Travel plazas edge toward carryout and drive-thru food service

“We have always been committed to providing safe, clean and well-maintained stops that help get our drivers back on the road quickly, and we’ll continue to make that our priority,” Love’s spokeswoman Caitlin Campbell said.

Prepackaged condiments replace self-serve stations for ketchup, mustard and other fixings. Pilot and Love’s customers are being asked to use a new cup to get a drink or refill, and transfer liquid from a store cup to their personal cup or mug instead of filling it directly.

“In addition, we provide hand sanitizer dispensers for public use near the restrooms at our locations,” Campbell said.

TA-Petro locations temporarily suspended buffets, soup and salad bar offerings. A few locations remain open depending on state and local guidelines. The majority offer all menu items as to-go orders. Grab-and-go options are still available. California is restricting restaurant occupancy to 50% of capacity. Illinois prohibits inside restaurant pickup orders.

“We strongly believe this action is essential for your safety and the safety of all our team members, and we are extremely grateful for your understanding during this time,” TA wrote on its website.

TA also said it is taking extra precautions with what it called already strict cleaning protocols. Tables, menus, chairs, booths, counters, and all dishes, utensils and cooking surfaces are being cleaned more often with best-in-class, food-safe cleaners to disinfect and sanitize common touch points within the restaurants. 

For now, shower facilities that long-haul truckers reserve remain unaffected. Pilot said it is cleaning showers after each use with degreaser, disinfectant and floor cleaner, and washing guest towels separately from service towels after each use.

TA shower service is operating as normal, spokeswoman Tina Arundel told FreightWaves.