The Truck Stops Here

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...

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 Par...

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...

After decades in the gas station business, Zakoil Inc launched the Lone Star Market concept in their Texas-based travel centers in 2018. As second-generation operators, Hasan Zakaria, CEO, Sugarland Petroleum and Ahmed Zakaria, vice president, Sugarland Petroleum, were already experts on the industry basics - offering great service, being clean, being organized and having good training. With Lone...

TravelCenters of America Inc. is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Company founder Phil Saunders and Jon Pertchik, managing director and chief executive officer of TravelCenters of America, joined the podcast to share about Saunders' original vision and what the next 50 years will look like for TravelCenters of America Inc. With special guests: Phil Saunders, TravelCenters of America Fou...

Broco Energy is a family-owned heating oil and emergency fueling company based in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Kristopher Ellis, contracting officer for Broco Energy, joined the podcast to share his insights into biodiesel blending. Ellis along with Ginger Laidlaw, vice president, NATSO's Alternative Fuels Council, discussed biodiesel misconceptions, how using biodiesel has impacted Broco Energy's op...

In many states, there are grants, subsidies and rebates available to make energy-saving solutions, including solar panels, affordable. Elliot Jaramillo, founder of Concept Clean Energy, and Ben Earl, COO of Concept Clean Energy, joined the podcast to walk listeners through the how, why and where of installing solar panels. With special guests: Elliot Jaramillo, Founder, Concept Clean Energy and Be...

In this episode of The Truck Stops Here, Darren Schulte, NATSO's vice president, membership, does what he does best - dissect retail technology trends, explaining what they mean and how they will impact the industry. Automated retail is the process of using technology to sell goods and services in a fast and efficient way with low to zero human interaction. Schulte delivers his take on automated r...

From the food trolley to the outdoor patio, Racine Petro is full of experiential elements that welcome and delight travelers. Michael Willkomm, co-owner and president of Willkomm Companies, walks podcast listeners through the vision the Willkomm family has poured into the stop. With special guest: Michael Willkomm, Co-Owner and President, Willkomm Companies Hosted by: Amy Toner, NATSO, Vice Presid...

Matt Mildenberger serves as President/CEO of Mitten Inc. in Oakley, Kansas. Mitten's Travel Center offers both fast and casual dining, an urgent care facility, truck repair service, Blue Beacon truck wash, and more. As President/CEO, Mildenberger took Mitten Inc. from a $20 million to a $80 million operation with 140 employees. In this episode of The Trucks Stops Here, new NATSO Board member Milde...

2022 ushers in several new NATSO Board members, including Raina Shoemaker co-owner and operator of Shoemaker's Travel Centers in Lincoln, NE. Passionate about implementing change that benefits the company, as well as the lives of their employees, Shoemaker joined the podcast to share her leadership vision. She shared about new technology they've deployed, company culture ideas, permanent pandemic...

Refresh Travel Plazas recently opened the first of several new locations. The project is headed by Ravinder Grewal and Sachin Malik. The location, in Madera, California, was designed to meet the changing needs of the trucking industry and the country. Simran Grewal and Arjun Khosa joined the podcast to share about the location, from its innovative food program to professional driver amenities. Hos...

ExxonMobil Synergy Diesel Efficient will serve as the title sponsor of NATSO Connect, NATSO's annual meeting dedicated to the truckstop and travel center industry. NATSO Connect 2022, which takes place Feb. 20-24, at Disney Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida, combines exclusive, executive briefings with opportunities for truckstop and travel center operators to gain specific guidance on h...

Jimmie's Truck Plaza has had a fantastic year, providing home cooking and a warm welcome to professional drivers in Lee, Florida. Listen and learn about how the truckstop started and what makes them hum today. Hosted by: Amy Toner, NATSO's Vice President, Publishing and Digital Content

In the fall of 2021, NATSO member Thorntons LLC launched a new Pro Driver Refreshing Rewards app exclusively for the professional driving community. The Pro Driver Refreshing Rewards card and app were designed to provide many of the same benefits as Refreshing Rewards, but also offers special fuel discounts and exclusive rewards for professional drivers. Scott Harris, Manager of Fleet for Thornton...

While leading the NATSO board during the pandemic certainly was different than what Delia Meier, president at Iowa 80 Group, envisioned when her Chairmanship kicked off at NATSO Connect 2020, it was a rewarding two years. "I really wanted it to be a meaningful year for me and for NATSO and so, it was. But it wasn't what I was hoping for at all, but it was meaningful, and it was important and for t...

The COVID-19 vaccine and testing mandate, otherwise known as the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), continues to generate concern across the business community. At NATSO, we recognize that the vaccine and testing rule would have a significant, negative impact on truck stops and travel centers, which already suffer from a fragile labor market. To help NATSO members prepare, we invited Robert J. Ba...

Robin Puthusseril is Vice President and owner/operator of Greater Chicago I-55 Truck Plaza in Bolingbrook, IL. She has been involved in the truck stop industry since 1999 and is a NATSO Board member. In this special interview from the road, Lisa Mullings, NATSO's President and CEO, interviews Puthusseril to hear about the location. They cover biodiesel, working with family members, staffing a bust...

For 30 years, Big Boys Truckstop has provided hospitality to professional drivers and local customers in Kenly, North Carolina. With a big 30th celebration planned, owner Wendi Powell joined the podcast to tell us about their anniversary plans and what has helped the business succeed for three decades. From a family fun day to a car show to a Veteran's Day tasty thank you, they have a lot planned...

NATSO Podcast hosts Amy Toner and Darren Schulte always love to pick the brains of folks that are new to the industry. When Ben Khatirine, owner of 3B's Truck & Auto Plaza offered to come on the podcast, they jumped on the chance. He walked listeners through his technology, labor and food decisions as he remodels the Lodi, California location. Hosted by: Amy Toner, Vice President, Publishing and D...

NATSO's Alternative Fuels Council Vice President Ginger Laidlaw returns to NATSO's podcast to talk about blending renewable fuels, some of the incentives involved and the services and tools that the Alternative Fuels Council offers. Hosted by: Amy Toner, Vice President, Publishing and Digital Media, NATSO

Over the summer, Gina Bonafede, Director of Marketing Communications at DAS and Derek Lehman, Director of Channel & Shopper Marketing, at DAS shared a great presentation on Guiding Customers on the Road to Purchase in the Post-Pandemic World during NATSO Live. One of the important points they covered is the need to focus on experience in your store. We asked them to come on the podcast to dive a b...

LeeAnn Goheen, NATSO's director of government affairs, joins the podcast to get listeners up-to-speed on important truckstop and travel center industry government affairs activities including the infrastructure bill and NATSO's efforts on the future of transportation energy. Hosted by: Amy Toner, NATSO, Vice President, Publishing and Digital Content 

The truckstop and travel plaza industry has a long history of investing in alternative fuels, including biodiesel, renewable diesel, natural gas and ethanol. As the Biden Administration prepares to leverage $15 billion for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, fuel retailers are prepared to invest in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, advancing the number of electric vehicle charging st...

At NATSO, we are always scanning our members, their customers and the industry for trends. The Truck Stops Here podcast hosts sat down with NATSO contributor and industry veteran Eliote Duarte to dive into some of the trends emerging this summer. With the increase in four-wheel traffic, trucktops and travel centers need to be clean, well-staffed and fully stocked. Duarte shares his expertise on wh...