NATSO Inc, the association of the travel plaza and truckstop industry, has announced the suspension of its diesel volume survey as a result of the volatile petroleum market.
“This is an unfortunate but necessary action based on current economic conditions," said Lisa Mullings, NTASO president. “We feel strongly that all new information and emerging trends must be fully accounted for in order for us to have full confidence that the findings of this survey provide an accurate picture of the industry.”
NATSO has determined that rapidly changing market conditions have made it virtually impossible to accurately report true market demand for diesel fuel at this time, the association said in a news release.
The volatile market, coupled with new information recently obtained by NATSO revealing a decline in the overall number of truckstops pumping diesel over the past 12 months, convinced NATSO to suspend the survey. In addition, because a number of this year’s industry developments were not accounted for in the original survey design, the demand for diesel fuel may have been overestimated by recent NATSO diesel volume surveys.
NATSO said it is working with outside industry experts to analyze the unprecedented market conditions facing its industry. Based on the results of this assessment, NATSO plans to present an analysis of current conditions and fluctuations affecting travel plazas and truckstops in January 2009.