TRAVEL CENTER AMERICA TA TRUCK STOPS TA TRUCK STOP MECHANICAL SERVICES ARE A RIP OFF! Internet

I represent a group of commercial truck drivers who are fed up with being shaken down by TA Truck Stop mechanical servcies aka Travel Center of America.  TA mechanics have also shown a pattern of incompetence.

Here are some stories:  TA changed the oil on a truck and left the cap off.  All the oil leaked out and then driver had to call road service which cost the driver $950.00.  Another story...mechanics told driver he had to put a new tire...they wouldn't put on his spare.  They put on a tire they sold him for $275 and the tire blew up after driving only 60 miles.

In Wyoming, a truck had a radiator leak, TA mechanics came out for road service.  They quoted $300.  When the mechanics got there they didn't have the proper tools to fix the leak.  They ended up doing a JB weld to stop the leak.  Then they charged $1,900 for the weld.  The problem wasn't even fixed and driver had to buy a new radiator for $789.

In Washington State, a truck went in for an oil cooler the mechanics told the driver the engine was gone.  The mechanics wanted to do an overhaul and charge $9,000.  Driver wouldn't do that and asked for only the oil cooler to be fixed.  Mechanics gave estimate of $845 and it ended up costing over $2300.  On this same truck, same visit, the mechanics put bad oil in the truck and the oil pressure dropped once on the road.  The driver had to get another oil change right away for $350.  Then the truck drove fine.  Driver had the engine checked out by other mechanics and they said the engine is fine.  There was no need for an overhaul.  The driver knew this to be true as well.

Just recently, driver suspected he had an alternator problem. He called TA because it was close.  TA mechanics told him it would be $437 installed.  Mechanics said they had the part in stock.  He drove to TA and the mechanics they said they didn't have the part in stock.  Then they told him they can get the alternator (a normally relatively inexpensive part $230-280) but they would now charge him $689 for the part plus labor.  He took the truck somewhere else and the charge was $402 installed.

TA's incompetence and tactics are not only VERY COSTLY and UNFAIR...but put the drivers cargo, living and reputation at stake by not properly fixing problems and driving up expenses for truck drivers who are in need of quality and reasonably priced service on the road!  Beware!