Toolkits are created by the ºÚÁÏÉçÇøFoundation, the research, education and public outreach subsidiary of ºÚÁÏÉçÇøInc.11 Ways to Improve Net Operating Costs Toolkit
For travel center and truck stop operators, net operating costs provide insight into their locations’ profitability, efficiency and success, which explains why operators are constantly looking to improve their net operating costs. The ºÚÁÏÉçÇøFoundation created this 11 Ways to Improve Net Operating Costs Toolkit to help operators improve their net operating costs.
Annual In-Depth Research Document, Travel Center Trends and Insights
ºÚÁÏÉçÇøServices’ 2024 Travel Center Trends and Insights report is the premier annual resource for travel center operators, packed with data and insights. This in-depth annual research document serves as ºÚÁÏÉçÇøServices’ flagship document and combines results from:
- Our premier survey of 750 professional drivers
- Video interviews accessed via clickable thumbnails
- Observational research from from over 1,000 travel center visits
Fuel Buying for Truck Stops and Travel Centers Toolkit
The ºÚÁÏÉçÇøFoundation created this toolkit to give operators a broad understanding of available fuel types, including renewable fuel, and spot purchasing vs. index-based purchasing while also offering insights into choosing branded vs. unbranded fuel.
Six Key Actions for Attracting a Non-Fuel Franchise
How does a busy travel center operator attract the right non-fuel franchise partner? We retained FRANdata, a franchise-focused research and advisory firm to find out. This document explores the top six actions you can take to land the right non-fuel franchise that aligns with your brand and customer base. We’ve also created a custom slide template you can use to make a pitch to a franchise based on this insight.
Travel Center and Truck Stop New Build Toolkit
The truck stop and travel center industry is unique, which means travel centers need unique guidance when planning a new build. The ºÚÁÏÉçÇøFoundation created this toolkit to help travel center operators develop new locations.
The toolkit includes valuable information from ºÚÁÏÉçÇøstaff and industry experts, as well as members who have generously shared their ideas during NATSO’s conferences and in articles ºÚÁÏÉçÇøhas published.
Eight Trends Shaping the Truck Stop and Travel Center Industry in 2024Â Toolkit
Understanding consumer expectations and preferences has become critical to a retailer’s success in today’s operating environment. Successful businesses must stay ahead of the curve by identifying and adapting to emerging trends, whether in consumer behavior, drivers’ needs or industry practices. The ºÚÁÏÉçÇøFoundation identified eight key trends expected to shape the truck stop and travel center industry in 2024.
Shop Repair & Truck Washes Toolkit
Truck repair and truck washes can be valuable profit centers while meeting professional drivers’ needs. The ºÚÁÏÉçÇøFoundation has worked with industry experts to answer members’ frequently asked questions as they pursue these opportunities.
Opportunities Abound at Travel Centers to Serve Professional Drivers and Grow Wallet Share Toolkit
For the 2023 edition of our professional driver behavior study, ºÚÁÏÉçÇøServices asked hundreds of owner-operators, leased drivers and company 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.
Top 18 Questions About the Travel Center Industry
NATSO’s Vice President, Membership, Darren Schulte, offers answers to frequently asked questions about the truck stop and travel center industry including industry size, average sales, costs, and professional driver statistics.
Truck Stop and Travel Center Employee Retention Guide
Employee turnover is a top concern among truck stop and travel centers. Low employee retention affects employee morale and productivity and has a negative long-term financial impact on the business. What’s more, if a travel center is continuously hiring and training to keep shifts covered, it does not leave much room for growth and development. Invest in your company by purchasing the ºÚÁÏÉçÇøTruck Stop and Travel Center Employee Retention Guide.
Alternative Fuels Council Biodiesel Toolkit
Biodiesel is an alternative fuel made from domestic, renewable resources such as plant oils, recycled cooking greases or oils, animal fats, or even new sources such as algae. New feedstocks are always being developed, tested and vetted through the Environmental Protection Agency. This toolkit covers Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs), biodiesel blending basics, strategies to take advantage of economic opportunities, and more.
*This toolkit was created by NATSO’s Alternative Fuels Council.
Professional Driver Buying Behavior at Travel Centers Toolkit
Truck stops and travel plazas are vital in keeping the nation’s trucks moving. Professional truck drivers—those with a Commercial Driver’s License—have unique needs that differ from those of the traveling public. Gaining a better understanding of how professional drivers and fleet managers make purchasing decisions can help truck stop and travel center operators best serve this critical customer base.
Truck Stop and Travel Center New Hire Orientation and Training Guidebook
The goal of this guide is to assist you in the human re-sources you need to successfully run your travel plaza. Your team players are the first and last line of contact for customers in your facility. Hiring and training the right team players can significantly impact the profitability of your business. Truck stops and travel centers create some special challenges for those who manage them. Unlike many businesses, most truck stops and travel centers are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and managers must work hard to keep the facility adequately staffed at all times.
Travel Center Operational Checklist
This checklist creates a comprehensive overview of many operational aspects of running a travel center. It includes environmental and safety issues, emergency and spill response, security, parking lot, bulk DEF, diesel fuel islands, building exterior, and building interior.
Truck Stop and Travel Center Training Manual
The strategies within this manual are proven industry techniques. However, not all of them may be applicable for your business. As a leader within your organization, you can implement the portions of the manual that will benefit your operations the most and ignore those that don’t suit your needs. In addition, you can supplement this guide with your own policies and protocol in order to have one comprehensive guide employees turn to. The training contained in this manual will focus on the custodian, cashier, merchandiser and manager positions. Each position has its own independent training section. As a best practice, the manager should be trained on the entire manual.