What You Missed in the Biz Brief This Week: July 17

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 newest 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. Shell Discovers Oil Reserve in Gulf
   A Shell geologist's hunch led to the recent exploration of a 100-million barrel oil find in a Jurassic-age reservoir that is thought to be 160 million years old. Click here to read more >
   
   
2. May U.S. Crude Imports Reach 17 Year Low 
   U.S. total crude imports dropped 9.4 percent from May of 2012. Although import levels increased 1.3 percent from April, the May level is the lowest level recorded for that month in the past 17 years. Click here to read more >
   
   
3. Health Care Reform Continues to Shrink 
   A number of changes have been made to the original version of the Affordable Care Act in recent months. Several features of the plan have been eliminated, some have been delayed and others are awaiting individual state actions. Click here to read more >

4. Full-Time Employee: 30 Hours or 40 Hours? 
   A bipartisan bill is working its way through the U.S. Senate that seeks to redefine "full-time" under the Affordable Care Act. The legislation, which would consider a full-time employee as one who works 40 hours per week, seeks to reduce the burden on employers in the restaurant and retail industries that have expressed significant concern with the current 30-hour definition. Click here to read more >

5. Inland Port Planned for Montana 
   The federal Department of Transportation has provided a grant of $10 million for the creation of an inland port in Northern Montana. The port will be a multi-modal center for hauling containerized freight to and from Montana.  Click here to read more >

6. More Changes to Health Care Reform Ahead? 
   The recently delayed employer mandate deadline suggests that other changes are ahead. Click here to read more >

7. Health Care Reform Continues to Shrink 
   A number of changes have been made to the original version of the Affordable Care Act in recent months. Several features of the plan have been eliminated, some have been delayed and others are awaiting individual state actions. Click here to read more >
   
   
8. Love's Adds Tire Lines 
   Love's Travel Stops and Country Stores has inked an agreement allowing the chain to retail Bridgestone and Firestone truck tires at its 175 interstate locations. Click here to read more >
   
   
9. Online Purchasing Opportunities Available to Truckstop Industry 
   More online companies, such as Amazon and Google, are providing B2B opportunities for major company buyers by offering online supply stores. These online industrial supply stores could present new purchasing opportunities for truckstops. Click here to read more >

10. When Is a Truck Tire Under-Inflated? 
    That is a question that the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is currently examining. This question was discussed and unresolved by the American Trucking Associations' Technology and Maintenance Council earlier this year. 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.