WESTLAKE, Ohio -- TravelCenters of America LLC has announced the results of the fifth annual "Voted Best" survey by trucking magazine Overdrive. The survey was conducted during August and September, 2011.
Driver Preference for TA and Petro compared to the Next Closest Truck Stop Brand:
- Best Overall Truck Stop (3 to 1).
- Most Comprehensive Driver Services (4 to 1).
- Best Employees (3 to 1).
- Friendliest Maintenance Staff (5 to 1).
- Most Trusted Maintenance Staff (6 to 1).
- Best Employee Understanding of Truckers (4 to 1).
- Quickest Fueling Time (2 to 1).
- Easiest to Maneuver Fueling Lanes (2 to 1).
- Largest Parking Lots (3 to 1).
- Easiest to Maneuver Parking Lots (3 to 1).
- Cleanest Showers (2 to 1).
- Cleanest Restrooms (2 to 1).
- Best Overall Food (4 to 1).
- Friendliest Staff (4 to 1).
- Healthiest Menu (3 to 1).
- Best Coffee (2 to 1).
- Best Breakfast (4 to 1).
- Best Buffet (5 to 1).
- Best Travel Store (4 to 1).
- Best Trucker Merchandise (4 to 1).
- Best Overall Truck Repair (4 to 1).
- Most Competent Technicians (6 to 1).
- Best Roadside Assistance (2 to 1).
- Most Complete Interstate Services (5 to 1).
- Best New Tire Source (2 to 1).
- Best Driver Rewards Program (2 to 1).
- Best Smart Phone Application (2 to 1).
"The 2011 survey results show a clear and growing preference by drivers for what we call the Full-Service Advantage. Our Petro Iron Skillet restaurants and TA Truck Service facilities were particularly dominant in their individual categories, and have been so for many years. Our efforts to provide the best service to our customers start with our respect for them. I am very excited that our customers are feeling that respect and have reflected that feeling back to us in this survey, particularly in categories related to the friendliness of our employees and the trust our customers have in us," Tom O'Brien, president and CEO of TA, commented on the results of the 2011 "Voted Best" survey.
In other company news, TA has also announced that 12 of its Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)-Certified master technicians from its combined TA Truck Service and Petro:Lube businesses competed in a competition that included 108 of the best U.S. truck service and repair technicians.
The Technology & Maintenance Council's 2011 National Technician Skills Competition, or TMCSuperTech, was held in Raleigh, N.C. The competition measures thorough knowledge of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicle servicing, and includes both theory and practical application tests.
Chuck Ralston, a master technician at the TA in Gary, Ind., passed the first-round written test and went on to place first and be named champion in the hands-on fasteners category. He beat out the two-time fasteners category grand champion and outscored 107 of the nation's best technicians in this category. Ralston also placed 16th overall in the SuperTech competition. David Greenfield, a master technician from the TA in Hudson, Wis., placed 20th overall.
This is the fifth consecutive year that TA has had one or more of its technicians win a SuperTech Championship.
TravelCenters of America, Westlake, Ohio, is a leading travel center business in 41 states and Canada operating under the TravelCenters of America and Petro brands.
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