CHEVY CHASE, Md. -- The Travel Channel will bring viewers to the crossroads of America with the launch of its new mid-summer original docu-series, Truck Stop Missouri", premieres on Wednesday, August 3 at 10:00 p.m. ET.
Produced by Leftfield Pictures (Pawn Stars), the focus of this 12-episode, weekly half-hour docu-series is the Midway Truck Stop, a "playground" for truckers and tourists, located halfway between St. Louis and Kansas City on Interstate 70.
In addition to being a "go-to" place for truckers who need to fuel up, grab a bite and go, Midway [image-nocss] is home to 12 separate businesses, from a fireworks store to a tattoo parlor. The customers come from all around the country, and include a cast of colorful locals.
"Travel is all about opening your eyes to unfamiliar places, but also suddenly 'seeing' the things we take for granted. The people at Midway are a unique slice of America, in all of its fun and crazy glory," said Fred Graver, senior vice president of programming and development for the Travel Channel.
In the one-hour premiere, viewers meet Joe Bechtold, Midway Truck Stop's general manager, who once believed he could escape his family business, but has found himself right back in the thick of it, having moved his young family back home from Australia to preserve his father's legacy. An adventurous man with a dry sense of humor, it's everything Joe can do to hold Midway together from one day to another. For Joe, chasing down a rouge cow and breaking up a romantic rendezvous is all in a hard day's work--and that's just in the parking lot.
Midway offers a variety of businesses on its lot including: a hotel, a convenience store, a tattoo parlor, an antique's mall, a fireworks store, a haunted house, an outdoor music venue, a chapel and a child-care facility. Each week, viewers will be entertained by the diverse cast of characters who stop by Midway.
Click hereto view previews of Truck Stop Missouri.
Separately, Bosselman Travel Centers will be featured in an upcoming episode of American Trucker on the Speed Channel. This episode is scheduled to premiere at 10:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 4. Show host Robb Mariani was at the Grand Island, Neb., Bosselman Travel Center for several days in June shooting the episode with a production crew from BCII of California.
One of the most underappreciated jobs throughout the world is truck driving. Dangerous roads, immense traffic, mindless drivers and difficult deadlines make over-the-road trucking one of the more demanding professions anywhere. It is also one of the more fascinating.
Speed original series American Trucker, produced by Bud Brutsman (Brentwood Communications International Inc. of Hot Rod TV, Payback, Overhaulin' and Rides fame, captures this largely unknown lifestyle.
Bosselman Inc., headquartered in Grand Island, owns and operates 42 Pump & Pantry convenience stores; a Hampton Inn, three Pump & Pantry Motels and five Motel 6 franchises; eight Bosselman Travel Centers; six Grandma Max's and Max's Highway Diner Restaurants, Sam Bass' Saloon & Steakhouse, and Schmooter's; Food Courts including Subway, Little Caesars, Wendy's, and Caribou Coffee; 34 Boss Shops; and the Nebraska Danger Indoor Professional Football Team. Founded in 1948, Bosselman's has expanded across the nation in 20 states.
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