06.15.2010 - Discover the Top
Three Things Drivers Want
by Mindy Long for Highway
Business Matters
Drivers rely on truckstops for food
and fuel, but the additional services locations offer can boost customer
loyalty and attract business. Driver requests can run the gamut, but all
of them boil down to simple conveniences that make life at the truckstop
a little easier.
To help industry suppliers better understand their customers' customers,
Highway Business Matters talked with location managers to learn what
drivers are looking for in their homes away from home.
1. The Ability to Plug In or Unplug
Staying connected to family, friends and employers is important for
those who live life on the road. Davis Travel Center in Stony Creek,
Va., offers free Wi-Fi in its parking lot for drivers, which location
manager Bill Decker said they appreciate. The location has also added an
Internet kiosk that Decker discovered at The NATSO Show. "Now everyone
has access to get on the Internet and print directions and their trip
packages as needed," he said.
For many drivers, taking time to unplug is just as valuable as the
ability to plug in. Amer Khalousi, manager of Texas Best Smokehouse
in Longview, Tex., said drivers are using the Red Box DVD kiosk in
the travel store. Customers also ask for sit-down entertainment, such as
movies or lottery games.
2. Opportunities to Clean Up
After a long day, drivers want the luxury of a hot shower. Khalousi
and Dirk Binnema, owner of Planeview Travel Plaza in Oshkosh, Wisc.,
both said showers are the most requested service at their locations.
Davis Travel Center recently upgraded its showers. "This has been very
positive for our location," Decker said.
Binnema said drivers also frequently ask about laundry facilities.
However clothes aren't the only thing drivers sometimes need to get
clean. Delia Moon Meier, senior vice president of Iowa-80 Group, said
drivers often request dog grooming facilities.
3. Secure Locations
Bill Vollenweider, owner of the Detroiter Travel Center, Woodhaven,
Mich., has offered a secure parking lot for over 20 years. "Most of the
drivers comment that they like it and can get a good night's sleep
without being disturbed," he said. Drivers receive four hours free
without a fuel purchase and 24 hours free with fuel purchase.
Decker added that a clean facility and great customer service are the
most important qualities a location needs in order to keep drivers
happy.
