Trail’s Travel Center in Albert Lea was named as one of the “10 great places to motor into a truck stop” in the Travel section of Friday’s edition of USA Today.

The list was compiled by Robert de Vos, publisher and editor of The Trucker’s Friend National Truck Stop Directory, who shared his preferences with USA Today writer Larry Bleiberg.

The article gives a brief description of each of the truck stops making the list.

The list included the following:

• Little America in Flagstaff, Ariz.

• Iowa 80 in Walcott, Iowa

• Trail’s Travel Center, Albert Lea

• Sapp Brothers in Sidney, Neb.

• Davis Travel Center in Stony Creek, Va.

• Willie’s Place in Carl’s Corner, Texas

• Whiskey Pete’s in Primm, Nev.

• Morris Travel Center in Morris, Ill.

• Lodi Travel Center in Seville, Ohio

• South of the Border (Porky’s Truck Stop) in Hamer, S.C.

For Albert Lea, the article stated the following:

“The main building’s log-cab-inspired-design is your first clue that this center at the junction of interstates 35 and 90 isn’t an ordinary truck stop. ‘It’s a beautiful store,’ de Vos says. You’ll find free gift wrapping in the souvenir shop and coupons online. Plus if you sign up ahead of time, you can get a free ice cream on your birthday.”

The truck stop features an extensive travel store, gift store and eat-in restaurant, and the food court hosts McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and Cold Stone Creamery.

There’s a truck service shop also.

However, what gives Trail’s Travel Center honors like it received in the USA Today article, is that staff at the facility find ways to make the truck stop a home away from home for truckers, said Cathy Purdie, marketing director at Trail’s Travel Center.

Purdie said staff try to make sure to have 10 showers available to truckers; there’s also a movie theater, arcade and laundry facilities, among other amenities.

On Sunday, the truck stop has a worship service for truckers. This is especially important for people on the road who place worship as a priority, she noted.

“I really feel that our team continually works hard to meet and exceed our customer’s expectations,” Purdie said.

“We feel it’s an absolute privilege to be featured as one of the top 10 truck stops in the article. I think it’s an honor for everybody who works at Trail’s Travel Center, as well as for the town of Albert Lea.”

The story can be found online here.

It is on the back page of the Friday travel section.