Ever since Joe Namath predicted a gridiron win for his New York Jets so many Super Bowls ago, Truckstop Travel Plaza Publisher Tom Stanford has become a brazen predictor of things to come in the truckstop industry. He has been right more often than wrong. He always throws in a couple of totally facetious predictions, too, just to see who’s paying attention.
A year ago, he claimed 10 of his dozen prognostications were “sure bets.” This year he’s hedging a bit. After all, Broadway Joe never won a second Super Bowl.
Here are Tom Stanford’s predictions for the first year of the new millenium:
Halfcourt basketball courts will be established at truckstops and travel centers. Competitive leagues of three-person teams will feature sponsored teams from trucking companies. The courts, mostly outdoors, will become popular new recreation areas.
RoadStar -- the truckers' favorite tabloid -- will celebrate its first birthday with its first national award for editorial excellence.
“The Silver Fox,” AKA Pete Rigney, veteran on-the-road columnist for RoadStar, will celebrate his 74th birthday at a truckstop somewhere in the U.S.

RoadStar’s Bette Garber will get her CDL.
Truck parking availability will appear on state-installed electronic reader boards along the highway.
To combat sagging worldwide sales, Levi Strauss will solicit truckstops to sell their products. They will also run an ad campaign showing truckers wearing the legendary 501 jeans.
Video games in truckstops will be networked coast-to-coast, between stops enabling drivers to earn points while traveling.
Low-frequency radio programming will be available to truckers and travelers, announcing products and services offered as they exit the interstate and enter travel centers.
Under pressure from Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), Whiskey Pete’s Truck Stop in Primm, NV, will consider changing its name to Sasparilla Pete’s.
A new profit center will be introduced in truckstops. Truck-driving simulators will become a hot new game, will entice potential drivers to learn more about driving, and will be a big boost to the trucker industry.