TravelCenters of America

Truck stops using generators to reopen stores.

Logistics aid network seeking assistance from transportation sector.

TravelCenters of America has been forced to close some restaurants again as an increase in COVID-19 cases has tightened restrictions on dining out in some regions.

After cutting the price by more than a third from a new stock offering of $75 million, TravelCenters of America shares fell below the revised asking price Wednesday.

Six months of Jon Pertchik’s high-energy leadership of TravelCenters of America took a hit Monday when a $75 million offering of new company stock met with a selloff that drove shares almost 24% lower than the asking price.

Fleet management solutions provider Samsara looked at 130 million trips since the beginning of 2020 and found truck traffic running at 95% of prepandemic volumes, with more speeding and less hard braking.

The gradual restart of the economy includes dine-in restaurants at the travel plazas dotting American highways. Truckers will find socially distanced seating and fewer menu offerings — if they leave their trucks to investigate. Some say they won’t bother.

TravelCenters of America is focusing on franchise growth to close the gap in travel center locations with its larger competitors Pilot Co. and Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores.

The same health crisis that made TravelCenters of America an essential business during the coronavirus pandemic burned into non-fuel revenue in late March, leading to a first-quarter loss.

Less than six months after he was hired, turnaround veteran Jon Pertchik refashions the travel plaza and truck stop business with an emphasis on getting costs in line with spending.

TravelCenters of America is laying off more than 3,000 employees because its full-service restaurants are idle and stay-home orders keep most motorists off the highways.

Amazon is placing new grocery delivery customers onto wait lists as it seeks to shore up orders and deliveries for existing customers. Plus, traffic declines could jeopardize road projects, just-in-time delivery impacts resupply efforts and retail sales face a long slog back to growth.

Growing awareness of a 12-year-old relief fund for semi-truck drivers is attracting more and bigger donations as the coronavirus pandemic highlights health risks to truckers hauling critical freight.

Trucking and travel plaza trade groups urge states to cut slack to truckers delayed by overzealous social distancing so critical freight can keep moving during coronavirus pandemic.

Travel plazas are balancing social distancing to prevent the possible spread of coronavirus with providing food and services to truckers, whose dining options in some cases are limited to drive thru and carryout.

Deutsche Post World has lowered its guidance for the year and cited Amazon’s continuing insourcing of logistics as a major reason. Plus, Goldman Sachs is predicting a 5% contraction in the economy, labor shortages could hamper restocking of shelves, and the Fed slashes interest rates.

Crafting a mission statement and values for TravelCenters of America is among myriad tasks veteran turnaround expert Jon Pertchik is taking on in his latest project.

Higher fuel sales and restoration of the federal tax credit for biodiesel blending boosted the bottom line. However, operating margins continued to be under pressure and the travel center operator borrowed money to cover general expenses.

The biodiesel blender credit reinstated by Congress Dec. 17 is a $3 billion a year boost to a less-polluting diesel fuel.

Travel Centers of America named turnaround expert Jonathan Pertchik its new CEO, effective immediately.