ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The nation's truckstops are working hard to meet demand after Hurricane Katrina disrupted supply in some areas, said NATSO Inc., which represents truckstop and travel center owners and operators.
Delivery of freight is crucial to improving the situation in the storm-ravaged states. Times like this draw attention to the importance of the national highway system and the movement of goods, said Lisa Mullings, NATSO president and CEO. The nation's truckstops and travel plazas are committed to keeping truckers on the road so they can bring [image-nocss] desperately needed supplies and other goods to those areas that need it the most.
In order to meet demand in areas affected by pipeline outages, truckstops and travel plazas are trucking fuel in from greater distances than usual, the group said. Although some spot outages have occurred, they typically last for a short period of time as the situation is constantly changing. NATSO and its members are committed to doing everything possible to keep the fuel supply flowing, they said. Drivers can call ahead to a location to confirm a specific truckstop has fuel.
NATSO also said it commends the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for temporarily waiving certain fuel requirements, and it said it was pleased that some states are exempting heavy-duty trucks from weight standards. Both efforts will speed recovery, said the association.
Click here for The NATSO Foundation's Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief program.
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