Industry Suppliers Join NATSO to Support Truckstop and Travel Plaza Operators

This year NATSO welcomed several new industry suppliers who offer everything from personal protective equipment and sanitation products to new technologies and food services.
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Industry Suppliers Join NATSO to Support Truckstop and Travel Plaza Operators
 

NATSO’s allied and Chairman’s Circle members are a critical part of the association. They provide the goods and services truckstop and travel plaza operators need to maximize their business and valuable insights and information that can help NATSO members succeed.

This year NATSO welcomed several new industry suppliers who offer everything from personal protective equipment and sanitation products to new technologies and food services.

“We are excited to see so many companies investing in the truckstop and travel plaza industry and our association. The past few months have proven the essential and valuable role truckstops and travel plazas play in our economy, the supply chain and our communities,” said Lisa Mullings, CEO of NATSO. “These critical industry suppliers have stepped up to the plate, and we are grateful for their commitment.”

Jeff Schenian, CEO of Pothole Bind, said he looked at joining several associations before determining NATSO was the best fit, not only because its members have large parking lots that could benefit from his product but also because they’re essential to keep goods moving. “All of our goods are transported by trucks. They are the bloodline of the economy,” he said. “It makes me feel good to be a part of it.”

Other industry suppliers found their way to NATSO through existing clients. Mason Powers, vice president of sales for BT Mack, said he learned of the association after helping several travel plaza customers with their technology needs. “We started seeing a common trend, especially with the older properties, that technology was outdated, and there wasn’t always good WiFi connectivity, or the security cameras weren’t very effective,” he said. “We saw they were extremely underserved.”

Taco John’s also joined NATSO after working with a member—Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores. “We have a relationship with Love’s to develop ten stores. We have seven open now,” said Brooks Speirs, vice president of franchise development for Taco John’s. “The point of joining was to get to know some of the truckstop operators out there and for them to get to know our brand as well.”

Wireless Solutions LLC, which provides Motorola Solutions two-way radios, accessories and body cameras for retail locations, sought out NATSO after working closely with Pilot. “We saw Pilot was part of NATSO, so we researched NATSO and presented it to our team. We were all in agreement that it was a no brainer for us to become a member. The product we provide was a natural fit for these members,” said Todd Spitzer, regional sales, Wireless Solutions.

NATSO members have faced some new challenges as they work to keep operations running safely during a pandemic. Steve Kubec, vice president of MicroShield 360, said the company saw that as an opportunity to help truckstop and travel plaza operators. “We thought with our leadership and knowledge in the commercial cleaning industry and the platform that NATSO provides, we could spread the word of the necessary protocols that need to be put in place to ensure a sanitized environment across all travel center locations,” he said. “We are excited to be a part of NATSO and look forward to moving the needle when it comes to commercial cleaning practices in these unprecedented times.”

Suppliers interested in joining as a NATSO allied member should contact Pamela Hayes at phayes@natso.com
 

NATSO’s Buyer’s Guides

To learn more about these new allied members as well as those who have shown their long-term support for the industry, please turn to NATSO’s Buyer’s Guides.

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