What You Missed in the Biz Brief This Week: August 20, 2014

FleetCor Aquires Comdata and more...
More
 

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. FleetCor Aquires Comdata 
    FleetCor Technologies announced that it has signed an agreement with Ceridian LLC to acquire electronic payment solutions provider Comdata for $3.45 billion. Comdata currently has about 1,300 employees and facilitates more than $54 billion in payments annually. FleetCor will finance the $3.45 billion acquisition with about $2.4 billion of new debt and the issuance of 7.3 million shares of FleetCor common stock to Ceridian. No closing date was divulged. Click here to read more >

  2. Texas Travel Plaza Scores Economic Incentives 
    Texas travel center operator Bucc-ee's has received significant economic incentives from the local government at the site of its new Interstate 35 location in Corinth, Texas. The city council awarded a $250,000 grant to build a “Texas turnaround” for the northbound side of Interstate 35E to facilitate truck traffic. Additionally, the company received a 1 percent sales tax rebate for the next 15 years. Click here to read more >

  3. Areas USA Spends $26M to Redevelop Md. Commercial Rest Area 
    As part of a public-private partnership with the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), Areas USA recently spent $26 million to redevelop a commercial rest area on Interstate 95 in Maryland. The 34,000 square-foot facility sits on a tolled portion of the interstate, giving Areas USA a virtual monopoly on north and southbound customers. The state also allows the business to have multiple highway signs stretching 20 miles in both directions. The new plaza offers six restaurants, high speed fueling and free wifi. Click here to read more >
  4. Five Habits for Successful Small Business Leaders 
    Leaders and owners of successful small businesses have certain common habits. Traits such as leading balanced lives and practicing what they preach are important to success. Small business leaders tend to have very good project management skills. Additionally, successful owners are confident in making decisions and focus much of their time on streamlining their business. These five practices may be habits worth examining in your operation. Click here to read more >

  5. Landstar Opens Driver Service Center 
    When is a travel plaza not a travel plaza? When it is a fleet's terminal that mirrors many of the amenities found in most travel plazas. Landstar System recently opened a $6 million service center in Fort Worth, Texas, that features private showers, a drivers' television lounge, free laundry equipment, a state-of-the-art truck-driving simulator, classrooms for safety, business and load securement training and a paved, fenced and secure parking area capable of accommodating 140 trucks and 150 cars. Click here to read more >

  6. 4 Percent of Global Oil Supply Unavailable 
    Four percent of oil available for production currently is offline as a result of geopolitical turmoil. This dynamic along with rising demand is a key factor keeping crude oil prices near $100 per barrel. Military conflicts affecting Iraq, Libya and Syria, coupled with America's sanctions on Iran, have removed about 3.3 million barrels per day from global supply. Some analysts think these factors and other changing world trends indicate that $100 per barrel is here to stay. 

  7. Tuscon Truckstop Restaurant a Local Favorite 
    The Triple T Truckstop restaurant has won the second round of Tuscon's Caliente’s Breakfast Madness contest. The restaurant, Omar's HiWay Chef, trounced its second round opponent by a 2 to 1 margin. The Hi-Way Chef has been open since 1954, with executive chef and general manager Omar Ramirez overseeing the food service operations for the last 18 years. The restaurant's signature breakfast dish is a plate with three cheese enchiladas, three eggs cooked to order, shredded beef, rice and beans. Click here to read more >

  8. Pilot Opens Two Locations 
    Pilot Flying J has opened two additional locations. A Pilot Travel Center location opened on Highway 16 in Tilden, Texas. This facility features a Subway; a Cinnabon; PJ Fresh fast, casual food offerings; six diesel fuel lanes, three showers, and 40 parking spaces for trucks. The company opened a Flying J Travel Plaza on Interstate 80 in Fernley, Nev. This location has a Denny’s, a Cinnabon, eight diesel fuel lanes, two RV lanes and seven showers. Click here to read more >

  9. Fleets Spec Trucks to Attract New Demographics

     
  10. Cinnabon Opens 100th Location at Pilot 
    Cinnabon Inc. announced the opening of its 100th bakery location at the Pilot Travel Center on Interstate 40 in Mebane, N.C. By the end of 2015, an estimated 150 Pilot Flying J locations will carry fresh-baked Cinnabon products. Cinnabon President Kat Cole said, “Travel centers and plazas are an exciting growth vehicle for the Cinnabon brand. We are thrilled to spread our footprint across accessible venues for those looking for a moment of satisfaction amid their busy schedules.”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.

Subscribe to Updates

NATSO provides a breadth of information created to strengthen travel plazas’ ability to meet the needs of the travelling public in an age of disruption. This includes knowledge filled blog posts, articles and publications. If you would like to receive a digest of blog post and articles directly in your inbox, please provide your name, email and the frequency of the updates you want to receive the email digest.