National truckstop chain Travel Centers of America (TA) has announced that rising revenue from its truck repair shop network helped return the company to profitability in 2002.
Roughly 145 of TA's 152 truckstops offer preventive maintenance services and light warranty repair work for Freightliner-brand trucks as part of a deal TA made with Freightliner in 1999.
TA CFO Jim George said revenue from its shops increased 10.3% in the fourth quarter of 2002 and 7.9% for the year. That more than offset non-fuel business revenue declines of 4.6% in the fourth quarter and 3.6% for the year, along with a 1% decline in fuel revenue in 2002.
"Fleets are finding that it is cheaper to get preventive maintenance work done on the road rather than deadhead a truck back into their own shop to do it," George commented.
