A friend who owns a small fleet picked up a truck from a driver who quit. To say the interior was a mess would be an understatement. The odor was so bad, he had to drive with the windows wide open. It took a major effort to get the cab clean.

Maintaining a truck cab is really not much different from maintaining any other kind of dwelling. If you do the following consistently, you'll be rewarded with a more livable space:

Personal habits: Odors in cabs come from tobacco, stale food, laundry, pets and, of course, people. Clean out crumbs and leftovers at least daily. Change clothes daily so odor doesn't build up, shower regularly and do laundry often. And vent the cab so smoke odors don't accumulate.

Mud and grime: Mud can be extremely difficult to remove from carpeting and fabric. Trucks with rubber or vinyl floors clean easily. You can put area rugs and mats with non-slip backing on the floors or buy slip-resistant backing to add on. Custom sleeper makers offer vinyl flooring. These floors are easy to sweep or mop, and last longer in a truck than do hardwood floors or tiles with tongue-in-groove joints.

Removable mats can be taken out and washed. For permanent carpet, rent a steam-type carpet cleaner, available at most hardware stores, for deep cleaning. Vinyl walls and dashboards clean easily with household cleaners. Vacuuming also helps pick up dirt, dust, pet hair and other debris. Dust: Normal dust buildup is easy to remove if it is not left to accumulate. Do some dusting every time you're stopped, or take time every few days to do it all. Keep a duster or treated rag handy, in a sealable plastic bag. The new "dust magnet" cloths also work well.

Using chemicals: Many people like the shiny look of Armor All on their dashboards and other vinyl surfaces. Others object to the glare and feel. They prefer cleaners with a natural finish. Chemicals replace plasticizers that evaporate, to keep the vinyl from drying, becoming brittle and cracking. Leather conditioners replace natural oils in leather, without leaving an oily residue or silicone build-up.

Spec'ing for cleanliness: When specifying interiors, consider cleaning ease. Vinyl walls wipe clean more easily than carpet. Smooth surfaces don't hold dirt, as diamond tufting does. Washable upholstery cleans more easily than fabric. Wood or plastic cabinet doors clean well and don't hold odors as curtains and nets do.

Smoke and odors: Cigarette smoke, body odors and pet odors build up in enclosed spaces. The best way to eliminate odors is with adequate ventilation. When weather permits, open cab windows and open sliding sleeper windows. Custom sleeper builder ICT offers the Fan-Tastic Vent, (Fan-Tastic Vent, 1-800-521-0298, www.fantasticvent.com), or you can use any of the marine or RV-roof mounted vents. Or try deodorizing and disinfectant sprays for strong, persistent odors.

Mahoney's at Home in Tallulah

Before becoming store manager at the Tallulah, La., TA, David Mahoney had a successful career in construction. But after finishing a job at a nuclear power plant in nearby Grand Gulf, Miss., he decided to hang up his hammer and come back to his boyhood home of Tallulah. Just a few miles from the Mississippi scales, the 36-year-old TA stays busy with truckers as well as vacationers. "I love it," says the Road King Crew member. "I come to work every day looking forward to something new and different."

Fuel Cells Charge Ahead

Futurists have long said fuel cells would someday provide cleaner power. Freightliner is testing a concept Century Class S/T that uses two fuel cells to run on-board appliances.

Fuel cells chemically combine oxygen with a fuel such as hydrogen or methanol to create electricity. No combustion is involved, so fewer pollutants are created. The cells on the Century are fueled by hydrogen from a 52-gallon tank on the truck. They produce more than 1.4 KW of 120-volt AC, or 12 volts DC. Connected to the electrical system through an 1,800-watt inverter, they can power an 8,000-BTU air conditioner and other appliances.

With such a set-up, a driver would not have to idle to stay cozy, watch TV, cook or charge truck batteries. Freightliner says it hopes to make fuel cell power units commercially viable on trucks within the next three to five years.

Cartersville TA Is a Georgia Peach

General Manager Gary Nichols is fond of calling it "shiny." One of TravelCenters of America's newest sites in Cartersville, Ga. continues TA's re-imaging with its contemporary open look and wide array of amenities. "Cartersville is new, it's spacious, it's brighter," Nichols says. "The challenges, the expectations, the unknown potential for volume — it's exciting. Taking it from the ground up, from nothing to who knows what. I love it."

Nichols recalls when the entire staff posed outside for group photos on opening day. "We were standing there with smiles on our faces, and we were ready." He and his staff have big goals for the location. "We feel we can be number one or two in this whole company," Nichols says.

The energetic and ambitious staff rose to the challenge of a start-up, Nichols says, and business has surpassed TA's expectations.

The Cartersville location features three fast-food restaurants, a well-stocked travel store and Park 'N View. "We also have state-of-the art marble showers, a 148-seat restaurant and friendly people," Nichols says. "You can look up at the ceiling of the travel store for miles. It just has so much more space than any other facility I've been in."

The new location is about eight miles north of Cartersville, so the TA attracts tourists on the road to Atlanta and Red Top Mountain, a Georgia state park with camping and fishing. It's also a stop for visitors headed to or coming from Stone Mountain park just east of Atlanta.

Nichols predicts it's just a matter of time before the site is one of the most successful in the country. He is proud to be a part of the growing TA network and enjoys the challenge of developing one of the newest locations. "To know that you have something brand new, and that you can play a part in everything that is done here — you don't get the opportunity very often," he says. "It's been exciting."