The strategic planning committee of NATSO, which represents the nation's travel plazas and truckstops, outlined three of its top priorities at a meeting in Chicago this week.

Identified as top priorities are government affairs, third-party billing and building membership in the organization.
Government affairs, the core of the association, is seen as even more important for the next year as the issue of rest area commercialization is at the forefront with Congress. Members identified NATSO PAC building and grassroots mobilization as key tools that must be developed so that NATSO can win the fight against commercialization and other legislative battles.
Resolving the third-party billing crisis will also be a continuing focus for NATSO, with many independent operators suffering under the weight of high transaction fees.
Finally, the association will devise, implement and staff a membership program that maximizes membership levels and involvement.
NATSO’s mission, as detailed by the participants, includes government affairs advocacy, information source and industry forum, as well as industry image enhancement.
Participating in the two-day session were chairman James B. Goetz, Goetz Cos.; Jim Anderson, Truck 'n' Travel; Jim Cardwell, Petro Stopping Centers; Roger Cole, Highway Service Ventures; Ken Cummings, Newport Communications; Bill Fay, NATSO Inc.; Ed Flynn, Flynn's Truck Plaza; Jimmy Haslam, Pilot Corp.; Ed Kuhn, TravelCenters of America; Jack Leister, NATSO; Delia Moon Meier, Iowa 80 Group; Lisa Mullings, NATSO; and Mike Reilly, Randall Publishing Co.