Dive Brief:
- TravelCenters of America has partnered with digital payments network Relay to add the latter’s cardless payment method to all TA, TA Express and Petro Stopping Centers locations, according to a Tuesday press release.
- Professional drivers can use Relay to pay for fuel, diesel exhaust fluid and items inside the store, according to the announcement.
- TA parent company BP also unveiled the Earnify fleet card in July, which offers users fuel discounts and rebates at more than 8,000 of BP’s gas stations.
Dive Insight:
With travel center companies like TA, Pilot and Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores competing against each other and with traditional c-stores like RaceTrac and Wawa, accepting more fleet payment methods can offer an edge over competitors.
“Our carrier customers have been asking for Relay acceptance at TA,” said Michael Stuewe, senior vice president of fleet sales for TravelCenters of America. “Now, we’re delivering on that.”
Relay allows drivers to pay for fuel and other items through the company’s app, enabling safer transactions. Drivers receive a code on their phones, which they then enter at the pump to start fueling.
TA’s locations will also be searchable on Relay’s app, giving customers another vector of discoverability among professional drivers.
This new payment option comes at a time of change for TA, which hired a new CEO last month. Jason Nordin took the top role from Debbi Boffa, who stepped down in October.
BP isn’t alone in boosting its payment options. Circle K added more than 500 of its locations to Relay, while RaceTrac began accepting QuikQ cards in June and Maverik added Piston payments in September.
