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NATSO Foundation

The NATSO Foundation is the research, education, and public outreach subsidiary of NATSO, Inc. The foundation is completely autonomous and relies solely on donations. The foundation’s work includes tools for truck stops and travel centers to future-proof their business, educational programs, safety initiatives, and scholarships through the Bill and Carolyn Moon Scholarship.

Creating a Safe Fueling Experience

Posted on by NATSO Foundation

Fuel islands are vital to the operations of truck stops and travel centers, but they also pose a variety of safety risks. There are obvious dangers associated with flammable fuels as well as more routine threats of slips, trips, and falls. By focusing on employee training, regular maintenance, and safety technologies, operators can significantly reduce risks and provide a safer environment for both drivers and staff.

“As part of our onboarding, we train on the use and locations of all fire extinguishers. We take new team members to each fire extinguisher, have them pick it up from the holder, to make sure they can do it, and explain where to direct the nozzle,” said Damon Borden, operations manager for Broadway Group.

Creating Controls Around Cash at Your Travel Center

Posted on by NATSO Foundation

Significant amounts of cash can change hands daily at truck stops and travel centers, making them vulnerable to theft, fraud, and human error.

To protect both assets and personnel, locations need to implement cash handling practices.

One of the most effective strategies is limiting cash exposure at the point of sale. This includes setting maximum drawer limits, routinely removing excess cash through skims, and securing it in drop or smart safes that deter theft.

“We have a time lock safe at the fuel desk for cash/coin drops,” said Darren Goetz, vice president of operation for Mitten Inc. “Otherwise, for safety reasons we only change out and count drawers when three or more staff are at the counter, never when there is only one or two folks there.”

Franchising Offers Strategic Growth Opportunities for Travel Centers

Posted on by NATSO Foundation

Well-known quick-service brands are powerful tools truck stop and travel plaza operators can use to attract customers and drive traffic inside and boost sales throughout the location.

“One golden brand is all you need,” said Keith Wade, owner of KEW Travel Center Consulting, while speaking during the Great Ideas! Workshop at NATSO Connect 2025. Wade added that a known brand can even boost sales of proprietary offerings. “When I see a billboard with Bob’s Tacos and clean restrooms, I think I need to keep going. If you have a smaller site but can put in a Wendy’s or branded site, then you’ll sell the hell out of your Bob’s Tacos. You just have to get them there first.”

“Try this exercise. Take a trip 10 to 15 miles down the interstate from your location. Open up Google, Apple Maps, Waze, etc., and type in “food” and hit search. Does food at your location come up that would make a car stop at your travel center that hasn’t stopped at your location before? A QSR with known a food offering can be a big motivator in getting cars to stop,” said Toner.

Dustin Trail, manager of Trails Travel Center, said there is always a fear that adding another food-serve brand will cannibalize sales of the existing offerings. “Sometimes you do, but if you pick the right ones, they all actually see an increase with all the new logos and billboards,” he said. “You give people another reason to stop, and you’re driving traffic to your location.”

Travel Center Trend: Offering Food Faster

Posted on by NATSO Foundation

For Class 8 truck drivers, hours-of-service regulations and electronic logging devices strictly dictate how they must spend their time. Finding new ways to shorten the distance between drivers at the fuel island and fresh food continues to trend in the travel center industry.

Darren Schulte, NATSO’s vice president, membership, said now is the ideal time for operators to focus on food. “We are going through a food offering revolution in travel centers. This is one of the most exciting times to be in the food space in travel centers,” he said.

Bringing food closer to the driver, strengthening grab-and-go food offerings and finding new ways to speed drivers through a location can increase convenience, boost sales and make a location a preferred stop.  

Travel Center See Increase in Technology at the Backcourt Pump

Posted on by NATSO Foundation

The backcourt at truck stops is evolving with new diesel fuel pump technologies designed to enhance fueling efficiency, reduce downtime and improve overall service.

Reducing friction at the pump and increasing fueling times benefits operators and drivers alike. Drivers can either back on the road or head inside to take advantage of other amenities and the truck stop has greater throughput.

Payment technology is one tool that can increase speed at the pump. Traditionally pumps at the backcourt have not accepted credit card payments, so drivers must walk inside, visit the fuel desk to authorize the transaction, go outside to pump fuel and go back inside to get a receipt. More and more drivers want to save time by completing transactions right at the fuel island.

“Think of ways to allow them to pay that doesn’t require them to go inside,” said Darren Schulte, NATSO’s vice president of membership. “If drivers have to go in to pay and your competition provides the option to pay for fuel without going inside, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage for the customer who wants to fuel and go.”

Travel Center Product Mixes are Changing

Posted on by NATSO Foundation

It is easier than ever for professional drivers to park their tractor-trailer then head off-property for food, which means competition for drivers’ dollars is increasing.

Ideas to combat this trend include:
Consider investing in appealing attractions around the travel center could make it a destination.
To help increase variety for drivers, get creative with their food offerings by adding rotating food trucks or non-traditional QSR offerings.
Offer solutions that get them fresh food quickly such as salad bars, fresh produce and more interesting grab-and-go.

“There is a location outside of Las Vegas that offers a free shuttle to the Strip. That is why drivers stop there,” said Peter Rasmussen, CEO and founder, Convenience & Energy Advisors, who spent time with WaWa before launching his business. “In my WaWa days, we would build parcels with McDonalds and Starbucks. They’re competitors, but it makes that intersection a powerhouse.”

Travel Centers See Increased Focus on Forecourt Diesel

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Shifts in freight patterns, an increase in light- and medium-duty commercial vehicles, and higher levels of RV traffic are driving an increase in forecourt diesel sales.

“I would strongly suggest our members to look at the big, big picture and how it is impacting them. New entrants to the market are ensuring they have diesel in all of their fueling lanes and have auto diesel up front.” said Darren Schulte, NATSO’s interim CEO and vice president of membership.

OnCue is Expanding its Travel Center Footprint

Posted on by NATSO Foundation

OnCue operates 75 convenience stores across Oklahoma and one in Houston, Texas, along with four travel centers, which is an area of focus and growth for the company.

“We’re continuing to expand in Oklahoma City with several more stores slated for 2025.”

OnCue’s newest and largest travel center opened to the public on late last year in Oklahoma City. The lot can service up to 24 vehicles in the front and seven in the back. The store features a drive-thru window, self-checkout machines, a lottery kiosk, an expanded coffee selection and OnCue’s new line of refreshers, a lightly caffeinated non-coffee beverage.

NATSO Connect Keynote Examines Ethanol Opportunities

Posted on by NATSO Foundation

Truck stop and travel center operators are always looking for ways to enhance profitability, and one promising solution is ethanol. Integrating ethanol blends, which are typically less expensive than gasoline, into fuel offerings can help operators attract customers, improve profits and maintain a competitive edge.

“If you’re not blending biodiesel, keep an open mind,” said Ginger Laidlaw, vice president of NATSO’s Alternative Fuels Council. “I’ve had more members and more clients contacting me and asking me about ethanol blending.”

Laidlaw introduced a panel discussion on the benefits of offering ethanol during NATSO Connect 2025. She was joined by Jake Comer, vice president of market development for Growth Energy, Andrew Falco, manager of market development for Growth Energy, and Jeff Wilkerson, government policy and regulatory affairs of Pearson Fuel.

The keynote was generously sponsored by Growth Energy.

NATSO Honors Industry Veteran Marsha Bird During NATSO Connect 2025

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During NATSO Connect, NATSO celebrated the career and accomplishments of Marsha Bird who is retiring after spending 35 years in the truck stop and travel center industry. Bird spent more than 28 years with NATSN where she served in several positions, including CEO, before joining Roady’s where she served as an account executive, vice president and ambassador.

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