Iowa 80: Fuel Stop of Dreams never sleeps on service needs

Iowa 80—the “World's Largest Truckstop”—has stood as one of the most recognizable names in American trucking for several decades. 

Located in Walcott, Iowa, the truck stop has a size and scope unparalleled in the travel center space, with parking spots for 900 tractor-trailers, 250 cars, and 20 buses. 

But how big is the “World's Largest Truckstop” really? You know that famous plot of corn country 90 minutes north in Dyersville, known as The Field of Dreams? You can fit about 50 of those diamonds on Iowa 80’s 225 acres. Any trucker worth their CDL knows this is the Fuel Stop of Dreams. It’s not just because of the 15 diesel pumps and 42 gas pumps (and DEF station, too). It’s because it has everything a road-weary trucker needs and then some.

Within its walls, there are plenty of places to eat and shop, including a 30,000 sq. ft. truck showroom. You can drop off the truck at the service center for minor repairs and replacements, and then catch a movie in the theater, get a fresh haircut at the barber, or see about that aching cavity at the on-site dentist. There’s even a chiropractor to align your spine while the shop straightens out your steering system.

The trucking mecca serves about 6,000 customers daily, rookie numbers compared to that mega-stop down south with the beaver mascot. The difference? Iowa 80 was built for truckers, while Buc-cees doesn’t even let them on the lot.

The week after the Fourth of July, it also becomes ground zero for the Walcott Jamboree, a gathering that attracts more than 40,000 people to celebrate all things trucking, from meticulously restored antiques to the brightest and baddest custom cabs on the road.

Aside from the world’s largest diesel-smoked summer barbecue, what keeps folks coming back is Iowa 80’s consistency, particularly on the maintenance side. The place literally hasn’t closed its doors once since 1964 and continues to evolve and expand, particularly in the 7-bay shop. From DOT inspections and full wheel-end service to DPF cleaning and minor engine repairs, the ASE-certified technicians are fully capable of getting you moving, even though you may want to stay a while longer.

Modest beginnings to maintenance juggernaut

That kind of reliability and decadent convenience didn’t emerge overnight. Founded in 1964 as a Standard Oil fueling site as Interstate 80 was being built out, the facility opened with a small restaurant, sleeping area, one-bay shop, wrecker service, and a handful of diesel pumps. A prescient scout for Standard Oil named Bill Moon picked the spot at Exit 284, and he and his family took full control 20 years later.

The amenities added by the Moons get all the attention and keep truckers coming back, but Iowa 80’s Truck Service Center makes sure they don’t have to. The shop offers a long list of services designed to keep drivers rolling: preventive maintenance, repairs, tire sales and installation, brake adjustments, diagnostics, reefer trailer repairs, and a 24-hour road-service program.

Chris Wacker, who serves as Iowa 80’s director of operations for service centers, pointed out that consistency is the key to success across their locations in Walcott, as well as Joplin 44 Petro in Missouri and Kenly 95 Petro in North Carolina, where he said “customers can expect the same service."

“Our goal is to back our full-service capability with dependable turnaround times and redundancy across three major interstate corridors,” he added.

Steady flow of technicians

To uphold reliably fast service for customers, Iowa 80 has made technicians the backbone of the operations, Wacker noted. This backbone has a sturdy foundation built from highly experienced wrench turners with fresh blood flowing through the shop.

“We’re fortunate to have a staff with a mix of experience,” Wacker said. “Some of our technicians have been here for 20 years, while others are just getting started in their careers. Still, continually recruiting for new hires is a major focus because the market is so competitive.”

Those efforts are paying off. An apprentice program with a local community college is offering students interested in diesel technology an opportunity to get on-the-job experience, and Iowa 80 gets the inside track on possible new hires. It benefits everybody, Wacker noted.

Wacker and the Iowa 80 shop manager also serve in an advisory capacity to help develop the school’s curriculum. Several times each year, they meet with instructors to discuss what employers need.

For example, Wacker related system basics and finding root causes of equipment issues are essential. Staying on top of new technologies is also important, and over the last few years, there has been a need to focus on aftertreatment systems.

In the Iowa 80 and affiliated shops, training is also provided on what technicians need to know to serve customers more efficiently and effectively. OEMs and suppliers, including Bendix and STEMCO, among others, routinely provide training, some of which is facilitated by TA Petro. Courses also cover tools from suppliers that include Noregon, Diesel Laptops, and Bee Line.

“Everything we do is to focus on serving customers the best we can,” Wacker said. “Our prices are competitive, and we get their equipment in and the work done as fast as possible. Every day we put ourselves in the customer’s place and do what’s right by them.”

Fleet-approved

For fleets and owner-operators who value uptime, predictable pricing, highly trained technicians, and 24/7 access, Iowa 80 continues to be a dependable outsourcing partner. For Iowa 80, providing reliable, high-quality maintenance services for fleets and professional drivers who depend on uptime is a core mission.

Iowa 80’s drive to be a dependable, cost-effective, 24/7 service provider isn’t lost on fleets and owner-operators. At Autumn Transport, a bulk and tank hauler based in Woodbury, Minnesota, 130 dedicated owner-operators routinely turn to Iowa 80 to meet their service needs.

“Our contractors make their own decisions about service, but we emphasize the importance of maintenance and having dependable service partnerships with companies that we’ve worked with over the years, “said Bill Drath, the fleet’s asset manager. “Knowing that Iowa 80 has the bays, the expertise, the parts, and the parking means fewer breakdown-induced headaches and quicker turnarounds. Their track record and that relationship matter to us and many of our drivers.”

For owner-operator Josh Hampton, Iowa 80 has always been reliable, even before he took to the road. The Wyoming native, a dedicated contractor for Landstar, is a third-generation trucker in his family who regularly stops at the facility.

“One thing that makes Iowa 80 the right place for service is that their shop manager was a mechanic; he has actually turned a wrench,” Hampton said. “Having a boss who knows what the techs in the shop are doing and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty means they will make good on their promises, and if there’s an issue, they fix it.”