Bad food, few choices, rotten results

Have you eaten at your favorite truck stop lately?

If you have, it’s very possible that the old sit-down restaurant has been replaced by a fast-food joint.

And that’s a problem. A longtime OOIDA member, Leland Jennings, told us recently that it’s no wonder truckers’ health is in trouble. Look at what they have to eat.

It’s not just truck stops. The local restaurant, or any restaurant that offers something that wasn’t pre-packaged and developed in a lab, is quickly disappearing.

So how do we address this?

There’s only one way: You’re the customer. Talk to the local managers, and let them know what you want.

But don’t stop there. Get the phone number for their corporate headquarters. If the manager won’t give it to you, just Google the company. Most of them put the headquarters number somewhere on their Web site. Call and make them aware as well.

Any company that hears from a large number of customers – well, at least any company whose officers have half a brain among them – will respond.

It’s about the only way to get some action. We can’t expect the government to step in and force truck stops or other restaurants to offer better or healthier food. And I’m pretty sure it’s not a good idea to get them involved.

It’s going to be a hard battle, something that’s especially obvious when you look over this situation. When I’m thinking about eating out, and I see what we’re offered, I start to think that the kind of food all of us like is a thing of the past.

Let’s hope not.