Cant stand Pilots, they are the epitomie of 4wheeler travel centers, the most truck unfriendly places. Come in, give us your money and get out, also, Loves are Pilots just by another name. Parking is a challenge even at the easiest of them, way to cramped, not enough swing room.
Besides, I can NEVER find a parking spot on the fuel island when I pass through a Pilot/Loves.
Im very glad my fuel list is very large and varied. 99% of the time I can fuel anyplace else.
The problem is that PILOT has been "ROMANCING" the companies. So, the companies "HERD" the drivers into PILOT like a bunch of cattle. You have no choice because the company fuels EVERYTHING at a PILOT.
But, there is a way to combat that. REFUSE TO WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT FUELS AT PILOT! No matter how much money PILOT may save a company for fuel, if they can't hire drivers because of PILOT, they won't have a company long. No drivers, no revenue and no company. It's as simple as that.
Some years ago, I remember seeing an ad for drivers. In the center of the page, there was a little banner that said; "WE DO NOT USE PILOT OR LOVE'S FOR FUEL." About a year later, I talked to a driver at a truck stop. He said he's a "FLOATER". If a regular driver goes on vacation, he's on the road. Otherwise, he works in dispatch or in the shop, depending on where they need him most.
The only time the company put an ad in a magazine and they filled 15 new trucks in the first 4 hours after the issue hit the stands. They turned away THOUSANDS of drivers a month for almost a year after that ad. No empty trucks. There are MANY MORE COMPANIES out there that NEED to learn that lesson. But, as long as there are drivers that are willing to fuel at PILOT, there will be companies that use PILOT for fuel. And PILOT will continue their CURRENT FORMULA FOR SUCCESS.