Profile: TravelCenters of America LLC (TA)

TravelCenters of America LLC operates and franchises travel centers primarily along the United States interstate highway system. Its customers include long haul trucking fleets and their drivers, independent truck drivers and motorists. As of December 31, 2008, the Company’s business included 233 travel centers located in 41 states in the United States and the province of Ontario, Canada. Its travel centers include 166 that are operated under the TravelCenters of America (TA) brand names, including 143 that it operates and 23 that franchisees operate. Sixty-seven are operated under the Petro brand name, 45 of which are operated by the Company and 22 by the franchisees. It offers a range of products and services, including diesel fuel and gasoline, truck repair and maintenance services, full service restaurants, more than 20 different brands of quick serve restaurants (QSRs), travel and convenience stores and various driver amenities.

As of December 31, 2008, the Company’s travel centers consisted of 175 travel centers leased from Hospitality Trust and operated by the Company, 10 travel centers leased from Hospitality Trust and subleased to and operated by the franchisees, nine travel centers operate on sites TravelCenters of America owns, three travel centers that it operates on sites owned by parties other than Hospitality Trust, one travel center the Company operates for a joint venture, and 35 travel centers that are operated by franchisees on sites they own or lease. The Company sells branded and unbranded gasoline. Of its 233 travel centers as of December 31, 2008, the Company offers branded gasoline at 135 travel centers and unbranded gasoline at 74 travel centers. Gasoline is not sold at 24 of it travel centers.

Most of its travel centers have both full service restaurants and QSRs that offer customers a variety of food choices. The substantial majority of the Company’s full service restaurants are operated under its Iron Skillet, Country Pride, Buckhorn Family Restaurants and Fork in the Road brands and offer menu table service and buffets. It also offers more than 20 different brands of QSRs, including Arby’s, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Popeye’s Chicken & Biscuits, Starbuck’s Coffee, Subway and Taco Bell. As of December 31, 2008, 210 of its travel centers included a full service restaurant, 158 of the Company’s travel centers offered at least one QSR, and there were a total of 287 QSRs in its 233 travel centers. TravelCenters of America LLC operates most of these QSRs as a franchisee.

All but 13 of the Company’s travel centers have truck repair and maintenance shops. The repair and maintenance shop has between three and six service bays and a parts storage room. These shops generally operate round the clock and offer maintenance and emergency repair and road services, ranging from basic services, such as oil changes and tire repair to specialty services, such as diagnostics and repair of air conditioning, air brakes and electrical systems. Some of its repair and maintenance services are guaranteed by warranties. Most TA truck repair and maintenance facilities provide some warranty work on Daimler brand trucks through the Company’s participation in the Freightliner ServicePoint program.

Each of the Company’s travel centers have a travel and convenience store, which offers merchandise to truck drivers, motorists, recreational vehicle operators and bus drivers and passengers. Its travel and convenience store has a selection of over 4,000 items, including food and snack items, beverages, non-prescription drug and beauty supplies, batteries, automobile accessories, and music and video products. The Company’s stores also sell items specifically designed for the truck driver’s on the road lifestyle, including laundry supplies, clothing and truck accessories. Most of the stores also have a to-go snack bar.

Most of the Company’s travel centers provide truck drivers with access to specialized business services, including an information center where drivers can send and receive faxes, overnight mail and other communications and a banking desk where drivers can cash checks and receive funds transfers from fleet operators. The travel center also has a video game room, a laundry area with washers and dryers, private showers and areas designated for truck drivers only, including a theater or television room with a video player and seating. Some of its travel centers offer casino gaming.

The Company offers truck drivers loyal fueler programs, called the RoadKing Club and the Petro Passport. Drivers receive a point for each gallon of diesel fuel purchased and each dollar spent on selected nonfuel products and services. These points can be redeemed for discounts on nonfuel products and services at its travel centers. The Company also publishes a magazine called Road King, which includes articles and advertising of interest to professional truck drivers.

The Company’s competes with include Flying J, and Pilot and Love’s.