
Use the Trucker Path app to find Walmart truck parking across America. Our database features 3,800 Walmart locations, including those verified to allow truck parking.
It’s no secret that Walmart has great prices and a wide selection of products. Truck drivers are on the road for weeks (sometimes months) at a time and it’s very convenient to use rest hours to do a little shopping, maybe grab a surprise gift for your significant other and get some food all at once before hitting the reset button.
Here’s how you can view Walmart truck parking locations:
Steps:
1. Open the Trucker Path app
2. Click the places icon at the bottom right of the map screen

3. Make sure the Walmart icon is selected for the locations to appear on the map (the logo will appear gray if it’s deselected).

4. Click the Parking Availability tab to show Walmarts that allow truck parking.

5. Click on the location’s card at the bottom to display its detailed information.

6. Click the Reviews tab at the top to see what fellow truck drivers have to say about the Walmart.





Trucker Spotlight - Vicki Simons <em>The Trucker Spotlight series explores the lives of truckers and their journey to make a difference in their industry. We interview different people in the trucking industry to understand some life lessons that make them who they are today. We also learn more about their motivations, and the problems that they encounter on the job. We also tackle how Trucker Path's solutions helped them with what they do. The information that they provide helps inform other people who are looking to delve into the trucking world.</em>
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Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Vicki</strong>.
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<strong>Introduction</strong>
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My name is Vicki Simons.
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While living in our first company-issued truck full-time in the early 1990s, my husband Mike and I learned quickly that some of the products that are marketed and sold to truckers are what we concluded to be cheaply made but expensive to buy trucker junk.
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In those days, technology was not as advanced as it is now, so the only options open to us -- to cook food in our truck -- were 12-volt appliances.
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One appliance that we felt would serve us well was a 12-volt "hot pot."
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Because these units were constructed with no temperature control, the units were either "all on" or "all off."
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So, they burned out quickly.
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The warranty -- if there was one at all -- was usually either 30 or 90 days.
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Because there were no other cooking solutions that we knew of at the time, we ended up going through eight -- yes, eight! -- of those units.
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I was very upset and I kept thinking, "You know, someone ought to do something about this."
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Oh, sure, there were occasional articles in trucking magazines that were geared toward helping truckers save money, but after searching for a long time, I found no resources that focused on this topic.
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I kept feeling the Lord directing me toward being a "trucker consumer advocate" to help keep truckers from being stung financially.
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So with Mike's consent, I spearheaded a website that we envisioned being a clearinghouse of how professional truck drivers from around the world save money -- in order to help each other save money.
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That website is:
<a href="https://www.Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com/">Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com.</a>
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I have been a professional truck driver and Mike's home support team member, both in-truck as a passenger and at home while he's been on the road as a solo trucker.
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With nearly 20 years of professional truck driving experience between us -- and my insatiable appetite to research and write in such a way that helps others -- our website has grown to well over a thousand pages.
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Every week since 2010, I have written multiple tips and inquiries in order to help truckers save money.
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And every week since 2017, I have written a weekly trucking commentary entitled TDMST Weekly Round-Up.
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<h3><strong>Tell us a short story about you. Any trivia? </strong></h3>
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My husband Mike and I had both earned college degrees before we became a professional truck driving team.
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After graduating from truck driver training school, we began orientation at a large trucking company.
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On the very first day of orientation, there were 5 prospective truck drivers in the class.
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We were told by the "Orientation Director" that in 45 days, 3 of the 5 of us would not be with the company!
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Ouch!
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I determined that with all of the time and money we had spent to get to that point, Mike and I were going to be the two who would succeed!
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And we did!
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<h3><strong>In the years that you have been driving, what are the significant changes that you've
noticed in the trucking industry?</strong></h3>
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The most significant changes I've noticed in the trucking industry since the 1990s have been:
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<li>increasing regulations;</li>
<li>more advanced technology; </li>
<li>a desire among some cheapskates to want to replace human truckers with machines (so that they don't have to pay people to move freight); and</li>
<li>some truckers relying too much upon GPS units not geared for commercial motor vehicles -- and as a result, being involved in many completely preventable accidents, including:
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<ul>
<li>hitting low clearances,</li>
<li>collapsing bridges on non-truck routes, and</li>
<li>getting stuck in places where big trucks are not supposed to travel.</li>
</li>
</ul>
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<h3><strong>What made you decide to be a trucker before?</strong></h3>
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Originally, we thought that Mike would be the only trucker in our family.
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When we visited with a truck driver training school recruiter, he asked Mike if I was going to drive, too.
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The thought of me driving a big rig surprised me greatly, but the option was made available.
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With a great deal of prayer and consideration, it made sense to us that if we were going to be together on the road, both of us should know how to drive a truck.
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<h3><strong>Tell us a story about you and your husband and how you tackle the trucking industry?</strong></h3>
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The way that I have tackled the trucking industry is by publishing -- so that others can learn from -- the true accounts that:
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<li>we have had on the road and </li>
<li>which we have learned from others (including Mike's co-workers).</li>
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I ask a lot of questions, including on our website and through my TDMST Weekly Round-Up trucking commentaries.
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From my unique perspective, I've also written numerous comments to the FMCSA about various types of proposed trucking regulations
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<h3><strong>What are your trucking pet peeves?</strong></h3>
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I have a number of trucking "pet peeves," including:
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<li>people who make decisions affecting truckers who have never spent a day in their lives as truckers;</li>
<li>regulations that treat people like robots; </li>
<li>the push toward self-driving, driverless, and autonomous trucks; </li>
<li>truckers who haul illegal drugs and smuggle illegal aliens;</li>
<li>truckers who set themselves up for failure, such as by engaging in distracted driving and/or not maintaining proper following distance; and</li>
<li>truckers who blindly follow GPS units -- especially those that are not designed for commercial motor vehicles -- and end up in completely preventable accidents.</li>
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<h3><strong>What made you go into blogging?</strong></h3>
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I began <a href="https://www.Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com/">Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com</a> as a rant against cheaply made but expensive to buy trucker junk, the first of which was a series of 12-volt "hot pots."
<h2></h2>
Because these units were constructed with no temperature control, the units were either "all on" or "all off."
<h2></h2>
So, they burned out quickly.
<h2></h2>
The warranty -- if there was one at all -- was usually either 30 or 90 days.
<h2></h2>
Because there were no other cooking solutions that we knew of when we started in trucking in the early 1990s, we ended up going through eight -- yes, eight! -- of those units.
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Since we started our website, we have grown it to well over a thousand pages, including:
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<li>a huge number of pages filled with information and truck drivers money saving tips, </li>
<li>lots of reviews, and </li>
<li>contributions from our readers. </li>
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<h3><strong>Do you have a favorite truck model/brand?</strong></h3>
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The only brand of truck I've ever driven professionally has been Freightliner.
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Therefore, I have no other brand with which to compare the Freightliners I have driven or lived in.
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In general terms, I believe that trucks driven by regional or long-haul truckers should be equipped with enough space and conveniences so that each trucker can work, sleep, and live comfortably on the road.
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Concerning tractors with sleeper berths, I consider the following options to be critical for trucker well-being:
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<li>a minimum of 1500 watts AC (alternating current) interior power (to let truckers operate cooking appliances and use other electronic devices);</li>
<li>reliable, non-battery-dependent climate control for both cooling and heating (to let truckers rest and sleep comfortably); and</li>
<li>an in-truck toilet (whether portable or not).</li>
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<h3><strong>Could you identify the current pain points in the trucking industry? And maybe some suggestions on how to fix them?</strong></h3>
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As of late 2020, these are the current pain points I see in the trucking industry:
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<li>Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs);</li>
<li>the Hours of Service regulations; </li>
<li>problems with broker transparency; and</li>
<li>the fact that the U.S. federal agencies that are supposedly devoted to motor carrier "safety" and the "transportation" of goods in our country do not seem to be standing up for truckers as they face problems on the road.</li>
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Because the FMCSA is influenced by many people who have never spent a day in their lives as truckers, I believe a lot would change for the better if every agency employee was required -- every year -- to spend a minimum of one week with an experienced trucker, so that they can understand life from a trucker's perspective.
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<h3><strong>What keeps you busy nowadays? </strong></h3>
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As of late 2020, I have in the works two books:
<li>one for aspiring truck drivers and</li>
<li>one for those who are already professional truckers.</li>
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<h3><strong>Did it ever cross your mind to be a CDL instructor?</strong></h3>
Yes, and to a certain extent, I consider that I am a CDL instructor because of the information that I provide on our website.
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<h3><strong>Do you have a favorite truck stop? Also truck stop meal?</strong></h3>
Based on changes at both the corporate and management levels over the years, I will not name a specific truck stop as my favorite.
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Whether at a truck stop or other restaurant, Mike and I always enjoy a perfectly flavored and cooked steak, together with all of the side dishes.
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<h3><strong>What are some tips that you would like to share for aspiring truckers? Also some tips and things to look out for based on your recent experiences.</strong></h3>
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I will go into a lot more detail about tips for aspiring truckers in one of my upcoming books.
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However, the one big overview tip that I will give to prospective truckers -- because trucking is different from every other kind of job out there -- is to make absolutely sure you're cut out for the trucking lifestyle before you start down that path.
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For example, regional and long haul truckers are required to sleep away from home, usually in the truck they drive, wherever they park, during their sleeper berth break.
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<h4>Vicki Simons</h4>
<a href="https://www.Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com/">http://Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com</a>
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Best Truck Stops [p]With over 6,000 truck stops in the Trucker Path app determining the best truck stops in America is no small task. But hey, who doesn't love a challenge and a competition to see which is the best truck stop for 2017.[/p]
[h2]Best Truck Stops[/h2]
[p]The best truck stops are ranked thanks to you guys! There are over 600,000 truck drivers who update locations on Trucker Path with available parking at truck stops, travel centers and rest areas throughout America. Drivers also comment on their experiences at truck stops by leaving ratings and reviews for fellow users to view.[/p]
[p] Whether you need diesel stations to fuel up, looking for a delicious homemade meal like grandma used to make or just looking for a place with truck parking to rest, these are the best truck stops perfect for truck drivers.[/p]
[h2]Creek Travel Plaza[/h2]
[android-img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/05/Creek-Travel-Plaza-1.png"]
[p]The Creek Travel Plaza is the best truck stop for independently owned truck stops and is a must stop for truck drivers in the Southeast.[/p]
[h2]What Makes It a Best Truck Stop?[/h2]
[p]To determine what is the best truck stop, we analyzed a variety of criteria in order to award the best locations found [a href="https://app.appsflyer.com/com.sixdays.truckerpath?pid=Social Facebook"]in our app[/a]. Truck stops and travel centers with available truck parking, fantastic customer service and useful amenities like showers, repair services, laundry facilities and WiFi found themselves a cut above the competition.[/p]
[p]It's no secret, truck drivers love to eat. That's why restaurant options and food quality were also included in our decision-making when ranking the best truck stops. The next time you are traveling through America, be sure to check out one of these nearby truck stops.[/p]
[h2]Best Truck Stops - Top 10 Truck Stops: 0-5.0 Ratings scale[/h2]
[img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/04/Screen-Shot-2017-04-25-at-12.56.11-PM-1.png" alt=""]
[button-white href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/04/Top-truck-stops-Top-100-2017-PR.pdf"]Full List[/button-white]
[h2]Best Truck Stops - Top 10 Independent Truck Stops[/h2]
[ul]
[li]Creek Travel Plaza – Atmore, AL[/li]
[li]Karde’s 151 – Monticello, IA[/li]
[li]Gore’s Travel Plaza – Seiling, OK[/li]
[li]Association of Christian Truckers – Brownstown, IL[/li]
[li]BJs Travel Center – New Madrid, MO[/li]
[li]Hixton Travel Plaza – Hixton, WI[/li]
[li]Kwik Trip Travel Center – Austin MN[/li]
[li]Kwik Trip #202 – Plover, WI[/li]
[li]Refugio Travel Center – Refugio, TX[/li]
[li]Texas 87/ Tiger Truck Stop – Esperanza, TX[/li]
[/ul]
[h2]Look for the Decal in the Truck Stop Window[/h2]
[p]Recognition of success goes beyond saying congrats. The best truck stops for this year will each receive a window decal honoring the location as [i]the Best Places for 2017[/i]. This recognition lets truck drivers know that they have come to the right truck stop.[/p]
[images src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/04/best-places-decal-BLOG-1.png" alt="Cost of parking" width="250px" align="left" ]
[h2]Which State Has the Best Truck Stops?[/h2]
[p]They say in Texas, football is king. While that might be true, there's also room on the throne for the best truck stops. [b]Texas[/b] had three truck stops ranked in the top 15 along with nine in the top 100 overall, more than any other state. Meanwhile, [b]Wisconsin[/b] finished second with five ranked in the top 100 and [b]Alabama[/b] finishing third with four truck stops.[/p]
[h2]Gore's Travel Plaza – a Historic Truck Stop Location[/h2]
[p]Gore's Travel Plaza began in 1939 when Floyd Gore decided to open a service station next to his home in Seiling, Oklahoma. Currently, third-generation brothers Tony, Gary and Marty along with fourth-generation son and nephew Derrick continue the family business of serving the trucking community for over 78 years.[/p]
[quote]“The best part of serving the truck driving community is finding new ways to make their days on the road a little easier. We are here to serve them and our goal is to always be above their expectations,” said Gore's General Manager Derrick Gore. “Our staff know that customers come first, before anything else. We want people to leave our facility feeling appreciated and respected. Serving the needs of our customers and going above and beyond their expectations is something that we are proud of and hope they recognize during their visit.”[/quote]
[button-green href="https://truckerpath.com/trucker-path-app/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=besttruckstops2017"]Learn More About Trucker Path[/button-green]
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If you're a truck driver but want to earn more and be your own boss, learn how you can<a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/how-to-become-an-owner-operator/"> become an owner operator today.</a>
Lease Purchase Trucking [p]If you're a company driver, lease purchase trucking is a way for you to become an owner operator and eventually be your own boss, but consider all the factors before signing on. [/p]
[h2] Lease Purchase Trucking[/h2]
[p] You might consider a lease purchase trucking agreement if you've been a company driver for a few years now and you like the idea of <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/how-to-become-an-owner-operator/">becoming an owner operator</a> in order to earn more and create a more flexible schedule, right? We don't blame you! [/p]
[p] The road to becoming an owner operator and running your own trucking company can be a bumpy one (though not nearly as bad as some of the California interstates) but as long as you understand the costs and have a plan, you can indeed succeed! [/p]
[h2] What is Lease Purchase Trucking? [/h2]
[p] Lease purchase trucking is when a carrier decides to become an owner operator by making payments on a truck leased to a trucking company. This end goal is to pay off the truck, generate a reputation for being a reliable carrier and then once the truck payments and term agreement expire, you can venture out to grow your <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/how-to-start-a-trucking-company/">trucking company</a>. [/p]
[p] Lease truck payments can range anywhere from $300 to upward of $1,200 per week depending on if you choose a used or new truck and the trucking company you sign on with. [/p]
[h2] Things to Consider in a Lease Purchase [/h2]
[p] Trucks, like any piece of equipment, will require repairs and the costs to cover are the responsibility of the owner-operator. Truck repair costs can be up to $17,000 annually for an average OTR truck driver logging 100,000 miles. Therefore you must be extra cautious when considering a used truck lease purchase. [/p]
[p]If the truck is used, be certain to review the repair records of the truck and double-check if another driver previously ran the truck as a lease. These might seem like common sense but being thorough in your examination of a used truck can save you from making a potentially disastrous mistake. [/p]
[p]When you agree to a truck lease purchase, the company you sign with will ultimately decide your revenue because they decide your loads. Make certain that there is ample freight available and check load boards like <em>Truckloads</em> for regions and routes that they want you to haul through to see if there are enough loads to haul. [/p]
[p] Keep in mind which <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/types-of-truck-freight/">type of truck freight</a> equipment you will be hauling. On average, flatbed loads are the highest paying truck load with freight often being oversized heavy machinery or other large goods for construction. [/p]
[p] While most drivers haul dry van, consider the type of truck equipment you'll be using and if the company has the loads for it regularly or not. This can have a tremendous impact on your success as you transition for lease trucking into running your own trucking company. [/p]
[h2] Use Truckloads Free Load Board [/h2]
[p] As we mentioned before, you can use our free load board <em>Truckloads</em> to search for loads based on location and equipment type to double-check that there are ample loads available in a given area and for a specific freight type. Once you finish paying off your leased truck and have your <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/trucking-authority/">own trucking authority</a> without being signed to a company, you can use Truckloads to help you find the perfect loads to fit your needs. [/p]
[video id=snyBYpnuhWw]
[button text="Try Truckloads for Free" href="https://truckerpath.com/truckloads/free-load-board/?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=truckfreight&utm_campaign=Aug10" width="250px"]