About the NATSO Foundation
The NATSO Foundation is the research, education and public outreach subsidiary of NATSO, Inc. The foundation is armed with a bold new vision, and is tackling a concrete action plan for delivering critical business intelligence to travel plaza leaders.
The foundation is responsible for:
Safety Initiatives such as Amber Alerts
The NATSO Foundation provides the industry safety initiatives such as a partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to offer Amber Alerts reflecting the industry’s commitment to a safe environment for employees and customers.
NCMEC and the NATSO Foundation have worked together to produce a list of frequently asked questions on the AMBERT Alert Program from truckstop operators that will help them better support the program.
Bill Moon Scholarship
Industry scholarships are awarded every year under the Bill Moon Scholarship Program to deserving travel plaza employees and their dependents. All truckstop and travel plaza owner/operators, their employees and their families are eligible.
The NATSO Foundation is no longer accepting applications for the 2013 Bill Moon Scholarshop. (This year's applications had to be postmarked by May 1, 2013.) Five $5,000 scholarships will be awarded this year. More information on the Bill Moon Scholarship Program is available here.
Research
Over the years, the NATSO Foundation has tackled an ambitious roster of research. 2013 will be no different with a number of bold studies. Studies completed in the past include:
- 2003 Fueling American Prosperity: How Rest Area Commercialization will Devastate the Economic Contributions of Interstate Business
- 2001 More Than Fuel: An Analysis of Factors Influencing Non-Fuel Sales at Truckstops and Travel Plazas
- 1997 Fueling American Prosperity: The Economic Significance of Interstate Business
- 1995 Factor’s Affecting The Industry
- 1993 Operating Ratios Study
Stop Watch Magazine
Produced by The NATSO Foundation, Stop Watch magazine delivers in-depth content to assist NATSO members in improving their travel plaza business operations and provides context on trends and news affecting the industry.
Speakers at The NATSO Show
The speakers provided by the NATSO Foundation at The NATSO Show are chosen for their ability to assist travel plaza and truckstop owners and management in achieving excellence for their industry, customers, communities and society.
McLane/NATSO Foundation Travel Center Index
McLane/NATSO Foundation Travel Center Index is published quarterly to allow operators to benchmark sales figures against peers in 18 product categories. The first report was unveiled at The NATSO Show 2011.
Resources to Better Serve Customers
The foundation is pleased to provide resources on better serving your customers, such as providing healthy food options and complying with new Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.
Hall of Fame
The Travel Plaza Industry’s Hall of Fame was established to honor those who have contributed significantly to the travel plaza industry and their community. These individuals’ notable achievements are highlighted to serve as a source of pride and inspiration for the industry.
2013 winner Jim Haslam, Founder of Pilot Corporation, will receive this year's award at The NATSO Show.
History of the NATSO Foundation
The genesis for the organization was a contribution from the Mason-Dixon Truck Stop Operators in January 1989 to be used for an industry scholarship program, and the foundation (originally chartered as the American Truck Stop Foundation) began operation in 1990.
The foundation started Operation Roadblock in 1990, a major initiative dedicated to creating drug-free highways through an assortment of coordinated efforts. A toll-free helpline was established and educational materials and videos were distributed in an effort to foster drug free work places throughout the industry. During its four years, Operation Roadblock succeeded in heightening awareness of substance abuse problems in the minds of professional drivers, travel plaza operators and their employees.
The NATSO Foundation awarded its first scholarships through its Bill Moon Scholarship Program in 1993, created the Drive To Save Lives blood drive program in 1994, published its first research study, Factors Affecting the Travel Plaza Industry through 2004 in 1995, and established its disaster relief program with the Red Cross in 1996. The disaster relief program was retired in 2006 after ten years of providing fuel to Red Cross vehicles assisting families in distress. Over 60,000 gallons of diesel was donated.
The scholarship and research programs are still going strong to this day, serving as a testament to the commitment and caring that is the backbone of the travel plaza industry.