NATSO Foundation

History of The NATSO Foundation

The NATSO Foundation is the research, education and public outreach subsidiary of NATSO, Inc. (the professional association of America's travel plaza industry).

The genesis for the organization was a contribution from the Mason-Dixon Truck Stop Operators in January 1989 to be used for an industry scholarship program, and the Foundation (originally chartered as the American Truck Stop Foundation) began operation in 1990.

The Foundation began Operation Roadblock in 1990, a major initiative dedicated to creating drug-free highways through an assortment of coordinated efforts. A toll-free Helpline was established and educational materials and videos were distributed in an effort to foster drug free work places throughout the industry. During its four years, Operation Roadblock succeeded in heightening awareness of substance abuse problems in the minds of professional drivers, travel plaza operators and their employees.

The NATSO Foundation awarded its first scholarships through its Bill Moon Scholarship Program in 1993, created the Drive To Save Lives blood drive program in 1994, published its first research study, Factors Affecting the Travel Plaza Industry through 2004 in 1995, and through its existing relationship with the Red Cross established its disaster relief program in 1996. The disaster relief program was retired in 2006 after ten years of providing fuel to Red Cross vehicles assisting families in distress. Over 60,000 gallons of diesel was donated. The scholarship, blood drive and research programs are still going strong to this day; a testament to the commitment and caring that is the back bone of the travel plaza industry.

The NATSO Foundation’s newest program under development, Travel Safely Network, entails the formation of a voluntary network of truckstops and travel plazas dedicated to the safe travel of the motoring public along the nation’s highways. Stay tuned for more information.