Sapp Bros. Travel Center — Restaurant in Council Bluffs

GREEDY WITH PARKING! For over 20 years (almost weekly )I spent my money at Sapps. The restaurant, C store, truckshop and fuel. (Even though I can find cheaper fuel) I figured I park there so I should give them my business. I even used the paid parking a few times when I rolled in late, but now THE ENTIRE NORTH SIDE is paid parking and if your not in by 5 PM ( used to be 9) you'll probably have to pay for a spot. You can find free parking and cheaper fuel within 15 miles in any direction of Sapps. I'm pretty sure these other places will appreciate my business. Read till the end for shop info. On the positive side I've always found the fuel desk employees friendly. The restrooms and Showers are supper clean. The Apple Barrel Restaurant...... Meh! It's ok at best if your tired of fast food. Nothing to write home about. The shop. I've used them quite a number of times. They are SLOW but in an emergency situation at least you can get in as opposed to the dealerships that tend to be booked a day ahead. Two years ago they diagnosed my truck with a bad starter. Spent all day putting a new one in and it wasn't the problem. Was forced to leave due to time restrictions and minus the air conditioning that was working before I came in. Couldn't shut the truck off all week till I got into a Freightliner shop. It was a simple wiring problem and the air conditioner.... Sapps didn't put the ground wire to the compressor back on when they put the new (unneeded) starter in. To my surprise Sapps refunded me ALL the labor and part of the starter. I was very happy even though they had completely messed up because I figured I would have to eat that bill. In fact I was so happy that they had made the bill right (for the most part) that I decided to give them more business when my annual Trailer inspection came due. I'm very familiar with my equipment so I knew what to expect. I expected a brake job on one axle. They came up with needing 4 drums and a brake job on both axles. I explained to them that the rear axel only had 3 months of run on a complete brake job including new drums they wouldn't back down on there claim so I left.The next day I stopped at a Great Dane and let them do the inspection. ONLY ONE AXLE NEEDED and no brake drums. OBVIOUSLY you better know your equipment when you go in because if they think you don't they will rip you off. Less than one year later the "unneeded" starter they put in had to be replaced. I now avoid the shop if at all possible. That's all I got. My review is as honest as can be. (Written from a fuel stop 15 miles...

I have been going to this truck stop for the last 20+ years, and it has always had its flaws: sometimes the staff is rude, parking lot is filthy all the time, and wayyy to pricey on merchandise. It costs $4.50 for a half gallon of Hiland Robert's milk. That is absurd. No justification. Anyway, to the reason for this review... I went there today to microwave a lunch meal and I discovered that the microwave was missing. I immediately knew the reason because it is always the same reason for any bizarre changes in normal routine or policy, our friend, Mr. Corona. I asked the clerk and she verified, with noticeable confidence and defiance in her tone, that indeed ever since March, the microwaves had been removed. Nevermind that they still sell microwavable items, such as sandwiches and lunch meals in micrwavable containers. I would understand this absurd policy, if employees were standing outside and inside the doors and constantly wiping the door handles, which are touched many more times than a microwave by all customers, but stangely they don't have that. Honestly, I am tired of policies being forced upon us that do little or no good. Logic should be the prevailing element in these kinds of policies, but often this is not the case. If you are ok with customers spreading corona on the door handles, sink faucets, a million items in the store they could all touch, then a microwave should be just fine. Wipe it down too, like the doors. Sad. Logic people, try using it. I had to go across the street and use the microwave at the Bucky's conveniece station and I spent my money there as well....

Beware of the older woman working at night , came in with my husband to shower as he was asking for the couple shower that has a bath after just driving 900 miles my husband being a owner operator and i were worn out and of course the key was and has been missing for a week the man was extremely nice tho about it and told us as he was talking to my husband I said I wanted to look around I got a really nasty older woman saying you need to give me ur bag or leave it up front excuse me how dare you first off to insult me by thinking I’d steal is utterly wrong her behavior rude I have ptsd I’m a burn victim she scared me as I was minding my own business just looking I’ve been there before about 5 other times not once was I asked to hand my bag and by law you cannot ask that you have no sign on your doors outside , just because this company treats you all horrible doesn’t mean you take it out on the people who give you the business the drivers, the store is also highly priced more then before it’s been a year since I been there with my husband and we will never come back for fuel or to stay whoever took the couples bathroom key which was an employee who hates cleaning apparently real nice this place is a downer and your vibes that are negative are not good I would stay away from any sapp Bros as all of them have angry employees it seems and questionable about the food safety standards and to the mechanic who knocked on our door who didn’t see the paid parking ticket your a real winner I truly hope you lose 5...