RICHMOND, Va. -- The Virginia Petroleum, Convenience & Grocery Association (VPCGA) has added truckstop operators to its list of members, reported The Richmond Times-Dispatch.
On January 1, the Mason-Dixon Truck Stop Operators Association officially merged with the gas station-convenience store-grocery store association.
The VPCGA, which includes some members outside Virginia, was formed about 20 years ago. Its longtime executive director, George Bruner, retired December 31, said the report.
Mike O'Connor, [image-nocss] president of the VPCGA, said his group already shared some members with the truckstop group.
He added that if an indoor-smoking ban were to pass in the state General Assembly, his group would push for an exemption for truckstops or facilities where diesel fuel makes up a certain level of the business's sales. Virginia could lose business from long-haul truckers who are smokers and have the capability of driving to another state for a rest stop, he told the newspaper.
The groups realized that many of the legislative and regulatory positions of Virginia's truckstops were in line with those of VPCGA and that many companies were members of both associations. VPCGA voted to add a membership classification for truckstops and travel plazas and to appoint a truckstop committee to be chaired by Chip Holt of Delta Oil Co. Petersburg, Va., added a report by the National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO).
The VPCGA has approximately650 retail members operating more than 6,000 convenience and grocery stores. These members employ more than 55,000 Virginians. Membership includes petroleum marketers, convenience stores, chain and independent supermarkets.
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