The Tucson Truck Terminal is marking 70 years of providing services to truckers in Arizona. Referred to as the “Triple T,” the initial facility was established in 1954 at 5451 E. Benson Hwy.
“[My Grandfather] started the Tucson Truck Terminal over on the old Benson Highway,” said JJ Jakubik, co-owner of the truck stop. He says his grandfather, Ira T. Morris would sleep at his desk at night so that he could help truckers whenever they pulled up.
“The dog would start barking and that would wake him up,” recalled Jakubik to KGUN9 News. “He’d wake up, go help service the truck, and go back and catch another hour or whatever until the next truck came through.”
The commitment to serving truckers played a pivotal role in supporting the business when it relocated in 1966 following the completion of Interstate 10.
“You had to be on the interstate highway,” explained Jakubik. “As a truck stop you couldn’t be on Benson Highway anymore.”
Jakubik explains that his grandfather invested his life savings to transform the business into a cutting-edge facility at its new location.
“State of the art truck stop, all of the amenities,” said Jakubik. “Of course the restaurant, and the fueling, showers, motel rooms, barber shop, gift shop. Everything you’d need.”
The Triple T continues to feature all these amenities and has recently upgraded its fuel tanks and pumps. However, the business now faces the challenge of competing with a national chain truck stop that was constructed across the street.
“We’re one of the few independent truck stops in the nation that remain,” Jakubik explained. “It’s not easy to stay in business. But the truckers really appreciate what we’re doing. They would prefer to come and fuel with us, and give us the business, because we bend over backwards to provide them great service.”
“To see that it’s still here, that it’s still thriving and we’re still serving the community and truckers here, my grandfather would be extremely proud.”
Watch a video of the interview and truck stop tour here.
