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Truckstop Advice: How to Work with Local Government on Exit Closing & Road Changes

Truckstop Advice: How to Work with Local Government on Exit Closing & Road Changes Members Only Join or Login

Highway repairs and road closures are often an inconvenience, but for truckstop and travel plaza operators, traffic detours or delays can result in a significant decrease in revenue. What’s more, changes to exits or traffic patterns can create long-term disruptions that can leave businesses at a permanent disadvantage. There are several steps operators can take to make the process easier, said David Fialkov, vice president of government relations and legislative and regulatory counsel for NATSO. “One thing you should always do is introduce yourself and get to know the local project manager who is going to be overseeing the operation and make sure that you get well acquainted with him or her,” he said. “That individual is the type of person who can make your life better or worse depending on the degree he or she agrees with you.” More

Increase Sales at Your Truckstop With A Strong Retail Program Members Only Join or Login

  • 2016-06-30

All truckstop operators are working to get customers in the door and to the cash register, and a well-planned retail strategy can do just that. Yet all too often, business owners are trying to be everything to everybody, which can do more harm than good.  More

Tap Into Retail Trends To Shape Renovations at Your Truckstop Members Only Join or Login

  • 2016-03-01

A remodel or renovation can give a location a face-lift and improve its aesthetics, but to be truly effective, changes should also strive to improve the store layout, offerings and merchandising in ways that reflect the latest sales trends. When done right, remodels can help operators increase sales and attract new customers. More

Truckstop Operators Reduce Water Use To Increase Profits Members Only Join or Login

  • 2016-03-01

For truckstops and travel plazas, conserving water can cut costs while also improving the company’s environmental stewardship. Monitoring and managing water is becoming even more important in certain parts of the country that are dealing with drought situations. Three NATSO members shared their methods for reducing water usage. More

7 Ways Shoemaker’s Travel Center Builds A Strong Brand Members Only Join or Login

  • 2016-03-01

Situated an hour Southeast of Omaha, Nebraska, Shoemaker’s Travel Center has all the ordinary truckstop profit centers—restaurant, store, fuel/gas and truck repair shop—but they are far from ordinary. In fact, they have become a tourist attraction for Lincoln. During the study tour, owner Dave Shoemaker shared what makes them unique. From the Highway 6 branding seen throughout the truckstop to their low-flow toilets, their strong branding makes a big impact on the customer experience. Count the ways with me. More

Industry Leader Bill Sapp Receives the Hall of Fame Award

  • 2015-05-01

During The NATSO Show 2015 the NATSO Foundation presented the industry’s Hall of Fame Award to William (Bill) Sapp, the co-founder of Sapp Bros. Travel Centers Inc.  More

Truckstop Operators Weigh in on Successful Sales Visits

  • 2013-08-09

Sales visits are one of the best opportunities for industry suppliers to build relationships and secure sales with truckstop and travel plaza operators. But for a sales visit to be effective, it has to meet the needs of all involved. To help suppliers better understand what operators look for in a sales visit, Highway Business Matters sat down with Seth Miller of Petro Travel Store #353 in Portage, Wis., and David Shoemaker of Shoemaker’s Travel Center in Lincoln, Neb., to get their top tips for quality sales meetings. More

How Are You Involving Your Community to Boost Your Brand with Local Customers

  • 2013-06-21

NATSO operators share how they are involving their community to boost their brand with local customers. More

Resources, Tools and Opportunities in Energy Efficiency

  • 2013-06-20

It is a given that businesses that are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week are going to constantly draw power from the grid. Finding ways to cut down on the energy needed to run the business makes financial sense, and it also benefits the environment. Today’s technology is making it easier, more affordable and more convenient for business owners to swap out traditional lighting and fixtures to energy-efficient models. From LED lights to low-flow toilets, truckstop and travel plaza operators are making investments that produce both short- and long-term savings. More

Who Do You Look Up To In The Truckstop Industry?

  • 2013-03-01

NATSO operators share who they look up to in the industry and why. More

Pilot Company to Launch Site For Roboburger Vending

The RoboBurger equipment is a fully autonomous robotic burger chef in a vending machine.
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Travelcenters of America Opens Georgia Stop

TravelCenters of America recently opened a new TA Express Travel Center near Statesboro, Georgia.
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Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) EV Charging Grants: Who is Eligible and How Much Money Do Fuel Retailers Need to Contribute?

The initial grant distribution will prioritize funding for EV charging infrastructure at off-highway and off-Interstate locations.
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Join the ChargeAhead Partnership

The Charge Ahead Partnership is a coalition of individuals and businesses united in the idea that the best way to expand the electric vehicle charging network is through a competitive, market-based approach.
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Contact Your State DOT Regarding Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) EV Charging Funding

NATSO members should contact their state transportation departments promptly to learn about their electric vehicle charging plans and to share our industry's perspective on the plans' development.
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Has the Business Case for EV Charging Improved?

It is incumbent upon fuel retailers to urge state DOTs to structure projects in a “make-ready” model that allows utilities to invest in the grid and distribution enhancements necessary to feed charging stations while a competitive, private market governs the consumer-facing charging transaction. 
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