MissionIR's  Instablog

TravelCenters of America is the largest full service travel center business in the United States with locations in 41 states and Canada. The firm does business under the TravelCenters of America, TA, and Petro Shopping Centers brands. With 238 convenient locations off interstate highway exits, the company offers its customers full- and quick-service restaurants, 24-hour convenience stores, heavy truck maintenance services, and fueling services.

The company announced today that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Shell Oil Products US and its affiliates to build and operate a network of natural gas fueling stations at TravelCenters of America locations along the US interstate highway system. The memorandum states that Shell will construct and TravelCenters of America will operate at least 200 natural gas fueling lanes on at least 100 TA sites. Additional locations may added in the future based upon customer demand.

A typical location for the company has over 20 acres for parking, restaurants, and other facilities such as truck repair sites. In order to help introduce natural gas powered vehicles to the interstate trucking industry, TravelCenters of America intends to train and equip a sufficient number of its 3,000 repair technicians, 1,000 truck service bays, and 400 Road Squad emergency roadside repair vehicles to service natural gas powered truck engines.

Final details of the agreement between TravelCenters of America and Shell are expected to be hammered out during an exclusive negotiating period. The first natural gas fueling lanes are expected to be operational at TA locations sometime during 2013.

For further information about TravelCenters of America LLC and this planned joint venture, please visit the company's website at www.tatravelcenters.com

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