truck stop showers
Flickr: m01229

What Is a Truck Stop Shower Really Like?


Advertisement

Truck drivers have to adapt to a whole different way of life. They do everything they can to shorten wait periods and keep the long haul moving. However, even after a long day on their seriously demanding schedule, truckers still have to find time to clean up. This means finding the nearest truck stop to grab a hot shower. But, have you ever pictured what these truck stop showers are like? It doesn't exactly bring up the prettiest image at first for most people, but you might be surprised at what some of these travel centers offer to the drivers.

You can find shower facilities at most of the major truck stop chains or travel plazas. That would include Pilot Flying J, Love's travel stop, TravelCenters of America (TA), and the many more that you cruise past down the highway. Now, while some people might stop at these places on their personal road trips to buy some snacks or fill up at the gas stations, what people usually don't see are the shower rooms located toward the back of the facilities.

Let's take a closer look at what some of these showers look like, and what you can expect if you're ever planning on using one. You might be surprised with how nice they actually are. Below, you'll find three videos from professional truck drivers who show us what it's really like showering while on the road.

The Quick and Dirty on Truck Stop Showers

Advertisement

This husband-and-wife team stopped off at TA in London, Ohio for their shower. They even go over some of the benefits they receive for fueling up so much. It gives them all kinds of loyalty points, like shower credits, and they claim to be at a higher rank that gives them free showers at any TA facility.

They explain that a shower fee usually hovers around $15 normally, if you don't have a rewards program card. Their shower area was basically like a full-on restroom that you would see at your house!

Read More: Iconic Texas Truck Stops for BBQ, Souvenirs, and Everything Else

Advertisement

This driver does a great job explaining the process of setting up your private shower time. You go from the kiosk to buy one, then you'll take your ticket to the screen to see what shower you're in. After receiving your password for the shower, you're good to go!

Once he's in, you'll see this restroom has wash cloths, extra towels, and even a hair dryer. It's stocked with pretty much anything you'll need in there. Normally, these showers don't even have a time limit, so you'll have no problem taking your time.

So, while this last trucker shows off a clean-looking shower area, he also leaves everyone with some good tips. Although these places may appear clean, it's still important to take precautions. You should remember your toiletries, shower shoes or flip flops (you can get some good ones on Amazon or WalMart), some kind of bath mat, and definitely bring your own towel if you want to play it safe. Certain people may say that's overkill. I mean, they certainly look clean, but you never know. There are lots of truckers that come through and use the same areas for cleaning.

Advertisement

Overall, I'd say that the trucking shower experience isn't necessarily all that bad. It's a lot more comfortable than most people would expect. If you are in the group of truckers that receive free showers, why not take advantage of a nice shower every night? Keep in mind, these showers aren't just for truck drivers, anyone can purchase one. So, if you ever find yourself in a bind, now you know where you can go to get cleaned up.

Products featured on Alt_driver are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

This post was originally published on May 14, 2020.

Related Videos

Advertisement