The woman on the other end of the line said they're sending trucks to the Chevron terminal to pick up gas for Lufkin, Texas, a hundred miles to the north on I-45, the main route into Houston from Dallas.

NPR: Gas Shortages Stalled Houston Evacuation

The Big Three found growth in different niches, though, with GM seeing heightened demand for crossovers such as the Chevrolet Equinox, while Chrysler grew truck sales with the Ram pick-up truck, and finally Ford, capitalizing on retail car sales as gas-price sensitive consumers go for higher mileage with the Ford Focus and Fiesta.

FORBES: Detroit's Big Three On The Rebound Thanks To U.S. Consumers

Gas and smokes pull customers into the store, where they can pick up any of 2, 800 different--and higher-margin--goods, from gum to beer.

FORBES: Magazine Article