Truck stops are stops at designated locations where truck drivers can refuel their trucks, take a shower, and generally freshen up. Although these stops are made for truck drivers, anyone can now use them but at a cost.
Can free showers be gotten at truck stops? If yes, then, how to get free showers at truck stops?
Truck drivers can get free showers at truck stops when they purchase up to 50 gallons of fuel i.e. a free shower for every 50 gallons of fuel bought.
How to Get Free Showers at Truck Stops?
Here are the best ways to get free showers at truck stops:
1. By Reward Cards
An easy way for truck drivers to get a free shower is by getting a reward card. A reward card is the size of a credit card and can be gotten at any major national truck stop chain.
This card allows you to accumulate points and showers over time. If you are able to buy up to 50 gallons of fuel and use your reward card, you get a free shower.
The downside to this is that it is valid for a limited time, if it is not used within that period, it expires.
Usually, the free shower expires within 10 days of getting it. The reward card helps you to access and redeem your free shower at any kiosk.
2. Asking for Spare Shower Credits
Alternatively, one can also get a free shower by asking another truck driver if they have spare shower credits. If they have more than they can possibly use within a period of time, they’d be more than happy to share with you.
3. The Quantity of Gas Purchased
It is not uncommon to get free showers at truck stops; some people get it by the quantity of their fuel while others by redeeming points on their reward cards.
As reiterated earlier, you can get a free shower at truck stops if you purchase up to 50 gallons of fuel. Also, you can get a month’s worth of free truck stop shower from the time you buy a thousand gallons worth of fuel.
Cost of Showers at Truck Stops?
There may be a need for truck drivers to freshen up on a journey, without a reward card with free points on it (for drivers that have no reward card) they will be left with no option but to pay for a shower. That leaves us with the question, how much do showers cost at truck shops?
The cost of showers at truck stops varies and depends on the truck stop you want to use but, on average, the cost of showers at major truck stops is usually between $12 to $15 for each shower you take. However, for some truck stops, you can build up credits that cover a lot of things.
Between $12 to $15 is only an average cost, in some truck stops, you may spend up to $17 to take a shower, while others are way lesser than $12.
The cost of showering at a truck stop can’t be compared to buying a campsite for a night.
The good thing about the money paid is that you can share with someone else, for instance, if you are traveling with a partner, you don’t have to pay extra to get a shower for the person. The amount paid is split into halves for the two of you as long as you don’t mind sharing a shower with the person.
Can Non-Truck Drivers Use Showers at Truck Stops?
Non-truck drivers can use showers at truck stops. Truck stops showers can be used by anyone interested although it was originally designed with truckers in mind.
The downside of the usage of showers at truck stops by non-truck drivers is that they do not get a reward card like truck drivers, therefore, they hardly get free showers.
Even If a non-truck driver doesn’t have a reward card, there are known ways to get a free shower. One such way is to ask a truck driver if they have spare shower credits, they will be willing to share, some will oblige while others wouldn’t, no hard feelings.
If you are unable to get free showers as a non-truck then you definitely will have to pay, in case you will be sharing the shower with someone, you won’t be spending much as the cost of the shower will be split for both parties.
For some truck stops, there are few rules non-truckers are expected to abide by, they are as follows;
- If there is a long queue of truckers waiting to shower, you are expected to leave and come back later
- Be courteous and kind. However, this does not mean you should be intimidated. Truckers are humans like you
- Do not stay too long in the shower especially if there is a queue outside. Be fast as possible
- Do not park by the pump. You shouldn’t forget that the truck stop is meant for truckers, if you decide to park by the pump you will be preventing truckers from getting fuel and beat time.
Additional tips for non-truck drivers;
- If you do not like waiting in queues, the best time to use a truck stop shower is early morning or late nights
- To locate a truck stop, use the AllStays App
- If you want to get free showers, be friendly with a trucker
Conclusion
Truck stops are a life saver both for truck drivers and non-truck drivers. It is important to note that not all truck stops are fancy, some are fancier than the other and may not even be worth the amount paid.
This is one reason why it is advisable to go to a truck stop shower with your own bathing essentials, do not rely on what they have there, that way you can be sure you are using a clean towel amongst other things.