What You Missed in the Biz Brief This Week: September 17, 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. C-Store Worker Commits $600K Credit Card Fraud 
   An employee of the Horizon Food Mart in Prescott, Ark., was found guilty of defrauding customer credit cards of more than $600,000 over the past several years. The individual used credit card information from customers purchasing diesel fuel to make significant additional charges to the cards. The fraudster was sentenced to six months in prison. Click here to read more >
   
   
2. Independent S.C. C-Store Operators Struggle 
   South Carolina traditionally has touted one of the lowest gasoline prices in the nation, given that the state's gas tax of 16.75 cents is the third lowest. However, a new factor is holding retail prices low in the Palmetto State. Many convenience stores also currently are selling their product at below cost prices. Some independent operators said that the recent opening of a number of competitive chain locations has caused this practice. “Typically, most of us sell at a loss,” said Chris Corn, owner of the Little Giant Food Stores. Click here to read more >
   
   
3. Secrets of Leadership 
   The book "The Secret" has sold more than 500,000 copies to date. It was written by Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller 10 years ago and provides a short and simple outline for what successful leaders know and do. Using the acronym SERVE, the authors said that seeing the future, engaging and developing, reinventing constantly, valuing relationships and results and embodying the organization's values are the secrets to leadership effectiveness. Click here to read more >

4. Love’s Truck Tire Care Opens 200th Location 
   Love's Travel Stops recently opened its 203rd truck tire care center. The company opened its first tire care location in 2008 and has now served more than 1.33 million customers' vehicles. Love's currently offers light mechanical service at 139 of the facilities and operates 275 road assistance service trucks. Click here to read more >

5. Love's Building in Wisconsin 
   Love's Travel Stops has announced the construction of a new facility in Fond du Lac, Wisc. The stop is being built on Highway 41 north of Milwaukee. According to Gannett"s FDLReporter.com, the travel center will be situated on a 2.6 acre parcel on the east side of the highway. Click here to read more >
   
   
6. Medical Card Scam Sidelines Drivers 
   A former chiropractor from New Mexico has just been charged with 609 counts of forgery for creating and issuing fraudulent medical cards following a short medical examination. Paul Bateman conducted the fraudulent exams at local truckstops and local offices. Drivers caught utilizing these phony medical cards will have their CDL's suspended. Click here to read more >
   
   
7. Restaurants Entice Diners With Mega All-You-Can Eat 
   Casual family restaurants are targeting hungry Americans with big appetites. Olive Garden, for example, has rolled out the "Never Ending Pasta Pass." For $100, a customer can consume all of the pasta, salad, bread and Coca-Cola branded soft drinks that they can eat for seven weeks. Other national chains have recently introduced similar promotions. Click here to read more >
   
   
8. Canada Nears Lower Credit Card Fee Agreement 
   The Canadian government is closing in on a voluntary agreement with MasterCard and Visa to reduce credit card transaction fees on retail sales in the country. The agreement is expected to reduce fees by about 10 percent. Nicholas Bergamini, a spokesman for Canadian Finance Minister Joe Oliver, said, “The government will work with stakeholders to promote fair and transparent practices and to help lower credit-card acceptance costs for merchants, while encouraging merchants to lower prices to consumers.” Click here to read more >
   

9. Four Causes of Trucking Capacity Shortage 
   The annual detailed analysis of the U.S. logistics industry “State Of Logistics” report from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals and Rosalyn Wilson outlines four major causes of the capacity crunch affecting the trucking industry. About 5,000 trucking companies went out of business in 2012, removing 400,000 trucks from the industry. Drivers are harder than ever to replace and existing drivers are retiring. The recent surge in equipment purchasing is causing shortages and delays to those companies seeking to add capacity. And finally, government regulations are impacting the industry's productivity. Click here to read more >

10. 2014 NG Truck Sales Expected to Rise 20 Percent 
    Heavy-duty natural gas truck sales are projected to increase 20 percent this year to 10,480 units, according to Power Systems Research. Total Class 8 vehicle sales will increase by more than 40 percent. Several factors are slowing the transition to natural gas. Incremental costs associated with natural gas-powered vehicles, lack of clarity regarding handling of fuel surcharges and the improved fuel efficiency of diesel-powered vehicles are all components driving fleet equipment purchasing decisions. 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.