Professional drivers watching parking capacity and truck stop expansion will see noticeable changes this year.
Love’s Travel Stops announced plans to open 20 new locations in 2026 while adding approximately 1,500 new truck parking spaces across its network. That number slightly exceeds the parking expansion completed in 2025 and comes at a time when truck parking remains one of the industry’s most pressing infrastructure challenges.
Love’s President Shane Wharton outlined the company’s growth strategy during a media call, detailing a wide range of investments aimed at both professional drivers and general motorists.
What Love’s Is Adding in 2026
For its 668-store network, Love’s plans include:
- Building 20 new locations
- Rebuilding or remodeling 35 existing stores
- Creating 1,500 new free truck parking spaces
- Opening two new truck care locations
- Adding four new truck washes
- Refreshing roadside service trucks
- Expanding Love’s Fresh Kitchen offerings
- Adding eight additional Buffalo Wild Wings Go outlets
- Opening its first Whataburger location in San Antonio, Texas
- Increasing EV chargers
- Opening a biodiesel refinery
- Expanding RV services with 23 new RV stops and 150 hookups
Truck drivers will likely focus most on parking expansion, growth in truck care, and facility upgrades, particularly as parking shortages continue to affect hours-of-service planning.
“Our 2026 priorities reflect what has always mattered at Love’s, delivering a best-in-class customer experience every time, no matter the part of our business,” said Wharton, “This year, growth means new and updated locations, expanded food and snack options, added amenities for RVers, and continued reinvestment in the business through a stronger loyalty program, and updated technologies, all focused on strengthening Love’s brand to drive customer value.”
A $700 Million Investment Strategy
Love’s plans to invest $700 million in 2026 under what it calls the Road Ahead Plan. The company expects that by 2035, more than half of its locations will either be newly built or fully remodeled.
During remodels this year, Love’s will temporarily close store buildings to speed construction timelines while continuing to offer fuel, restrooms, and light food options through mobile facilities.
From a trucking operations standpoint, faster remodel timelines may help reduce long-term service interruptions at high-volume locations.
Wharton said the company intends to “play offense” despite economic uncertainty by sticking with expansion and reinvestment strategies that have worked historically.
Truck Care and Alternative Energy Expansion
Truck maintenance remains a key focus. Love’s will open two new truck care locations and four truck washes in 2026, strengthening its repair and preventive maintenance footprint.
On the alternative fuels front, Love’s Alternative Energy division will continue expanding electric vehicle charging, hydrogen, and CNG infrastructure. Through participation in the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure grants program, the company plans to install 100 new EV charging stalls this year. Longer-term plans call for fast chargers at approximately 150 locations.
Love’s also expects construction to wrap up later this year on Heartwell Renewables, a renewable diesel refinery in Hastings, Nebraska. The facility is projected to employ about 70 people and initially produce 80 million gallons of renewable diesel annually.
Changes to Loyalty and Food Access
The Love’s Rewards program will be updated in February. Casual customers will now be able to earn points per dollar spent in-store and on gas and auto diesel purchases. All customers will be eligible to earn additional points, including extra rewards on Love’s branded products and Love’s Fresh Kitchen items.
In 2025, Love’s introduced order-ahead features at several restaurant brands and expanded intelligent kiosk ordering systems. In 2026, the company plans to add kiosks to additional restaurant locations.
For professional drivers, faster food access during tight clock windows may be just as important as expanded menu options.
What This Means for Truck Drivers
The addition of 1,500 truck parking spaces stands out as the most direct impact for CDL holders. With ongoing federal attention on truck parking shortages, incremental private-sector expansion remains critical.
Expanded truck care services, additional washes, and remodels may also influence route planning for drivers who rely on predictable service locations.
For fleets and owner-operators alike, 2026 appears to be a year of continued infrastructure growth at Love’s, with a focus on physical expansion, parking capacity, and operational upgrades.
Source: Truckers News
