long wait. Many loves locations also lack laundry machines too.

So what exactly makes loves the preferred stop for most US based drivers? It seems like PFJ would make more sense given that they are bigger than Loves, but less dilapidated and disgusting than TA/Petro.

Anyone able to offer their input?

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DrummingNozzle@reddit

Loves is like shopping at Target. Clean, organized, a lil bit nice.

Pilot Flying J is like shopping at Walmart. It gets the job done but you don’t love it.

TA/Petro is like shopping at the concession stand at the dirt bike race track, where you don’t really know if the nacho cheese crock pot has ever been washed and you might get herpes from sitting on the bleacher seat.

Financial-Prize9691@reddit

The nacho cheese pot has never been washed properly.

ColtNickel@reddit

For me, I do tend to stop for my 10 at love’s mainly because of cleaner showers and parking area, if I’m driving within my preferred hours I usually have no problem parking unless I’m in Charlotte NC, TA and Petro do have significantly larger parking lots but their showers and stores tend to be very dated to say the least not including the back breaking pot holes some of them have, honestly though if it wasn’t such a massive PITA to get in and out of some of the PFJ’s due to creative parking left unchecked and half the time not knowing if you’re parked in a paid or free spot, I do prefer their food, but their app leaves a bit to be desired when you don’t have any shower credits, though if I’m in a area where there is a good solo non-chain family owned truck stop I’d prefer to go to them even if I need to pay for the parking.

Casperuis495@reddit

Its the only main stop left with free parking, even the little mom and pop stops are paid parking now. And it's the only one I get treated like a human at, ta/petro and pilot/flying j always treat me like a burden just by existing

Rotteneverything@reddit

for me it was cleaner islands and faster pumps. drove a day cab so parking and showering wasnt a concern. also pfj's have more islands closed due to maintenance than loves. seemed like it anyway.

IzgoyAgain@reddit

There are many, so its easier to find one IMO. Besides that, I found all truck stops very similar

Few_Interaction1327@reddit

Home daily driver, shower credit are easy to get and use them when I need to take a crap in someplace clean and private. Company gets a discount for using them. Why spread out points across multiple stations, just use one and build those points.

JOliverScott@reddit

Love's are pretty consistent in quality. They fill up faster because they don't play the paid parking games so drivers choose them as a first stop to check for parking. Their rewards program is pretty good so loyalty earns pretty significant savings over time. And some fleets switched their brand loyalty to Love's after the PFJ fuel rebate scandal which was like 15 years ago but some people still won't go back which just goes to show that it's easier and cheaper to keep loyalty than having to earn it back after a betrayal.