When people come to work at the Wheeling, W.Va., TravelCenters of America location, they never seem to want to leave.

"I'd estimate that over half of our 100 employees have been here 15 years or more," says Barbara Lemasters, general manager. "For the service industry, we have a very low turn-over rate."

TA acquired the former Windmill truckstop in May 1978. Several current employees were there before it joined TA. The shop boasts more than 400 years of combined service. What keeps employees on the job? Maybe it's the feeling of being one big family, Lemasters says.

"Blain [Durbin, now a part-time mechanic], and I, and a few others, have been here for over 30 years. I guess you could say we're just 'truckstop folks,'" she jokes.

More telling than the fact that people stay at their jobs for a long time is that a lot of employees have recruited relatives to work there. The family atmosphere extends to drivers in the form of courteous and friendly service.

"We've seen a lot of generations coming to work at the TA," says Lemasters. "And that's rewarding, because lots of people would never want to work where their parents worked. But our employees are happy."

Wanda Eddy has been a waitress at the TA for more than 35 years. She brought aboard not only her daughter, but her granddaughter, too.

"This is about the only job I've ever had," says Eddy. "I've stayed here because the drivers are pleasant people. They're polite, and all they really want is good service, good food and a little conversation."

Eddy now works the morning shift three days a week. Many truckers make a special effort to sit at the first booth or first counter, because they know she'll take care of them.

"I have regulars that have been coming in for years. They talk about their families or things that happen to them on the road," she says.

Eddy's daughter, Tonya, is also a waitress, and her granddaughter, Kira, works at the snack bar to help pay her tuition at West Virginia Northern College. In addition to great service, customers will find a newly renovated travel store and fuel desk. Drivers can relax in one of two game rooms, or make use of the barbershop and laundry facilities on the second floor. What most drivers seem to enjoy, though, is the County Pride restaurant.

"I'll go out on a limb and say that our restaurant is the best in the entire TA chain," Lemasters says. "We have drivers who will travel an extra 200 to 300 miles just to eat at our renowned buffet." From Tuesday through Thursday, there's freshly carved roast beef and ham. Prime rib is served each Tuesday, as well.

Wheeling is located in the northern-most tip of West Virginia, a strip of the state only 16 miles wide. Employees come from West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

"I've been here for over 30 years, because I just enjoy working with these people," says Lemasters. "I've watched people go from being hourly workers to management positions. It's just a good place to be."

Chester Sawyer isn't so much frugal as busy. A team driver for Pottles Transportation of Bangor, Maine, he fuels mostly at TAs for the fleet discount. As a RoadKing Club™ member, he's piled up a ton of points since the club started last year. Sawyer says he and his co-driver usually have time only to fuel, shower and go, so the points keep piling up. Sawyer is an avid NASCAR fan and a pretty good competitive driver himself - he has twice scored in the Top 10 of Maine's truck driving championship. He says he'll get around to using his points someday - soon as he has time.