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.
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Virginia To Close TA Truckstop
The Virginia Department of Transportation has filed eminent domain procedures and is taking the property of the TravelCenters of America in Troutville, Va. The travel center location sits at Exit 150 on I-81. As a result of a coming intersection reconfiguration, the state deemed it necessary to take the entire 12.2 acres that the facility occupies. While it is unclear exactly where the eminent domain process stands, VDOT has placed $6.28 million on deposit in conjunction with this action. As a result of the closure of the TA facility and its 129 truck parking spaces, Interstate 81 through Virginia will have 5 percent fewer truck parking spaces available. Click here to read more > -
TA Re-Opens Georgia Location
TravelCenters of America has announced the re-opening of its full-service location in Brunswick, Ga. The facility, located at Exit 29 on Interstate 95, will have 8 diesel lanes with DEF dispensers, 10 private showers, a 6-bay truck service facility, Subway, Burger King, and Starbucks food offerings and 107 truck parking spaces. The location did not previously provide diesel fuel or professional driver amenities. Click here to read more > -
Iowa 80 Celebrates 50th Anniversary In 2014
In the early 1960s, an employee of Standard Oil was tasked with identifying a location for a new company-owned truckstop. The oil company employee selected a spot on what is now Interstate 80 in Walcott, Iowa and the small facility was built and opened in 1964. One year later, that Standard Oil manager began operating the truckstop himself and the rest is truly history. Bill Moon, a past-chairman of NATSO, took over operation of the location and eventually acquired it from the oil company. The Moon family continues to operate the location, now a landmark along I-80. The Iowa 80, which has over 900 truck parking spaces, will celebrate its 50th anniversary later this year. Click here to read more > -
Missouri Considers 2014 Fuel Tax Alternative
Missouri's transportation infrastructure is in need of additional funding. Surprisingly, few in the state are considering an increase in the motor fuels tax. Instead, the most-popular initiative is a one percent increase in the state's sales tax. The majority of the revenue generated from the increase would be dedicated to transportation funding. The proposal would raise $8 billion over a 10-year period. Opposition believes, however, that the increase would hurt the poor and elderly. Supporters are considering an initiative petition to raise pressure on the state legislature. Click here to read more > -
Weather's Cost To The Economy
A recent report published by the insurance conglomerate Allianz found that the impact of weather variations was as high as $534 billion to the U.S. economy. The cost to trucking was estimated at $3.5 billion. The study cited reduced revenues and increased expenses as the greatest costs. Allianz believes that many of these costs can be mitigated through the use of weather risk management. Insurance may provide some insulation to the effects of catastrophic weather incidents. Click here to read more > -
PETA Targets Truckers
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animal are focusing on companies and drivers that haul livestock. After two accidents involving the death of hogs occurred within the last year in Virginia, PETA is going after the operator of the hog farm and doing so in a rather misinformed manner. The president of PETA issued a press release saying, “Goldsboro Milling’s safety record regarding fatal crashes is one of the worst in the business.” Goldsboro Milling, however, does not transport its hogs to market. Click here to read more > -
Love's To Open 11th CNG Filling Station
Love's Travel Stop has announced the second quarter opening of a CNG filling station at its Amarillo, Texas facility on Interstate 40. This CNG station will be a fast-fill offering. Fast-fill dispensers provide a fueling experience similar to that of diesel fuel, while time-fill stations will fill the tanks much more completely but at the expense of time. Love's stations will provide a fueling rate of at least 10 gallons per minute. The travel stop company has also purchased 55 CNG-fueled vehicles to their tanker fleet. Click here to read more > -
Oklahoma To Tax LNG As Vehicle Fuel
LNG's free tax ride in Oklahoma ended on Jan.1. The current state tax rate on diesel is 13 cents per gallon and gasoline carries a 16 cent rate. The new LNG diesel gallon equivalent tax rate will be set at 5 cents per gallon. This action may cause other states to pursue similar legislation. Click here to read more > -
Northeast Diesel Pricing Jumps
Ultra low sulfur diesel in the northeastern states has reached its highest premium to futures in nearly nine months. A combination of factors seems to have caused the spike. With inventories at their lowest seasonal levels since 1990, a 185,000 barrel-a-day refinery shut down for routine maintenance. The refinery, which is owned and operated by Delta Airlines, will be down for 35 to 40 days. Additionally, Philadelphia Energy Solutions’ Philadelphia refinery and Irving Oil Corp.’s Saint John plant are also scheduled for maintenance turnarounds in January. Click here to read more > -
“We are stuck."
Truck driver Martin Parker, echoing the sentiment of most drivers earlier this week.
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.
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