Professional drivers aren't the only ones who rely on truck stops for fuel, pit stops, showers, and food. These sites are also frequented by people who are homeless or destitute.

Now, an online course developed by the National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO), a trade group representing travel plazas and truck stops, offers guidance to truck-stop owners and employees on how to assist people who are homeless or without resources. Titled "How Truckstops Help the Homeless," the 30-minute course is the second online learning tool in NATSO's series on how to respond to requests for help from people in need of assistance in various life-threatening scenarios.

Tailored to the needs of members of the travel plaza industry, the series began with a module called "The Role of Truckstops in Combating Human Trafficking." The group plans to add units on what to do for drivers who are suffering distress, and how to respond during a natural disaster. NATSO members can view the courses for free at www.natso.com/onlinelearning.