Pilot and Flying J to merge

[Rev.Vassago]

Pilot, Flying J to merge travel center operations

There are currently in excess of 300 Pilot Travel Centers throughout the U.S. and Canada. (The Trucker file photo)

The Trucker News Services

7/13/2009
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. and OGDEN, Utah — Pilot Travel Centers and Flying J have reached a merger agreement to merge the two company's travel centers into a single operation, The Trucker learned late Monday.
Details of the agreement are scheduled to be announced this morning, sources told The Trucker.
Only Flying J truck stop locations are part of the merger. Other Flying J entities are not involved, sources have told The Trucker.
The merger would seemingly free up cash that could be used to help Flying J in its effort to reorganize certain aspects of its company under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
Flying J announced in December that Flying J Inc. and its Big West refining and Longhorn Pipeline subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions to reorganize under Chapter 11.

TheTrucker.com - America's Trucking Newspaper

[Syncrosonix]

does this mean that p-lot will stop using comdata? that would be a great thing, because i, like many others out there, hate having to refuel at p-lot.

[Rev.Vassago]

does this mean that p-lot will stop using comdata? that would be a great thing, because i, like many others out there, hate having to refuel at p-lot.

Methinks Pilot bought Flying J, which means the hook may start taking comdata. They have already closed several of the restaurants.

[Syncrosonix]

the mormons actually let this go down?! they're the ones who are usually buying out their competition. holy crap, batman!

[Hawkjr]

Now the two worst parking truck stops of america coming together.. Now we just need for Love's to come around and we have ourselves a party!!

Can you just imagine the name of those together.. Flying Pilots Love's J of America...

[VPIDarkAngel]

Crap, and I thought it was bad when T/A bought Petro (and not the other way around). Oh well, just another (among many) reasons for me to fly past the Flyin' Hooks.

[Cyanide]

Methinks Pilot bought Flying J, which means the hook may start taking Comdata.....

FWIW, I was at the J at Hebron, IN (I-65, Exit 240) a couple weeks ago and they had a sign out saying that they were now accepting Comdata.

[Jackrabbit379]

Our warehouse is right beside a flyin hook. (Lubbock)
One of my supervisors told me a couple of weeks ago that they were closing the hook in Lubbock.

I wonder which ones will close, and which ones will go in cahoots with Pilot..

[jagerbomber3.0]

Well this means 3 things, Flying J will be taking Comdata,There will now be about another 150 locations to eat at subway because that is all drivers like to eat, and Flying J will now be cursed with idle air. Great for all of the truckers,everyone will be losing even more spaces. I assume this will happen since Pilto was planning on putting it in all of their own locations. I am sure this deal will really work out great for the truck drivers. More Mcdonalds and Subways yeah!!!!! And oy yeah, i forgot....Pilot seems to really hate anything that even remotely resembles a drivers lounge....wonder if those will disapear like they do at almost all locations that pilot buys out. Seems like Drivers lounges/tv rooms at pilot locations always turn into storage or office space. I am sure Flying J will retain it's name but I will be surprised if the change goes as un noticeable as the TA/Petro deal did. Pilot does not know how to leave well enough alone ya know.

[cdswans]

I hope this means I can get Pilot coffee at a Flying Pilot.

[jagerbomber3.0]

I hope this means I can get Pilot coffee at a Flying Pilot.

Thats the only plus i could see from this.

[GMAN]

Our warehouse is right beside a flyin hook. (Lubbock)
One of my supervisors told me a couple of weeks ago that they were closing the hook in Lubbock.

I wonder which ones will close, and which ones will go in cahoots with Pilot..

I thought that Flying J was a franchise? I am surprised that they would close it. There isn't much else around there. I doubt they would do anywhere near the volume of business as the regular stores. Perhaps they could become independent or associate themselves with someone else.

[Jackrabbit379]

I thought that Flying J was a franchise? I am surprised that they would close it. There isn't much else around there. I doubt they would do anywhere near the volume of business as the regular stores. Perhaps they could become independent or associate themselves with someone else.

I wouldn't know, GMAN. We were talking about how the economy is, and companies going to pot, etc. He then mentioned about that Flyin J closing. He didn't know when. I didn't ask how he heard about it, etc.
That wouldn't make much sense, closing it. It's only been there for about 3-4 years, and it's right there on I-27. I know, it's got to be making money. Every night when I turn right beside it to go into our warehouse, the parking lot is always full, and there is a line waiting at the fuel island. Anytime I need to go in there, there is a long line at the front counters.

There isn't a whole lot in Lubbock. There is a Rip Off on 50th.
The Chisum (I think it's locally owned) truck stop is on hwy 84. I think that's about it.

[jonp]

I'm thinking that with the problems Flying J has had that Pilot is the senior in this deal.

[dle]

This is what the pilot website has on it:
Pilot Travel Centers LLC - News

The flying j site had the exact same thing.

[jagerbomber3.0]

I have true confidence that Pilot will add a lot of suckiness to the Flying J's. If it is a true merger i would say get ready to bid a farewell to most if not all of the Flying J sit down restaraunts. Some of you will say good riddance but it will just turn into more Mcdonalds and Subways. We need more of those out on the road, God knows there are not enough. Look forward to seeing Idle Air at every one as well i would say.

[Syncrosonix]

the only flying j buffets i enjoy are tooele, ut, mc calla, al, corning, ca, and ripon, ca. i looooooove the mac 'n' cheese they have, and the mashed taters. it's alll about those two foods. mmmmmmmmm...mmmmm....MMMMMMMM! feck pilot!

[VitoCorleone99]

I think every truck stop in the country should be required to have a SubWay. That Italian BMT with double meat is a gift from God to all mankind.

(And cross McCalla, AL off your 'favorites' list. I was there a few days ago and the restaurant is history.)

[boneebone]

The Pilot and Love's are nothing more than a Travel Plaza for four wheelers, but also offer fuel and parking for trucks. The T/A , Petro and the J are geared more for the trucker with at least a drivers lounge, but with the Pilot/ J merger the J will go down in the dumps even more than it has already in the last few years.

Most J's now are thrashed and dumpy looking, with dirty bathrooms, broken bathroom stall doors, and bad parking lots. Ever since the owner died in a plane crash a few years ago the place has gone to ****.

[Syncrosonix]

I think every truck stop in the country should be required to have a SubWay. That Italian BMT with double meat is a gift from God to all mankind.

(And cross McCalla, AL off your 'favorites' list. I was there a few days ago and the restaurant is history.)

DAMMIT, WHY PILOT, WHY?!?!