Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores (Love’s) is celebrating its 10th consecutive year on Forbes magazine’s annual list of the nation’s largest privately held companies.

The Oklahoma City, Okla.-based operator of convenience stores and travel centers, which debuted in the 2000 Forbes list at No. 446, now ranks as No. 18 among private U.S. companies and is the highest ranking Oklahoma firm on the list.

“Our expansion from a single gas station in Watonga, Okla., to more than 260 locations on highways and interstates across the country has been fueled by continued innovation and an unwavering dedication to exceeding customer expectations,” said Tom Love, Love’s chairman and CEO. “Since Love’s beginning, we have been committed to providing drivers friendly service and clean locations stocked with the food, fuel and other supplies they need to keep them going. This remains a foundation of Love’s success 46 years later.”

Forbes compiled the 2010 list based on estimates of each company’s fiscal-year 2009 revenue. Love’s 2009 revenue was $12.6 billion, according to an estimate that the company provided to Forbes. The company employs approximately 6,700 people nationwide.

Together, the 223 private companies that made Forbes‘ list employ 4.4 billion people and boast revenues of $1.3 trillion. Other Oklahoma companies on the Forbes list included Tulsa-based QuikTrip at No. 37 and Oklahoma City-based Hobby Lobby Stores at No. 198.