The Truck Stops Here

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 first time or becoming a new blender. They discussed the essential steps for setting up supply and infrastructure, equipment considerations, state and federal incentives available to help you tap into this profitable market and more. With special guests: Ginger Laidlaw, vice president of NATSO's Alternative Fuels Council and Andrew Falco, market development & analytic manager for Growth Energy Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 and a contemplation room to specialized food offerings and employee housing, this episode dives deep into what makes their approach to this new build truly one-of-a-kind. With special guest: Sohail Butt, CFO, University Korner Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation and Darren Schulte, Vice President, Membership, NATSO

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, safety checks, traffic challenges, and how she keeps fit on the road. She also discusses the crucial role of customer service in travel centers and the importance of safe, legal parking for drivers. With special guest: Lisa Mullings, President and CEO, NATSO  Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 stop. With ten locations spanning I-10 and I-40 in New Mexico and Arizona, Bowlin customers stop for everything from t-shirts and keychains all the way to more expensive handmade native american jewelry and pottery at this Southwest standout. With special guest: Valkyrie Musarra, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, Bowlin Travel Centers Inc Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation and Darren Schulte, Vice President, Membership, NATSO

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 should tackle loyalty, and what to consider when choosing a loyalty provider. With special guest: Peter Rasmussen, Founder and CEO, Convenience and Energy Advisors Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 Amy Toner talk loyalty, merchandising, driver appreciation plans, and more. With special guest: Nick LaFalce, Marketing Manager, RaceTrac Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation and Darren Schulte, Vice President, Membership, NATSO

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 changes could mean for their future. Tune in to learn how to stay competitive in an evolving industry. With special guest: Darren Schulte, Vice President, NATSO Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 experience is especially important. In this episode, Amy Toner, executive director of the NATSO Foundation, discussed the importance of CX with Matt Sargent, VP of loyalty analytics at Nextchapter. They delved into how travel centers and truck stops can elevate their customer engagement and stay competitive in a constantly evolving market. With special guest: Matt Sargent, VP of Loyalty Analytics, NexChapter Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 the complexities of the fuel market. Grizzle helps listeners answer: What reports, indexes or key indicators should travel centers be monitoring? What one thing can a single store operator do to improve his or her fuel buying skills to improve profitability? What concerns should they be aware of in moving toward higher levels of ethanol such as E15 or E85? In collaboration with TACenergy, the NATSO Foundation released a Fuel Buying for Truck Stops and Travel Centers Toolkit. The comprehensive guide was created to give travel center operators a broad understanding of available fuel types, the basics of spot purchasing vs. index-based purchasing, and information on fuel price indices. It also offers insights into choosing branded vs. unbranded fuel, building supplier relationships, and more. Visit www.TACenergy.com for more information on TACenergy. With special guest: Randy Grizzle, Director, Sales & Marketing, TACenergy Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation and Darren Schulte, Vice President, Membership, NATSO

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 that drivers' top factor in deciding whether to come inside from the fuel island or the parking lot was the cleanliness of restrooms and showers. Given the impact of cleanliness on a truck stop's success and that Washie's booth was causing quite the buzz at NATSO Connect, we knew we needed to have Poleki on the podcast. Poleki shared fascinating insights into how Washie is transforming the experience of using public restrooms, especially in high-traffic areas like truck stops and travel centers. With special guest: Rob Poleki, CEO, Washie Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 offering things geared toward summer travel. Dale Elks, regional sales manager for DAS, offers ideas for summertime merchandise, RVers and creative retail displays. With special guest: Dale Elks, Regional Sales Manager, DAS  Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 FirstElement Fuel press conference. She joined host Amy Toner to share about the fast-fueling hydrogen fueling station, highlighting FirstElement Fuel's partnerships with truck manufacturers, details about their hydrogen technology, and professional driver feedback. With special guest: Mindy Long, Owner, Mindy Long Freelance LLC Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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's Travel Stops & Country Stores. "I give full credit to Love's. They recognized our brand and this opportunity based on their research and some feedback they got from their drivers and really approached us about doing business with them in their travel centers. They are, as you know, as good as it gets in terms of the way they operate their business," said Greg Willman, Chairman and CEO of Naf Naf Holdings, LLC. Listen to gather three takeaways for truck stops and travel centers from Willman, including: Embrace diversity in food flavors. Alternate food options like Middle Eastern cuisine can set your travel center apart and cater to a wider palate. Try different partnerships. Consider the importance of operational flexibility to accommodate different settings and customer expectations. Listen to your customers. Feedback and data-driven partnerships can lead to fruitful collaborations that benefit both parties. With special guest: Greg Willman, Chairman and CEO, Naf Naf Holdings, LLC Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 can get involved. Goheen emphasizes the importance of building relationships with representatives and advocating for industry needs. They also touch on the fun and networking opportunities during the event, including NATSO's famous pie reception. Learn more about NATSO's Day on Capitol Hill at https://natsodayonthehill.com. With special guest: LeeAnn Goheen, Senior Director of Government Affairs, NATSO Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 project for NATSO. FRANdata is a franchise market research company that aims to help companies grow smartly in franchising. The team delves into their comprehensive guidebook designed to help truck stop operators navigate the world of franchising. They explore key takeaways, opportunities for travel centers, and the importance of being a good partner to franchise brands. Additionally, they share insights on making it easier for franchises to do business with travel centers and discuss how travel centers can access FRANdata's services to discover new franchise opportunities. Tune in to explore the intersection of franchising and the truck stop industry, and gain valuable insights from FRANdata's expertise. With special guests: Edith Wiseman, President, FRANdata  and Christina Niu, Director of Research, FRANdata Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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? Automated vending? Salad bars? Self-checkout? Driver's lounge? Schulte and Lawshe are prepared with all the answers to your travel center design choices. With special guest: Michael Lawshe, President, Paragon Solutions Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation and Darren Schulte, Vice President, Membership, NATSO

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 Meier, senior vice president of Iowa 80 Group, shares about Iowa 80's impressive 60-year journey. With special guest: Delia Moon Meier, Senior Vice President, Iowa 80 Group Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 and Marketing, Andrew Evans, NATSO undertook a comprehensive visual refresh, including a modernized logo and brand colors. Evans joins the podcast to break down this important transformation for listeners. "We're excited to unveil our new logo as part of our ongoing efforts to solidify our brand voice and distinguish ourselves within the industry," shared Evans. With special guest: Andrew Evans, Vice President, Branding and Marketing, NATSO Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 with a bang, sharing his idea on a significant innovative change for this year. With special guest: Darren Schulte, Vice President, Membership, NATSO Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 fuels. Shaun Lee, director of field operations at Cyclum Renewables, walked listeners through their innovative business model and Ben Khatirine, owner of 3B's Truck & Auto Plaza, shared about their partnership with Cyclum Renewables. Visit https://gocyclum.net to learn more about Cyclum Renewables. With special guests: Shaun Lee, Director of Field Operations, Cyclum Renewables and Ben Khatirine, Owner, 3B's Truck & Auto Plaza Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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. Its forecourt includes 12 gasoline pumps and five diesel lanes. "The enormous footprint of the store is what really makes it stand out. We used an arch concept in the front of the stores that makes it look like you're walking into a megalithic building and the excessively high ceilings that we have in there. And the major cooler presence stands out, too. We have fifteen cooler doors... for non-alcoholic beverages. Fifteen cooler doors are the most amount of cooler doors I've ever seen at a convenience store for non-alcoholic items. It made it so that we could really be diverse in what we're offering the consumer," said Hargraves. Listen and learn more about how this new travel center stands out. With special guest: Herb Hargraves, Chief Operating Officer for Sprint Mart Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 Evans, vice president, marketing and branding at NATSO, hopped on the podcast to share all the important details about this year's event. The education selected by the NATSO Foundation this year provides information and analysis that truck stops and travel centers need to grow wallet share and meet customer fuel demands. “A rapidly evolving fueling landscape coupled with technological advancements and changing customer habits is presenting fuel retailers with an opportunity to reimagine their operations,” said Amy Toner, executive director of the NATSO Foundation and The Truck Stops Here podcast host. “The engaging and thought-provoking sessions planned for NATSO Connect 2024 will position travel centers for the future.” Educational highlights scheduled for this year's event include: Travel Center New Builds and Remodels Pre-Event Workshop The Great Ideas! Workshop for Independent Operators Sessions dedicated to growing wallet share Insights into building the travel center of the future A technology forum focused on technology at the fuel island Travel center speed networking In-depth updates on key regulatory and legislative issues An immersive retail tour of two best-in-class travel center locations Visit www.natsoconnect.com for more on the event. With special guests: Pamela Hayes, vice president, business development, NATSO and Andrew Evans, vice president, marketing and branding, NATSO Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 drivers taking the survey—81%—said they'd gone inside a travel center but left without purchasing food or beverages in the past month. Gaining even incremental sales from this group could result in significant gains. Jessica Williams, founder and CEO of Food Forward Thinking, joins the podcast to walk listeners through menu planning for travel centers. She offers advice on: What is usually missing at a travel center that drivers seek? What should travel centers think about when planning their food offerings? What food trends are “trending” right now? With special guest: Jessica Williams, Founder and CEO of Food Forward Thinking Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 drone inventory. Tune in to hear from Digit7 how these new technologies can help you grow your travel center business. With special guest: Chithrai Mani, CEO, Digit7 Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 centers during their work week, what brings them inside and their expectations around wait times, employee interaction, and food and loyalty preferences. The survey revealed incredible opportunities to increase wallet share of existing customers, bring more buying customers inside and convert customer traffic into sales. Key findings include: The cleanliness of the showers and restrooms came out as the most important determining factor in where professional drivers stop. Loyalty programs can be a powerful tool for attracting and retaining customers and spurring sales. More than half of drivers—55%—said that loyalty programs influenced their decision to make non-fuel purchases. Not surprisingly, the survey found that check-out delays significantly affect purchasing. Most drivers—58%—said they would only wait in line for one to five minutes and 3% expect no wait. 10% said they'll leave even if there are just two people in line. 36% of fueling customers said they'd go inside for reliable food from a national brand they recognize and 21% said they'd go inside for out-of-the-ordinary food offerings. Christine Schoessler, COO of NATSO and Amy Toner, Executive Director of the NATSO Foundation, discuss the survey results. Visit https://www.natso.com/driversurvey for more on the new toolkit from the NATSO Foundation. With special guest: Christine Schoessler, COO, NATSO Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 NATSO Foundation's podcast to talk about convenience and fuel technology. Together with NATSO Foundation Executive Director Amy Toner, they explore inventory technology, automation, loyalty and much more. The podcast took a short summer break and is back with this very exciting guest. With special guest: Bethany Allee, Head of Marketing and Education, PDI Technologies Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 trends are we seeing in food for professional drivers?; There is a lot of “new” technology that is impacting the professional driver experience at a truckstop. How does all this technology impact the professional driver customer?; and more! With special guest: Darren Schulte, Vice President, Membership, NATSO Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation 

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 along the Interstate Highway System. Tom Parbs, the Senior Director of Sales for HaasAlert, joined the podcast to share about HAAS Alert. Listen to learn: How Safety Cloud® works; What equipment is needed; and Why HAAS Alert partnered with the NATSO Foundation and NATSO. Truckstops and travel centers can learn more about the partnership at www.natso.com/HAASalert. With special guest: Tom Parbs, Senior Director, HAAS Alert Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 possible -- from curved fuel canopies to fresh food displays to best-in-class coffee offerings. On this episode of the Truck Stops Here podcast, host Amy Toner, Executive Director of the NATSO Foundation, speaks with Schulte about his Irish takeaways. He talks about interesting food offerings, cleanliness focus, the customer experience, and more. Tune in to learn about the impressive features of travel centers in Ireland. With special guest: Darren Schulte, NATSO's vice president, membership Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director of the NATSO Foundation

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 the NATSO Foundation's multi-faceted approach to addressing critical issues involving truck repair provider safety. With special guest: Jeffrey Godwin, President, FTI Groups and Vice President, International Towing Museum Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO 

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 the convenience and energy industry, where he held strategic leadership positions with some of the industries most admired companies and co-founded two startup brands. He began his career with Sheetz, followed by a 17-year tenure with Wawa. Rasmussen and Christine Schoessler, NATSO's COO, take a deep dive into the landscape for travel center point-of-sale, innovations in checkout and more, offering both insights on these strategies and concrete tactics to make them a reality. With special guests: Peter Rasmussen, CEO and Founder, Convenience and Energy Advisors and Christine Schoessler, COO, NATSO Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation 

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 Safety Training video that covers: - How to set up your job site; - What you need to be aware of to stay safe; - How to identify hazards while working on the side of the road; and - Critical best practices to avoid getting hurt. Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training for the Tire Industry Association, shared about the course from the NATSO Foundation booth at NATSO Connect. With special guest: Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training for the Tire Industry Association Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation 

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 are looking for! Whether you're a chain, or whether you're an independent with a handful of stores or truckstops, you can create that experience," she said. Stuckey shared her recommendations for attracting RVers and families on road trips as well as her advice for authentically growing your social media presence. With special guests: Stephanie Stuckey, CEO, Stuckey's Corporation and Andrew Evans, Vice President, Marketing and Branding, NATSO Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation 

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 special guest: Nick Stanley, Vice President, JJ's Travel Plaza Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation 

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 Roadside Safety Showcase. The showcase featured roadside safety expert Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training for the Tire Industry Association, and an interactive display to illustrate best practices in roadside repair. Attendees could see and learn proper placement for their repair truck, cones and signage. Rohlwing joined the podcast, from the NATSO Foundation booth, to share many of the safety best practices highlighted in Dallas. With special guest: Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training for the Tire Industry Association Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation 

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 program. With special guest: Delone Wilson, President, Cubby's Inc. Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

What is new and impacting travel centers in 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 world. With special guest: Darren Schulte, Vice President, Membership, NATSO Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation 

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 networking to help them identify trends and maximize profit margins. Pamela Hayes, vice president, business development, NATSO and Andrew Evans, vice president, marketing and branding, NATSO hopped on the podcast to share all the important details about this year's event. Visit https://natsoconnect.com for more information. With special guests: Pamela Hayes, Vice President, Business Development, NATSO and Andrew Evans, Vice President Marketing and Branding, NATSO Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation 

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 chargers consume. Tim Victor, who serves as the Project Lead, EV Infrastructure at Scale Microgrids, walks listeners through some of the important considerations for powering EV chargers. With special guest: Tim Victor, Project Lead, EV Infrastructure, Scale Microgrids Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 podcast. Together with host Amy Toner, executive director of the NATSO Foundation, he provides ideas for sustainability in lighting, water consumption, and more. With special guest: Bernie Erickson, CMO/Director of Innovation, Facility Solutions Group Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 trafficking, that our promise would mature into the comprehensive public awareness and education program that we have in place today," said Wlazlowski Neuman. Wlazlowski Neuman, who oversees the NATSO Foundation's anti-trafficking program, said January is the perfect time to implement a human trafficking awareness program or recommit to an existing program. Listen for her advice on how to grow your awareness one step further in the coming year. With special guest: Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman, Vice President of Public Affairs, NATSO Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 on roadside safety. We invited Elovirta onto NATSO's podcast to share his expertise with listeners. Elovirta shared information to help keep roadside service technicians safe on the side of the road. With special guests: Jake Elovirta, director of compliance and enforcement programs, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman, Vice President, Public Affairs, NATSO Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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-founder of Zippin, joined NATSO's podcast to breakdown the technology from security to layout best practices to the future of AI. With special guest: Krishna Motukuri, CEO and Co-Founder, Zippin Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 complex program of work that the NATSO board of directors has established. With special guest: Andrew Evans, Vice President, Marketing and Branding, NATSO Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation and Darren Schulte, Vice President, Membership, NATSO

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 listeners through their business process for choosing a fuel card partner, from the technology supporting the card to the guest experience. With special guest: Tony Spuzello, Director, Commercial Fuels, Casey's General Stores Inc. Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation and Darren Schulte, Vice President, Membership, NATSO

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, take a deep dive these alternative fuels questions and more in the latest episode of NATSO's The Truck Stops Here podcast. With special guests: Mike Roeth, Executive Director, NACFE and Ginger Laidlaw, Vice President, NATSO's Alternative Fuels Council Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

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 charging infrastructure along alternative fuel corridors. You may download your state's EV deployment plan here. State DOTs now will begin issuing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to partner with the private sector for EV charging stations along alternative fuel corridors. It is critical that NATSO members interested in investing in EV charging stations watch for, and respond to, these RFPs. Just prior to the announcement, we sat down with Joe Annotti, senior vice president and partner at Gladstein, Neandross and Associates, to address truckstop and travel center's most burning questions on the grants. With special guests: Joe Annotti, Senior Vice President and Partner, Gladstein, Neandross and Associates and Ginger Laidlaw, Vice President, Alternative Fuels Council Hosted by: Amy Toner, Executive Director, NATSO Foundation

Tom Panos is the owner of TA Wapakoneta in Wapakoneta, Ohio, which the Panos family bought in 1991. Located off exit 111 at the intersection of I-75 and US 33, the 19,000-square-foot space has a full-service restaurant, 125 parking spaces, eight fuel islands, a c-store, CAT Scale and a shop. Panos became president in 2003 and in 2005, he took over the family's business, which does everything from apartments to restaurants to billboards. Prior to running the family business, Panos earned a Masters in Information Technology and worked in IT for 10 years. He brings a deep understanding of business to the podcast, sharing thoughtful ideas on the future of truckstops, the impact of the pandemic on his business and how to meet the needs of professional drivers. He also shared about the scholarship he started in honor of his late father, Art Panos. With special guest: Tom Panos, Owner, TA Wapakoneta Hosted by: Amy Toner, Vice President, Publishing and Digital Content

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 trucking leaders to bring business intelligence back to NATSO. With special guests: Darren Schulte, NATSO, Vice President, Membership and Ginger Laidlaw, Vice President, Alternative Fuels Council Hosted by: Amy Toner, NATSO, Vice President, Publishing and Digital Content

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 their own money to serve EV drivers. Charge Ahead Partnership is a coalition of businesses, organizations and individuals that share the common goal of efficiently and effectively developing a charging network for EVs across the United States. Jay Smith, executive director of the Charge Ahead Partnership, and Tiffany Wlazlowksi Neuman, vice president, public affairs at NATSO, join the podcast to discuss the changes needed in energy policy so that the truckstop and travel center industry can implement EV charging stations and sell electricity in a way that is profitable. With special guests: Jay Smith, Executive Director, Charge Ahead Partnership and Tiffany Wlazlowksi Neuman, Vice President, Public Affairs, NATSO Hosted by: Amy Toner, NATSO, Vice President, Membership 

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 industry, making this a must listen for truckstop and travel center operators. With special guest: Marc Whitener, Chairman of NAMA Board of Directors and CEO of Refreshment Solutions Hosted by: Amy Toner, Vice President, Publishing and Digital Content, NATSO