Truckstop Travels

On one of my recent trips, I stopped at Yesway’s Wes-T-Go Travel Center in Tye, TX. It is another great NATSO member location that has a lot to see. Take a look at their great signage, eclectic mix of gift items and the overall clean, welcoming location.

As you know, I’m a big fan of touring truckstop and travel plaza locations. So much of what we do in our industry is similar to what the person down the street does—we all offer food and fuel, but it can be fun to see how locations do it differently.

I’ve been on the road almost nonstop since NATSO Connect in Nashville, and have gotten to see several great locations. Danny’s Big Rig Resort in Phoenix, Arizona, was among my recent stops. It is a beautiful location, and I’d love to take you on a virtual tour.

One of my favorite things about visiting NATSO member locations is discovering best practices, creative solutions and great ideas that can benefit others in the industry. This week, I dug into our archives and have dusted off some past posts that can provide some inspiration on everything from cleaning to signage.

For Davis Travel Centers, which operates three locations in Virginia, meeting the needs of the traveling public and the community has always been a priority, and the location in Stony Creek offers everything from special treats for those traveling with pets to healthcare.

FireLake Grand Travel Plaza in Shawnee, Oklahoma, excels in service, and the management makes sure they take care of their customers.

Shaker Sangam, owner of Eatonton Travel Center in Eatonton, Georgia, really understands who his customers are and has carefully crafted his product mix to meet their needs. Eatonton isn’t a typical travel center in that it isn’t located along the interstate, and the offerings reflect the multiple types of customers who shop there.

QuikTrip’s stores are clean, well stocked and filled with friendly faces waiting to help customers, but what stands out above all else is the speed of service. They have evaluated every aspect of the location and eliminated anything that slows the speed of the transaction.

Tonkawa Trading Post in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, is the third of Saqib Anwar’s travel center locations and his newest. Tonkawa Trading Post is another example of how owner Saqib Anwar uses clear, catchy signage to bring in multiple customer types.

Guthrie Travel Center in Guthrie, Oklahoma, is a modern location with compelling signage that draws people inside and helps them find their way around the store.

Apparel is a growing category for many NATSO members, and Dodge City Petro in Dodge City, Alabama, has created a successful apparel program.