What You Missed in the Biz Brief This Week: May 7, 2014

President's Transportation Bill Seeks to Expand Tolling, Rest Area Activities and more...
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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. President's Transportation Bill Seeks to Expand Tolling, Rest Area Activities 
    The Obama Administration unveiled transportation legislation this week that would boost revenues for the dwindling Highway Trust Fund through corporate tax reform in conjunction with expanded tolling of existing interstates and private infrastructure financing.The legislation also would allow states to place electric vehicle charging stations and anti-idling equipment for trucks in rest areas along the Interstate Highway System, and enables states to charge motorists fees for these services. NATSO President and CEO Lisa Mullings characterized the proposal as "extremely irresponsible." Click here to read more >

  2. Private Equity Firm to Purchase EFS 
    A group of investors including First Data Transportation Services Inc., CTP Holdings and FJ Management Inc. are selling their fleet services payment company Electronic Funds Source (EFS) to private-equity firm Warburg Pincus. The price of the acquisition was not disclosed. The purchaser expects to close on the fuel card company in the second quarter. Click here to read more >

  3. Natural Gas Inventories Hit 11-Year Low 
    Despite increased amounts of natural gas from areas like the Marcellus Shale Range, inventories sit at 11-year lows. The extreme winter weather and a flat futures market, which removes incentives for utilities to hold on to their inventories for future use, are generating serious concerns about supply issues this winter. A hot summer season also will put pressure on the low stocks. These inventory issues could create ongoing price volatility of natural gas and provide challenges to increased use for transportation purposes. Click here to read more >

  4. Administration Highway Bill Mandates Driver Pay Changes 
    The White House's 360-page transportation proposal recently provided to Congress includes a requirement that companies pay drivers for non-driving time. The plan has language that calls for drivers who are on-duty but not driving to be paid an amount equal to no less than the prevailing minimum wage. If the legislation is approved, drivers waiting to load, unload or perform other necessary functions, such as refueling, would be paid by the carrier. There is no mention in the proposal as to how owner-operators would be treated. Click here to read more >

  5. Trucking Moves America Forward Partners With Love's 
    The trucking industry's image campaign, Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF), has announced a partnership agreement with NATSO member Love's Travel Stops. The agreement includes the placement of a TMAF logo on Love's No. 38 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car. Kevin Burch, TMAF vice chair said, "The goal of TMAF is to promote the benefits of the trucking industry and Love's – as a family owned company that cares about making a positive impact in their communities – can do just that by empowering and mobilizing TMAF supporters nationwide." Click here to read more >

  6. Love's Opens N.C. Location 
    Love's Travel Stops has opened a new location on Interstate 85 in Salisbury, N.C. The site is the home of the former Derrick Travel Plaza, which Love's acquired in 2011. The new facility has 85 truck parking spaces and a truck tire care center. It offers a Chester's Fried Chicken restaurant and a McDonald's. This is the Oklahoma-based company's third location in North Carolina. Click here to read more >
  7. Women Drivers Feted at TA 
    TravelCenters of America and Petro Stopping Centers will provide complimentary meals to women drivers on Mother's Day. This is the third year that the company has honored those women who serve the nation by delivering freight throughout the country. CEO Tom O'Brien said, “This is just one more way that we can show drivers -- specifically professional women drivers -- how much we respect them and the job they do to keep America moving. We know many female drivers will be away from their home and families on Mother’s Day, so we wanted to do something special to celebrate them in our restaurants." Click here to read more >

  8. Wawa to Enter CNG Business 
    Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain Wawa announced its first compressed natural gas installation. The company is partnering with local utility South Jersey Gas to build the fueling facilities along Interstate 295. Wawa CEO Chris Gheysens shared that the company is building all new sites with extra conduit as well as consideration for where dryers and other CNG fueling equipment could go. This particular site is scheduled to open in early 2015. Click here to read more >

  9. TA's C-Store Chain Gifts $43,000 to MDA 
    The Minit Mart convenience store chain of 31 locations, which TravelCenters of America recently acquired, donated nearly $43,000 to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The funds were raised from customers and employees of the chain located in Kentucky and Tennessee through the sale of paper shamrocks, which were posted in the stores with the donor's name. Click here to read more >

  10. CVSA Safety Check Scheduled June 3-5 
    The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual 72-hour safety road check will take place June 3-5. During that period, 10,000 CVSA-certified local, state, provincial and federal inspectors at 1,500 locations throughout North America will perform safety checks on trucks and buses. According to the Ontario Trucking Association, 14 trucks are inspected every minute during the road check. 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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