The operator of TA and Petro truck stops, Travel Centers of America, recently recognized 7 truck drivers for their outstanding professionalism.
During the nomination process, each owner-operator picked their favorite TA or Petro locations and each location will now renamed in their honor.
Executive Vice President of Travel Center spoke about the winners and announced the winning drivers at this year’s Mid America Truck show and said: ”You’ve inspired pride and respect in the trucking industry by your actions and your attitudes.”
The seven winners who will have a selected location bearing their names are:
One of the winning drivers, Jimmy Ardis, recently spoke to Overdrive Magazine. Ardis, known by his CB handle/nickname Monkey Gouger, says he’s amazed to see his name in lights at one of TA Petro’s South Carolina stops, renamed in his honor.
The stop is located off of I-95 at South Carolina 261 (Paxville Highway), close to Jimmy’s home, and was formerly called Jerry’s Truck Stop. The former owner was a friend of Ardis and was instrumental in helping him get started as an owner operator. After he passed away several years ago, TA took it over.
During the interview, Ardis recalled a childhood memory of sitting on the side of that very same interstate and motioning to truckers coming up the ramp to blow their horns. Now Jimmy sees his name in lights there!
The official dedication date for the Jimmy Ardis Travel Center is May 10th. Congratulations to Monkey Gouger and all the other drivers who’ll have their names across truck stops throughout America for drivers to see and recognize for generations to come.
