FOR INVESTORS CONTACT US ABOUT US CAREERS LOGIN FIND LOCATION REFUEL REPLENISH REFRESH REPAIR RESCUE REWARDS About Us For Suppliers For Suppliers This section of the TravelCenters of America web site is provided for the benefit of suppliers who have a product or service to present to TA and Petro Stopping Centers and also for current suppliers who will be shipping their product into the TA and Petro Open Road Distributing (ORD) distribution centers. TravelCenters of America distributes resale and non-resale items, including food, to its facilities in the following ways: Through its Open Road Distributing (ORD) distribution centers located in Nashville, Tennessee and Phoenix, Arizona. Direct shipment from supplier or distributor via UPS, RPS, common carrier or other package delivery service Via distributor’s delivery network. If your resale or non-resale items are selected for use in TA and Petro facilities, one of our project managers or procurement managers will work with your shipping manager to determine the most effective and efficient method to deliver to TA and Petro locations. Becoming a Supplier How to become a supplier to TravelCenters of America Thank you for your interest in becoming a supplier to TravelCenters of America, the nation's largest full service travel center network. Due to the large number of requests that we receive, we have established a system to help make the process easier and more efficient for all parties involved. Suppliers who wish to initiate a business relationship with TA/Petro must complete each of the steps below. Unsolicited, non-conforming samples or proposals may not be reviewed or returned. Step Check Description 1. Read these instructions carefully. If you are presenting a product for resale, then read all of the Supplier Guidelines. 2. Visit one or more TA and Petro Stopping Centers locations and compare your product or service to our existing products and services. 3. Complete the appropriate Supplier Questionnaire: Questionnaire for suppliers of re-sale items, Questionnaire for suppliers of non-resale items or services or Questionnaire for restaurant products or services. Do not leave blanks. If a question or direction is not applicable to you, state such and explain the reason. Submit originals to TravelCenters of America with your proposal. 4. The stability of your company and your ability to provide a continuous supply of the products and services that TA/Petro needs to operate are vital concerns to us and an integral part of our supplier assessment process. Therefore, we ask that you submit with your proposal copies of your balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows for the past two fiscal years. These will be kept confidential. 5. Submit a completed W-9 Form. (You can download a W-9 form at the IRS web site). 6. Submit a copy of your liability insurance certificate. 7. Gather all information about your products or services including catalogs, price lists, etc.. For product suppliers (for resale), TravelCenters of America requires that products have a UPC label for scanning. Include in your submittal a copy of your UCC (Uniform Code Council) membership. Submit a copy of each of your published price lists, being certain to include your lowest published price list. 8. Select samples to submit (if applicable). DO NOT submit one of a kind samples or prototypes. Your sample becomes property of TravelCenters of America once submitted and will not be returned. DO NOT send refrigerated food samples. If you have food samples that require preparation or refrigeration, note this on the Questionnaire and you will be contacted by TravelCenters of America regarding providing prepared or refrigerated samples for evaluation. 9. Make copies of all information prior to submittal to TravelCenters of America. 10. Submit originals (except where noted above) of all documents and samples to: Procurement Director TravelCenters of America 24601 Center Ridge Road, Suite 200 Westlake, Ohio 44145-5639 After we receive your completed proposal packet, we will respond to your proposal within 90 days. Incomplete proposal packets will be discarded or, at TravelCenters of America's discretion, returned at supplier's expense. All materials submitted, including samples, become property of TravelCenters of America. Supplier Guidelines TravelCenters of America has two distribution facilities. Open Road Distributing (ORD) East is located outside Nashville in LaVergne, Tennessee, and Open Road Distributing (ORD) West is located in Phoenix, Arizona. Suppliers of perishable products will have alternative distribution methods designated by TravelCenters of America that may have requirements that differ from these Supplier Guidelines. However, please follow these guidelines as they apply to your product and or service. Address your questions about TravelCenters of America's ORD East and West distribution centers by calling the Receiving Supervisor at each location: ORD East: (615) 213-8213 ORD West: (480) 636-3948 Why have Supplier Guidelines? TravelCenters of America has Supplier Guidelines to ensure that: -All suppliers are treated fairly -Total supply-chain cost is optimized -The consumer, our customer and ultimately yours, can receive high quality products when and where they are required -There is a pervasive commitment to continuous improvement as measured against cost, quality, service levels and delivery performance of our suppliers Hours of Receiving ORD East: 6 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. CT ORD West: 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. MT Transportation, Shipping & Packaging Ground rules: Combine all PO's and shipments made on the same day. Supplier pays all origin accessorial charges. All freight in excess of 20 cases is to be palletized unless prior approval is received. Carriers sign for shipments as they get them (pallet vs. cases). All shipments must reference TA's P.O. number on all shipping documents. All packing lists must be attached and labeled on the outside of the carton. Appointments are required for all deliveries with trucks containing 10 pallets or more. For a delivery appointment, contact the Receiving Supervisor at ORD East at (615) 213-8213, or ORD West at (480) 636-3948. Deliveries - dock times must be met within 30 minutes of scheduled time. If arrival time is over 30 minutes late, the load will be handled as a "work it in" situation. If late, the load may be required to "lay over" until the next business day. TravelCenters of America does not pay any handling fees. All shipments in pallet quantities must be shrink wrapped on pallets. Pallets must be marked with the number of cartons and P.O. number with a minimum font size of one inch on the outside of the pallet. Pallets must be standard size of 40-inches x 48-inches, four way wood pallets, non-returnable, "no charge" pallets. Do not use "CHEP" or disposable pallets. Merchandising in truckloads must be on pallets, not floor loaded. Same item master shipping cartons must be of the same size, so they can be stacked on top of each other. The carton must be strong enough to support several of the same size cartons. All inner cartons and master shipping cartons must contain the exact quantity as stated in your price list or catalog or as quoted in writing. Quantities cannot change from shipment to shipment. UPS-type shipments may be shipped to TravelCenters of America's ORD East or West distribution facilities or locations up to the total number of cartons that would fit on a standard pallet. More than a pallet's worth of merchandise must be shipped LTL. (Less than Truck Load) All shipping cartons must have written descriptions and quantities of the items(s) in the carton, along with vendor's manufacturer part number, purchase pack and selling pack. All master shipping cartons, inner cartons and retail selling packs/units need to have their own unique UPC/Bar code. The unique UPC/Bar Code on the retail selling pack/unit has to have a UPC number, under the Bar Code. All INDIVIDUAL ITEMS, retail selling pack, will be required to have a UPC BAR CODE along with that UPC number under each bar code. Any of the following bar codes formats are acceptable: UPCA, UPCE, CODE 39, CODABAR, EAN8, EAN13, CODE 128, MSI, CODE93, CODE D25, CODE 125, CODE11, UPS E1, AND SUPPS. All truckload shipments must be arranged by re-buyer. Contact Linda Leaver at (615) 213-8201 or Carol Sargent at (615) 213-8202. Be certain to comply with shipping instructions and bar coding regulations to avoid charge backs or delay in payments. There are no exceptions to any of the above rules without prior approval from Open Road Distributing (ORD) East or West. These are TravelCenters of America's shipping requirements for all shipments made to the Open Road Distributing (ORD) East or West distribution facilities, or direct to TA/Petro locations. If TravelCenters of America receives merchandise that does not comply with these requirements, the merchandise may be refused, returned freight collect, or the vendor may be "Charged Back" for labor and handling cost to bring the merchandise to comply with TravelCenters of America's requirements. This may also cause delay in payment. Shipments to ORD East or West, where TA pays the freight: 0-250 lb. ship FedEx Ground prepaid and bill actual cost (including all allowances and discounts). For shipments over 250 lbs., call Linda Leaver at (615) 213-8201 or Carol Sargent at (615) 213-8202 for routing instructions. Shipments, where the Supplier pays the freight: TravelCenters of America prefers for Suppliers to use our carriers. In general, this will result in fewer charge backs. 0-250 lb. ship FedEx Ground prepaid. 2. LTL shipments should be made with an approved LTL carrier. These include: ABF Yellow Freight Supplier report card and charge backs Meeting the targets described below results in a more efficient operation for TravelCenters of America, which directly relates to the value that you bring as a supplier. Therefore, to the extent that these metrics are under your control, you are asked to meet the targets or agree to the resultant action by TravelCenters of America. Metric Target Description / Measurement Action On-time 97% Meets requested arrival date Meets dock time window +/- 30 minutes All receipts against a release within 2 weeks of original request date All orders not received complete in 3 weeks past requested date can be closed and refused Carrier compliance (where we pay the freight) 100% Carrier chosen is from the most recent TravelCenters of America carrier routing guide or by calling the appropriate number with the required notice Excess freight will be charged back + $100 handling fee Damage free 98% Number of shipments in which a freight claim is needed/total Supplier shipments Supplier will handle all claims in any calendar year Bar Codes 100% All Master Shipping Cartons, Inner Shipping Cartons, and individual must have different bar codes on them. A charge back of $100 for each shipment that does not comply, plus 25 cents per label will be charged back to cover labor cost. Invoices For all products shipped into ORD East in LaVergne, Tennessee, send all invoices to: Accounts Payable TravelCenters of America ORD East 329 Mason Rd. LaVergne, TN 37086-3513 For all products shipped into ORD West in Phoenix, Arizona, send all invoices to: Accounts Payable TravelCenters of America ORD West 4302 W. Buckeye Rd., Ste. 115 Phoenix, AZ 85043 To promote prompt payment be sure to comply with the following guidelines: One invoice per PO with the exception of special pricing or terms Make certain that the address is correct on the invoice. Communicate all PO discrepancies BEFORE shipment of goods: Cost Terms Case pack Ship-from location Include all of the following data on the invoice: Supplier name and address Supplier remittance address PO number Target ship-to location Supplier account or order number Item number manufacturer's and/or TravelCenters of America's PLU (SKU) number Case pack (by item) Total carton count Total each (by item) Freight terms/allowances Be certain to comply with shipping instructions, FedEx Ground and bar code regulations to avoid charge backs or delays in payment. Floor Loaded Freight Deliveries to ORD East or West Effective July 1, 2011 All over-seas “containers” or “floor loaded” trailers must call for a delivery appointment at least 48 hour prior to their desired delivery date. Call ORD East or West at the numbers below: ORD East: (615) 213-8213 ORD West: (480) 636-3948 The following is a schedule of late fees that will be assessed should the delivery not be received on schedule: Late arrival to ORD East or West 30 minutes “grace period” - no fee charged 31 to 60 minutes late - $100 fee Each additional hour - $100 per hour Cancelled Appointments Appointment cancelled prior to 1:30 p.m. the day before the scheduled delivery will not be charged a fee Appointments cancelled after 1:30 p.m. the day before the scheduled delivery will be charged a $300 fee. Fee Collections All fees are the responsibility of the supplying vendor. All fees will be deducted from the invoice. Supplier Questionnaires You may download these questionnaires using Adobe Portable Document Format using Adobe Acrobat Reader. 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