This week, Arrowhead Travel Plaza (ATP) at Wildhorse Resort & Casino put up banners to show their appreciation for the truck drivers who continue to deliver loads across the country during the pandemic.
Manager Tom Fine says it’s important to express support for the professionals who risk exposure to COVID-19 to ensure stores, businesses, and medical facilities are receiving the groceries, materials and medical supplies they need.
Banners posted outside the truck stop encourage the public to #ThankATrucker.
“For the most part, ATP is playing the role it always does for professional drivers. We’re always here for them by providing a place to do laundry, take showers, get food, fuel, etc.,” emphasized Fine.
It’s a difficult time for truckers whose numbers have dwindled recently due to the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus. Older drivers and those with underlying health conditions have opted to park their big rigs until the situation changes.
“Commercial truck business is slightly down,” said Fine, “and automobile traffic is less than half of what it normally is.”
Last month, Jim Mullen, acting director of the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration wrote a letter to NATSO, the group that represents the travel plaza and truck stop industry in the U.S., imploring the industry to keep travel centers and truck stops open to serve truckers.
“In the coming weeks and months, it will be critical that these businesses remain open, 24 hours per day, providing America’s truck drivers with fuel, food, showers, repair services, and opportunities to rest,” Mullen wrote.
Unfortunately, while truck stops may remain open for fuel, they have cut off all other services to truck drivers.
In the heat of the pandemic, truck stops have shut down shower facilities, dining areas, and other services leaving truckers with few options when looking for a place to rest, eat, or shower. Some are even limiting the number of trucks that can enter the truck stop, leaving some drivers with no place to park overnight.
Fine said that ATP, however, has kept these services open knowing that they are critical for drivers, particularly now when cleanliness and good hygiene are vital to staying healthy. He said the sanitation procedures that they have always practiced are consistent with COVID-19 sanitation recommendations.
“We receive many compliments from drivers thanking us for the nice facility, for being here, for our friendly staff and the cleanliness of the facility, especially our showers.”
To get meals during the mandated closure of the dining area in the onsite McDonald’s, drivers are allowed to pick up orders at the counter or they can walk up to the drive-up window.
Getting hot food can be an issue for these road warriors since they can’t fit their trucks into a drive-thru and are often forbidden from parking in lots at shopping centers.
Fine says the truckers are practicing social distancing inside the facility and many are wearing masks. Extra measures have been taken by management to protect workers and customers; plexiglass guards at the checkout and hand sanitizer stations have been added.
“ATP appreciates professional drivers all year long as they are a big part of our business every day,” says Fine.
