Ethanol has been around for a long time, but the incentives and the benefits are still going strong. Ginger Laidlaw, vice president of NATSO’s Alternative Fuels Council, and Andrew Falco, market development & analytic manager for Growth Energy, offer their take on what should be considered if you're thinking about offering ethanol blends for the fi…

Sohail Butt, CFO of University Korner, and his partners are building a cutting-edge truck stop on the I-80 corridor of Pennsylvania. The truck stop, expected to open at the end of 2024, will be a very forward-thinking, inclusive travel center heavily focused on professional driver well-being. From unique amenities like a Himalayan pink salt room an…

Have you ever wondered what it's like on a road trip with a professional truck driver? This episode of The Truck Stops Here podcast features a candid discussion with Lisa Mullings, President & CEO of NATSO, on her week-long ride-along trip with Jennifer Evans, a Werner truck driver. Mullings reveals insightful details about Jennifer's routine, safe…

Valkyrie Musarra, COO of Bowlin Travel Centers, joins the podcast to share the fascinating history of Bowlin, their merchandising strategy, and how they create an immersive "treasure hunt" experience that keeps customers exploring their stores. Founded by Musarra's grandparents in 1912, Bowlin Travel Centers are much more than your typical truck st…

Peter Rasmussen, founder and CEO of Convenience and Energy Advisors, joins the podcast to share the key components of successful loyalty programs including how to tailor rewards for professional drivers. Rasmussen and host Amy Toner also explore the role of AI in enhancing the customer experience and driving targeted offers, how small operators sho…

RaceTrac is making major moves in the travel center industry. Nick LaFalce, RaceTrac's marketing manager, joins the podcast to share how RaceTrac is positioning the 90-year-old retail convenience chain’s new travel center program for professional drivers and on-the-go travelers. LaFalce, Darren Schulte, NATSO's vice president, membership, and host …

It has been a minute since Darren Schulte, NATSO's vice president of membership, put on his futurist hat to help guide the travel center industry. In this episode, we cover groundbreaking trends, technological impacts, and the industry's competitive landscape. Discover how travel center operators are tackling these challenges and what industry chan…

Customer experience (CX) includes any interaction that customers have with a brand across all touch points. It can include the experience they have digitally, such as an app, through advertising at the pump or in the store. As convenience is growing and blurring with increased competition for truck stops and travel centers, a good customer experien…

Buying fuel is a complicated process, and determining the best approach helps truck stop and travel center operators increase profitability while minimizing risks. A self-diagnosed fuel nerd, Randy Grizzle, director, sales & marketing at TACenergy, joined the podcast to cover best practices in fuel buying that can help travel center owners navigate…

Rob Poleki, CEO and Co-Founder of Washie, joined the NATSO Foundation's podcast to discuss his innovative company, which is behind the world's first smart, sanitizing toilet seat for public restrooms. NATSO Services annually studies professional drivers’ stopping and buying behavior at truck stops and travel centers. In 2023, the research found tha…

Every summer families and RVers hit the road for summer vacations, looking to fuel quickly and get back on their way. Smart truck stop and travel centers will have something travelers need. Whether it is plush toys for kids, fresh food to stock the fridge, or RVer items such as toilet treatment, truck stops and travel centers should consider offeri…

FirstElement Fuel has created what it calls the world’s first fast-fueling hydrogen fueling station. The station is capable of filling 200 trucks a day in just 10 minutes each using proprietary pump technology that enables the rapid fueling times. Frequent NATSO Foundation writer Mindy Long, owner at Mindy Long Freelance LLC, recently attended a Fi…

Naf Naf Grill is a fast-casual Middle Eastern concept that’s on a mission to bring the best flavors of the Middle East to the masses in a simple, affordable, fast-casual setting. With a flexible layout, minimal SKUs and a category of food that appeals to both professional drivers and four-wheel customers, Naf Naf Grill found a great partner in Love…

In this episode, host Amy Toner is joined by LeeAnn Goheen, NATSO's senior director of government affairs, to discuss NATSO's Day on Capitol Hill, which will be held May 20 -22, 2024. They discuss the agenda, key policy issues—the biodiesel blenders tax credit and the funding of infrastructure and highway programs—and how travel center operators ca…

Franchisors are in growth mode. With great foot traffic, ideal space, and an openness to partnering, truck stops and travel centers are a great fit. In this episode of "The Truck Stops Here," host Amy Toner invites guests Edith Wiseman, President, FRANdata and Christina Niu, Director of Research from FRANdata to discuss their recent research projec…

A 2023 poll from NATSO members found that 63 percent are ‘likely’ to invest in a rebuild or remodel during the next 12 to 18 months. Enter Darren Schulte, vice president, membership, NATSO and Michael Lawshe, president, Paragon Solutions, to the podcast conversation to tell us what is in and out for travel center design. Drive throughs? Beer caves?…

The Iowa 80 Truckstop began as a small location with six diesel pumps and a 50-seat restaurant in Walcott, Iowa. Today, after 32 expansions and remodels, the truck stop is overseen by the second generation of the Moon Family, who have dedicated their lives to providing a home away from home for the thousands of people who visit each day. Delia Moon…

At the start of the year, NATSO announced a significant visual transformation with the introduction of a new logo and brand elements. These changes, a result of the dynamic shifts in the industry landscape, are part of NATSO's ongoing commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its members. Under the leadership of NATSO’s Vice President, Branding a…

New Year’s resolutions often include goals that realign your focus and ideas that allow you to dream big. Darren Schulte, NATSO's vice president, membership, joined the podcast to advise on what should be on every truck stop and travel operator's back-to-basic goals list. He also shared resolutions ideas on food offerings and technology and ended w…

NATSO Connect 2024 Title Sponsor Cyclum Renewables provides sustainable green energy solutions to the transportation industry by fueling commercial trucking through a nationwide network of renewable truck stops and travel plazas. Their truck stops are sustainably designed, focused on enhanced customer experience, and can dispense multiple renewable…

Sprint Mart opened a new 16,000-square-foot travel center in Vance, Alabama this year. Herb Hargraves, Sprint Mart's chief operating officer, joined the podcast to share the great things happening at the new Sprint Mart. It boasts a 150-seat diner, a huge bakery, its proprietary grab-and-go fried chicken and catfish program Chix and 15 cooler doors…

NATSO Connect 2024 is scheduled to be held at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts in Orlando, Florida. NATSO Connect takes place from February 18 to 22, bringing together industry professionals, experts, and innovators for an unparalleled networking and learning experience. Pamela Hayes, vice president, business development at NATSO, and Andrew Eva…

Food offerings are a key differentiator, setting truck stops and travel centers apart from the competition and enticing drivers inside. More importantly, sales in food or snacks are significant profit drivers. A new study from NATSO Services found untapped potential for growing food and beverage sales from drivers who are already stopping. Most dri…

In this sponsored episode with Digit7 CEO Chithrai Mani, we explore the digital retail innovations available from Digit7. Discover how autonomous checkout at stores can increase sales and loyalty and how AI technology makes the shopping experience interactive. Learn about computer vision, next-generation frictionless self-checkout machines and even…

To help the nation’s truck stop and travel center operators better understand fleets, drivers and their needs, NATSO Services launched a survey of company drivers, leased drivers, independent owner/operators and fleet owner drivers in 2022. For the 2023 edition, NATSO Services asked professional drivers how often they fuel, rest and shop at travel …

The past few years have been fraught with challenges for retailers, including travel centers, from supply chain disruptions to shifting customer demands to ongoing labor shortages. Technology is playing a vital role in helping companies meet those challenges head-on. Bethany Allee, head of marketing and education at PDI Technologies, joined the NAT…

Earlier in the year, Darren Schulte, vice president, membership at NATSO and Amy Toner, executive director of the NATSO Foundation, presented on trucking trends on truckstops at M-PACT. Schulte and Toner brought their trends information to the podcast, answering: What factor is most important when professional drivers choose a place to stop?; What …

The NATSO Foundation has formed a strategic partnership with HAAS Alert, the leading innovator behind the digital alerting service and connected vehicle platform, Safety Cloud®. Together, the organizations aim to significantly enhance the safety of roadside service technicians who support and repair commercial vehicles when they need to be serviced…

Have you ever wondered what it's like to visit a travel center in Ireland? This summer during NACS's International Study Tour, Darren Schulte, NATSO's vice president, membership, traveled to Ireland to get a unique look into best practices in the advanced European market. During the tour, Schulte saw not only what is different but also what is poss…

In 2005, the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum established its Survivor Fund to provide immediate financial support to families of roadside operators who lose their lives. Jeffrey Godwin, vice president, International Towing Museum, joined the podcast to share about the program. Providing information on the fund is part of t…

This March, Peter Rasmussen, CEO and Founder, Convenience and Energy Advisors co-led the Travel Center Technology Forum at NATSO Connect 2023. We brought Rasmussen back onto the podcast to offer more of his deep knowledge on the top travel center technology priorities for improving customer experience and brand loyalty. Rasmussen has spent 23 years…

In partnership with the Tire Industry Association (TIA), the NATSO Foundation now offers a Road Service Safety Training course. The NATSO Foundation has taken a multi-pronged approach to addressing critical issues involving truck repair provider safety. As part of its efforts, the NATSO Foundation has partnered with TIA to provide a Road Service Sa…

After wowing the audience at NATSO Connect, Stephanie Stuckey, CEO of Stuckey's Corporation, hopped behind the podcast desk to share more about creating and curating a unique brand-building experience. Stuckey dug into how travel center operators can differentiate themselves from their competitors. "Create the whole experience. That's what people a…

Nick Stanley, vice president of JJ’s, joined the podcast from NATSO Connect to talk about the family-owned and operated convenience store and travel plaza JJ's, which is headquartered in Huntington, Indiana. Stanley oversees the back of the house operations. On the podcast, he shared about JJ's Excellence Card, community support and more. With spec…

Safety is a top priority for travel center technicians providing truck repair, whether it is in a shop or on the roadside, and the NATSO Foundation has taken a multi-pronged approach to addressing critical issues involving truck repair providers. As part of its efforts, the foundation transformed its booth at NATSO Connect, March 7-10, into a Roads…

We snagged Delone Wilson, president at Cubby's Inc. and NATSO Leadership Committee member, at NATSO Connect to hear all about Cubby's Inc. Cubby’s Inc. has been the operator of convenience stores in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota since 1979. Wilson shared about Cubby's work in the community, its world-famous food and their Bear Bucks loyalty prog…

What is new and impacting travel centers in the retail technology space? What trends are popping for travel centers? What travel centers are killing the travel center game? Darren Schulte, vice president, membership at NATSO, stops by the podcast to share what he has been seeing and hearing in the truckstop and travel center world. With special gue…

NATSO Connect 2023 is scheduled to take place March 7-10, 2023 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in the Dallas Metropolitan Area. The annual meeting of truckstop and travel center operators, the event features hundreds of truckstop and travel center operators as well as industry partners coming together for face-to-face learning and n…

More than $7.5 billion will be distributed by state transportation departments to install electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure along alternative fuel corridors under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. As truckstops and travel centers look to install EV chargers, they must understand how much energy the cha…

Finding ways to cut down on the energy needed to run travel centers makes financial sense, and it also benefits the environment. What should every truckstop operator be doing to be more sustainable? Bernie Erickson, CMO/Director of Innovation at Facility Solutions Group, answers that question, bringing a wealth of sustainability knowledge to the po…

With the start of Human Trafficking awareness month, we welcome Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman, vice president of public affairs for NATSO, on to the podcast to discuss the NATSO Foundation's 10 years of work in this important area. "No one could have predicted in 2013, when the NATSO Foundation signed a simple pledge to take a stand against human traff…

This year the NATSO Foundation's Truck Repair and Roadside Safety ShareGroup received a special briefing from Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Director of Compliance and Enforcement Programs Jake Elovirta. Elovirta spoke about state Move Over Laws, their differences, what NATSO members need to know and how we can advance public awareness o…

The truckstop and travel center industry is built on speed, and speed is a critical piece of any travel center’s success. Increasingly, customers want to walk into stores and buy things on their own. Smart travel center owners are building AI-driven checkout-free technology into their new builds and exploring retrofits. Krishna Motukuri, CEO and co…

Meet NATSO's newest employee, Andrew Evans. Evans is a branding powerhouse with more than 15 years of experience developing strategies for global, billion-dollar brands like KONE and The University of Iowa. "I love everything marketing," Evans shared. With the recent growth in NATSO and the industry, Evans is the perfect person to market the comple…

Casey’s General Stores Inc. continues to grow its commercial fuel business. In the past several years, this growth has included a focus on fuel cards. Tony Spuzello, director, commercial fuels, Casey’s General Stores Inc. joined NATSO's podcast to share what they are doing to revamp and boost their commercial payment acceptance. Spuzello walks list…

What is the future of autonomous trucking? Has any alternative fuel pulled ahead of another in the heavy-duty space? How can truckstops and travel centers partner with fleets to help relieve the regulatory pressure of decarbonization? Mike Roeth, executive director of NACFE and Ginger Laidlaw, vice president of NATSO's Alternative Fuels Council, ta…

The Biden Administration announced Sept. 27 that it has approved Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plans for all 50 states and the District of Columbia under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. More than $7.5 billion will be distributed to state transportation departments to install electric vehicle chargin…

NATSO’s Darren Schulte, vice president, membership and Ginger Laidlaw, vice president of NATSO’s alternative fuels council, attended ACT Expo 2022 this spring to gather intel on emerging alternative fuel trends sure to impact the truckstop and travel center industry. They listened to educational sessions, walked the tradeshow floor and met with tru…

With so many car manufacturers shifting their production lines to electric vehicles (EVs), some are projecting that we could have more than 18 million EVs on the road by 2030. The Charge Ahead Partnership believes that the fastest, most efficient way to build out that charging network is to utilize existing businesses that are willing to invest the…

NAMA is the association representing the $31 billion U.S. convenience services industry. Marc Whitener, Chairman of NAMA Board of Directors and CEO of Refreshment Solutions, joined the podcast to get listeners up to speed on what they need to know in this important technology space. Fast and easy service is especially important in the travel center…