What You Missed in the Biz Brief This Week: September 10, 2014

In today’s information-overloaded business world, we often find ourselves deluged with literally hundreds of news items from dozens of sources. While it is likely impossible to read every article and remain productive, by not doing so we risk missing the one article that could change a key business practice or thought process. And that is where the NATSO Foundation’s publication, Biz Brief, provides assistance! The NATSO Foundation's Biz Brief is a daily collection of the most relevant business intelligence for truckstop and travel plaza operators. 

While we think the Biz Brief is a must-read every day, if you only read ten news articles this week, these ten most-clicked Biz Brief articles are the ten to read. 

1. Quik Trip to Build Oklahoma Travel Center
   The City of Muskogee announced the coming ground-breaking ceremonies for a new Quik Trip Travel Center on U.S. Highway 69. With a measure of hyperbole, the local news reported that "The new QuikTrip Muskogee location, spanning across 6.73 acres, will be one of the largest travel centers in the country." The facility, which will be built on land purchased from the City of Muskogee has an expected grand opening in summer 2015. The business is expected to employ 15. Click here to read more >
   
   
2. Cleanliness Is Next to Business Success 
   NATSO member Yellow Rose Travel Plaza is capitalizing on a significant point of differentiation to grow its sales. NATSO Vice President of Membership Darren Schulte said, "Yellow Rose, like many of our members' locations, is a clean operation, but what struck me was just how clean it is. If you ask the customers why they stop as I did late Tuesday night, they will tell you very clearly, it is the cleanliness." Schulte visited the Texas travel center at the end of August. Click here to read more >
   
   
3. Protect Your Business from Fraudulent Western Union Calls 
   NATSO has recently heard of truckstops receiving fraudulent Western Union tech support calls. To trick the truckstop into wiring money, suspects use a scam involving fake test codes. The good news? You can stop it from happening to you by understanding the scam and setting good policies. Click here to read more >

4. $1 Million Lottery Ticket Sold at Truck Stop 
   A lucky customer of the Bandit Truck Stop in Weisenberg Township, Pa., is the owner of a $1 million lottery ticket. The Mega Millions Jackpot ticket was sold at the Interstate 78 truck stop but has not yet been claimed by the customer. Ticket holders have one year to claim their prize. The truck stop will receive a $5,000 bonus for selling the ticket. Click here to read more >

5. Minnesota Unveils Truck Parking Notification System 
   The Minnesota Department of Transportation now is operating electronic highway monitors to alert truck drivers on the status of parking available at state-owned rest areas on Interstate 94. Cameras located at three rest areas along the stretch of highway monitor parking spaces and communicate notifications to alert drivers where there is space available. The messages are displayed on electronic signs several miles ahead of each rest area, or they can be received via an in-cab messaging system. A website also publishes the information for dispatchers who want to relay it to their drivers. Click here to read more >
   
   
6. Sapp Bros. Accepts Ice Bucket Challenge 
   Ace Hardware challenged the Sapp Bros. Lincoln, Neb., location to douse employees with ice water to benefit ALS research. Thirteen employees fulfilled the challenge in a grandiose manner. Rather than using the traditional bucket, they used a front end loader to shower them in ice water. Sapp Bros. raised more than $1,000. Click here to read more >
   
   
7. Sheetz Drive-Thrus Driving Inside Sales 
   Sheetz Convenience Stores recently began operating drive-thru windows to better serve its customer base. The chain currently offers drive-thru service at 44 of its 450 locations. "The facility now offers drive-thru window service. Anything we sell, with the exception of lottery tickets, can be sold through the drive-thru," said Pam Aubrey, a district manager with the regional office. "Now, mom doesn't have to pull the kids out of the van. We've done this at other stores and it's been a great convenience." The drive-thrus have added 10 percent to top-line sales. Click here to read more >
   
   
8. Industry Vets' Namesake College Ranks High 
   Long-time truckstop industry veteran Phil Saunders continues to excel. The business school that carries his name, Rochester Institute of Technology's E. Philip Saunders College of Business, was rated the 29th best master's program in the U.S. by Best-Masters.com. Saunders founded Truckstops of America and served as NATSO's Chairman of the Board. He was also a recipient of NATSO's Hall of Fame Award. Click here to read more >
   
   

9. "Shivery and shovelry are back. We're calling for some frigid conditions, bitter conditions."
   The Farmer's Almanac's managing editor Sandi Duncan, commenting on the publication's 2015 winter forecast. Click here to read more >

10. California Carbon Tax to Apply to Motor Fuels 
    Even though California has one of the nation's highest gasoline tax rates at 68 cents per gallon, the state stands ready to expand its current carbon tax to include motor fuels. The carbon tax already requires manufacturers and utilities to buy credits for each ton of carbon emitted into the atmosphere. At the beginning of 2015, the law also will apply to oil and gas. Refiners and distributors predict that more than $2 billion per year will be added to motor fuels sold in the state. While estimates of the impact vary, forecasts indicate the new tax will raise gasoline prices from 20 cents to $1.30 per gallon. Click here to read more >

I might be biased, but I think if you aren't receiving Biz Brief, you are missing out! Not a subscriber? Be sure to submit a request to be added to the email list. Already receive it and have feedback for me? Be sure to email me at editor@natso.com.