Most of the truck stops and travel centers are open even during the coronavirus pandemic. However, they are operating with many restrictions. They are preventing all sit-down food services and practicing precautions that concern social distancing. Truck drivers depend on truck stops and travel centers because they have to deliver food and other life-saving supplies. Lisa Mullings, the President, and CEO of Natso say that the organization’s members committed themselves to do their part during this emergency. Fuel retailers and other essential businesses need to stay open when other non-essential businesses have to close. Trucking companies extend the supply chain and connect it with the shelves of departmental stores. Rest stops allow drivers to manage fatigue and gain access to food, fuel, and sanitation.
Contributions from Pilot
The representatives of Pilot Co. said that all its stores are open and they have fuel, restrooms, and showers to provide to truckers. They aren’t experiencing any fuel problems. Furthermore, their shower rooms are clean and they are applying disinfectants regularly. They also customized their eateries where customers can order only take-outs. Self-serve food is no longer available at Pilot Co., and they are cleaning contact surfaces with food-grade sanitizers.
Contributions from Love’s Travel Stops
Just like the Pilot Co., Love’s Travel Stops will keep its stores open. However, they will serve nothing more than food on a drive-through by following the carryout system. They employed vigorous and frequent cleaning and disinfecting measures in every area of their stores. They even placed several hand sanitizing stations. To prevent accumulating high-demand goods, Love’s will limit its quantities.
Contributions of TravelCenters and Petro Shopping Centers
These two companies claimed to keep their fuel lanes open. Truckers can choose to reserve shower rooms. Restaurants will allow customers to take their food outside the premises for consumption. Apart from that, the companies may even consider bringing food to their clients, depending on the government mandates. Private and state corporations followed the examples set by the companies and began catering to truckers to fill every void.
Contributions of PennFleet
The Philadelphia-based repair shop called PennFleet allowed truck drivers to enter their property. If anyone needs to stop and rest, then they can check out PennFleet in Boothwyn, Delaware County. Truck drivers will get everything that they need from PennFleet. The HQ of the company is at 591 Meetinghouse Road in Boothwyn, PA. They are offering their parking spots on a first-come-first-serve basis. They can also provide portable toilets, hand sanitizing stations, and food items.
Contributions of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
The Turnpike Commission of Pennsylvania has 17 service plazas that they closed. They are planning to reopen them all for truck drivers. The restrooms of those plazas will remain open 24 hours for truckers to use. Also, the portable toilets will remain outdoors and in place at all the service plazas.
Other truck stops
Many other truck stops will remain open for those truck drivers who ended up being angels from heaven. These truck stops include the New Jersey Turnpike and the Vince Lombardi Service Plaza. Unfortunately, the Richard Stockton Service Plaza will remain closed since it’s under construction. Despite all these organizations coming forward to help the truck drivers, the Iowa 80 Truckstop in Walcott Iowa remained surprisingly silent. It happens to the largest truck-stop in the whole world, but it never received or returned phone calls that were seeking comments from its authorities.
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