Love’s attributes global success to good reputation and good employees

Love’s says that its worldwide success over the last 60 years is due to its good reputation and hard-working employees.

The company celebrated its 60th anniversary earlier this year and says “humble beginnings, teamwork, work ethic and perseverance” in their business have brought the Love family this far.

“When Tom and I opened the first location in Watonga 60 years ago, we had no idea what this company would become,” Judy Love told The Oklahoman. “The journey has been incredible. One thing I know is that we wouldn’t be here without our loyal team members and customers. We are lucky, so I feel we should help others. That’s why we have always given back to many nonprofit organizations.”

Tom and Judy Love opened their first convenience store in 1964. The company now includes 650 Love’s Travel Stops in 42 states, 22 EZ GO Travel Stops and convenience stores in three states. In addition, Love’s even has a headquarters in Europe under Musket Corp., which is owned by Love’s, helping the company build a stable global fuel supply chain. The company employs around 40,000 people.

The truck stop company also recently purchased TVC Pro-Driver, which helps CDL license holders with logistical and legal licensing issues, and SpeedCo, which provides maintenance and roadside assistance for truck drivers and their commercial vehicles at some Love’s locations. Love’s also acquired Trillium Energy Solutions this year to expand its electric vehicle fast-charging network, which is expected to be available at 29 of its locations by the end of 2024.

“When my parents opened our first location 60 years ago, they never imagined what Love’s would become,” says Jenny Love Meyer, daughter of Tom and Judy Love and Chief Culture Officer at Love’s. “They had two young children to feed and bills to pay, and they had to find a way to make it happen. My dad had the idea to lease an abandoned gas station, and through hard work, by finding ways to learn the business and, as he would call it, by working with people and hiring people who were smarter than him, they built it into what it is today.”

“We owe our success to our team members and customers,” she continued. “They have helped us become what we are today while staying true to our family-run business model that sets us apart from our competitors. We always say that if our teams take care of the customers, we take care of them, and we think that’s a pretty good measure of our lives.”

“But it’s important to know that from the very beginning when he built the business, he cared about the communities where the stores were located,” Love-Meyer said at a meeting about the company’s Community Impact Report. “That caring, combined with a desire to give back, is the foundation for charitable giving at Love’s. This is certainly one of the legacies my father left us. … Helping others is nothing new for Love’s.”

Love’s donated nearly $12 million to charities and other nonprofit causes in 2022. Of that $12 million, 46% went to youth and education projects, 20% to health and human services, 25% to civic and community organizations, and 9% to other nonprofit causes.

Love’s Travel Stops had revenue of $26.5 billion in 2023, making it the ninth largest private company in the United States. Judy Love herself has a net worth of $10.2 billion.

“As Love’s has expanded its network and offerings over the past 60 years, we have been able to stay true to who we are and what we stand for: clean places with friendly faces that work hard every day to get customers back on the road quickly,” said Love Meyer. “The commitment to helping our customers every day while innovating and striving for improvement is fundamental to Love’s, from our leaders to team members across the country.”