JANUARY
How Truckstops Help People Online Learning InitiativeThe NATSO Foundation launched a new online learning initiative designed to strengthen the nation's truckstop and travel plaza industry by delivering comprehensive educational and safety training materials to truckstop owners, operators and employees. The first two courses, The Role of Truckstops in Combating Human Trafficking and How Truckstops Help the Homeless, were released in January.
FEBRUARY
The NATSO Show
Travel Plaza and truckstop operators and industry vendors meet in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Feb. 22-25 for The NATSO Show 2016.
APRIL
Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman Promoted
Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman was promoted to vice president, public affairs in April. In this new role, Wlazlowski Neuman serves on the association's senior management team, develops communications strategies to advance NATSO's goals, and develops and oversees partnerships related to the NATSO Foundation's public outreach initiatives.
MAY
NATSO Day on Capitol Hill
The truckstop and travel plaza industry stormed Capitol Hill May 16-18 as part of NATSO's annual Day on Capitol Hill. In 2016, attendees pushed for sustainable highway funding and voiced concerns with several labor initiatives being pushed by the Obama Administration. The industry also tackled payments security amid the switch to the EMW technology for chip cards and the shift in liability fraud to retailers.
New Overtime Rules Member-Only Regulatory Toolkit
In May 2016, the Department of Labor finalized new rules governing which employees are eligible for overtime pay. To prepare members for the new rules, NATSO prepared a New Overtime Regulations: Summary And Compliance Guide For Truckstops And Travel Plazas. Visit www.natso.com/regulatorytoolkits to view this regulatory toolkit and many more available to NATSO members only.
JUNE
Congressional Visits to Truckstops
This year, NATSO launched a program to facilitate Congressional visits to NATSO truckstop and travel plaza members. Visits put NATSO members in direct contact with Congressional leaders and allow Members of Congress to hear and experience first hand the challenges and issues facing the truckstop and travel plaza industry today. NATSO facilitated visits in February, June and October 2016.
AUGUST
New TruckstopFinancing Programs
NATSO and Chairman’s Circle member Allied Brand Capital rolled out two new financing programs designed to help truckstop and travel plaza operators. The Underground Storage Tank (USTs) Financing Program is designed to help operators maintain and upgrade USTs and the Franchise Financing Program offers special financing and guidance for truckstop owners and operators investing in a franchise operation.
JULY
Reversal of Visa, MasterCard $7.25 Billion Settlement
Marking a major victory for retailers who have been seeking reform to the broken credit card system that costs them billions of dollars each year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed the $7.25 billion antitrust settlement that Visa and MasterCard had reached with millions of retailers over the high transaction fees that retailers pay each time a customer uses a credit card.
Human Resources Webinar
NATSO and NATSO Chairman's Circle member CareerCo offered a NATSO member webinar, Attracting, Hiring and Retaining Truckstop and Travel Plaza Talent, on Sept. 8. NATSO members can watch the webinar at www.natso.com/careerco.
2016 Domestic Study Tour
More than 30 truckstop and travel plaza operators and Chairman’s Circle members met in Lexington, Virginia, for the Domestic Study Tour. Attendees learned best practices and new ideas while touring Fairfield BP, Lee Hi Travel Plaza and White’s Travel Center.
OCTOBER
Park My Truck Mobile App Launched
A group of trucking and travel plaza leaders, including the NATSO Foundation, NATSO Inc., the American Trucking Associations and the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), created a free mobile app called Park My Truck to help professional drivers find available truck parking. Launched on Oct. 3, Park My Truck allows any parking provider—whether public or private—to share parking availability information for free to the nation’s professional truck drivers. Learn more on page 22.
Biodiesel Blending Webinar
NATSO and NATSO Chairman's Circle member Renewable Energy Group offered a NATSO member webinar, Grow Your Business With Biodiesel Blended Fuel. NATSO members can visit https://www.youtube.com/user/NATSOInc to watch the video.
Rhode Island Trucking Association, NATSO Hold Informational Anti-Tolling Rally
The Rhode Island Trucking Association and NATSO hosted an informational rally and press conference Oct. 18 to discuss the devastating effects that “RhodeWorks”— the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s truck-only tolling plan—will have on local businesses and commercial truck drivers that operate within the state of Rhode Island.
NOVEMBER
Online Learning to Help Drivers in Distress
The NATSO Foundation launched the next course in How Truckstops Help People series on Helping Drivers in Distress. All three courses can be taken at www.natso.com/onlinelearning.
NATSO launched a number of exciting new member programs in 2016. Visit here to learn about these new programs that were designed to reduce the significant costs associated with operating a travel plaza and help members successfully market their businesses.
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