• Convenience Store News , Thursday, March 15, 2012 10 AM

It's a victory for the convenience store and truck stop industry:  the U.S. Senate last night rejected an amendment that would have allowed for commercialization of rest stops along federal highways. The Senate voted 86-12 against Amendment 1742 to the Surface Transportation Bill proposed by Sen. Robert Portman, R-Ohio.

Vending machines are allowed to be at those rest areas, but cannot be staffed by a salesperson. The federal law applies to most states. Some were grandfathered in before the federal ban in 1956. Many in the c-store industry vehemently opposed the amendment. 

"This marks a major victory for convenience stores, restaurants and truck stops that operate around our nation's highways," said Corey Fitze, National Association of Convenience Stores director of government affairs. "This veto sends a clear message that state DOTs [Departments of Transportation] cannot fix their state budget problems on the backs of small businesses or at the expense of American jobs and local communities."

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