The Pilot At Exit 213 on I-81 in Virginia

[Hawkjr]

i know i give Pilot's alot of heat but today was unbelievable.. I bull**** you not, there was a line from the fuel island all the way back up to the on ramp from the Northbound side.. have you all ever seen this place this bad or any place like it??

[VitoCorleone99]

You factor in the little stroll down the stairs to the building and the svelte nature of many of our colleagues. That adds a few minutes. Then you factor in the people who think they spotted a pull-through at the last second and get all jammed up when they realize they won't make it. That adds a few minutes. Then you factor in the occasional cowboy who wants to blindside in while thirty trucks are just trying to get out of there and un-jam the fuel island. That adds a few minutes. Then you factor in the people who are coming in and never considered the idea that the five trucks in front of them may be waiting to fuel, so they try to get around and wind up in a staring match with the trucks trying to exit. That adds a few minutes. Then you factor in the fact that a lot of big fleets use Pilots and the one in Troutville is a disgrace, so plenty of drivers prefer the one in Staunton or whatever it is. That adds a few more trucks and a few more minutes.

Yeah, I've seen it once or twice.

[matcat]

that pilot is notorious for being like that

[Malaki86]

I think that place was designed to be backed up like that. In fact, I've never NOT seen it completely FUBAR'd.

[jagerbomber3.0]

That place is famously bad. Another thing that really jams it up is you get the guys that dont have to fuel that are just stopping in for a snack or something so they by pass the fuel lines and try and go around the wrong way not knowing their is only one way in and one way out so they go all the way around only to realize the fuel pumps keep you from being able to go out and then they have to figure out how to get turned back around and that clogs things up really bad. I have seen that one backed up to the off ramp several times.

[Double R]

What's a PILOT?

[Rev.Vassago]

What's a PILOT?

Someone who flies an airplane.

[matcat]

Stopped at a pilot off exit 122 on 80 in Il, man was that a mistake. All I wanted to do was take a leak and get some arbys, from the time I hit the ramp until the time I got back to the ramp, 75 minutes! Backed up to the ramp.

[Fancy_Maneuvers]

I think that place was designed to be backed up like that. In fact, I've never NOT seen it completely FUBAR'd.

Most Pilot's were designed with the "club mentality" in mind... what is the saying? If there is a line, people will think there is something in there to see!

My brother says that most Pilot's only leave a small amount of room because the owners really don't want us in there... they want drivers to do what they need to do and GET OUT! It makes me mad when he says that because I tend to like the showers at Pilot...

Nevertheless, as you all know it is very annoying to be stuck in a never ending Pilot line...

[carlos64030]

Man, I really hate that PILOT! I was just there a few days ago.

[allan5oh]

Stopped at a pilot off exit 122 on 80 in Il, man was that a mistake. All I wanted to do was take a leak and get some arbys, from the time I hit the ramp until the time I got back to the ramp, 75 minutes! Backed up to the ramp.

Minooka, what a joke. The truck stop just down the road at Morris is fantastic. Free wifi even. Great restaurant.

Flying J in Kansas city is a joke as well. It's ALWAYS backed up to the ramps.

[GMAN]

I usually pass by those type of truck stops. It isn't worth the hassle.

[belpre122]

Hawk,

Next time........just head up north a gander, and stop by Carney's Point hook! Be sure to tell the fella with the blue head that the pirate and Belpre send regards!

[DaveP]

My brother says that most Pilot's only leave a small amount of room because the owners really don't want us in there... they want drivers to do what they need to do and GET OUT!

Then why is there 14 people in line and only one cashier?

[Hawkjr]

Hawk,

Next time........just head up north a gander, and stop by Carney's Point hook! Be sure to tell the fella with the blue head that the pirate and Belpre send regards!

lol thats funny, everytime i get the backhaul to go to Flemington NJ north of Trenton, i pass by that Flying J and think about Mr. CFM rants about that place.. I was going to stop there on the way back to Scale my load but i wasn't sure if the Scales on 295 was on both sides or not so i stopped at the T/A instead which i think is at Exit 18..

[Double R]

lol thats funny, everytime i get the backhaul to go to Flemington NJ north of Trenton, i pass by that Flying J and think about Mr. CFM rants about that place.. I was going to stop there on the way back to Scale my load but i wasn't sure if the Scales on 295 was on both sides or not so i stopped at the T/A instead which i think is at Exit 18..

You mean your truck didn't get sucked up by all the pot-holes in that S**T hole!

[Hawkjr]

You mean your truck didn't get sucked up by all the pot-holes in that S**T hole!

Those things are freakin huge!! My damn CB Mic bounced over and hit me in the head!! Not to Mention you have to wait for all those Waste Container haulers (S & J Transport decals on the Truck and Dana Trailer Chassis) to get out the way to use the scale..

[belpre122]

My brother says that most Pilot's only leave a small amount of room because the owners really don't want us in there... they want drivers to do what they need to do and GET OUT!

BINGO!

Smart brother that you have there Fancy. Most BBRs have absolutely not a clue how much a truckstops expends to "host" your rolling hobo shop for the day or two. The physical plant requirements alone are comparable to sustaining a small town. Add in the bad attitudes, low-lifes, bad hygeine, prostitution, illicit drugs, air/noise pollution, lack of accountability.........and you've got a "Perfect Storm" for facilities that no self respecting locality will permit to conduct business. Who needs the 'porno,' 'tool' man, etc selling everything including swag/***** in your neighborhood all night?

We are perceived as the dregs of society. Rightly so in so many cases.

Correct. Pilot wants you in and right the hell out. Who can blame them. Pilot is making little to negative revenue with your BBR rooster cruiser on high idle in the lot cranking the AC.. Coolie carrier OTR needs to go. And will. It's just gonna take a couple of years to snuff this poor logistical ideal that has only served to take driving from a good middle class profession to a hobo/minimum wage/ joke of a job. Good riddance coolie carriers. The sooner you are gone.......the better!!

[matcat]

BINGO!

Smart brother that you have there Fancy. Most BBRs have absolutely not a clue how much a truckstops expends to "host" your rolling hobo shop for the day or two. The physical plant requirements alone are comparable to sustaining a small town. Add in the bad attitudes, low-lifes, bad hygeine, prostitution, illicit drugs, air/noise pollution, lack of accountability.........and you've got a "Perfect Storm" for facilities that no self respecting locality will permit to conduct business. Who needs the 'porno,' 'tool' man, etc selling everything including swag/***** in your neighborhood all night?

We are perceived as the dregs of society. Rightly so in so many cases.

Correct. Pilot wants you in and right the hell out. Who can blame them. Pilot is making little to negative revenue with your BBR rooster cruiser on high idle in the lot cranking the AC.. Coolie carrier OTR needs to go. And will. It's just gonna take a couple of years to snuff this poor logistical ideal that has only served to take driving from a good middle class profession to a hobo/minimum wage/ joke of job. Good riddance coolie carriers. The sooner you are gone.......the better!!

I really don't see coolie carriers going anywhere. Downsizing sure, but not going away. Just wait until the economy rebounds, coolie carriers are like a fungus, sure while its dry they dry up and hide in the dark corners, but once it rains, they come right back like a bad case of athletes foot.

[belpre122]

I really don't see coolie carriers going anywhere. Downsizing sure, but not going away. Just wait until the economy rebounds, coolie carriers are like a fungus, sure while its dry they dry up and hide in the dark corners, but once it rains, they come right back like a bad case of athletes foot.

Exellent point Matt. Rather than my wishful thinking, your's is a bit more pragmatic.

Here's to ya bro. I'm keeping my ears open for ya................Gary