I currently work at a Pilot Travel Center. I'm not going to disclose the location, and I can only hope people would respect my privacy.

I have worked here for 1 1/2 years or so, and over that time, I constantly get questions about pilot's policies, pricing reasons, etc.

So, I'm going to answer any questions anybody is willing to ask, only in the hope that some confusion may be cleared up and future visits can be easier and more convenient for both you guys, and my co workers.

FOR THE RECORD: Most Pilot employees DO NOT hate truck drivers. We generally dislike mean people. Just like you guys would. We despise the truckers that we have a consistently bad transaction with, but other than that, if you come to us with the right attitude, we try to do the same. At least that's the way I've always looked at it.

The things I get the most questions about are the fees: Why do we charge fees? because David Haslam (owner) wants to. If you buy 50+ gallons, you get $200 free of fees, but after that it's 3%. Personally, I think it's ridiculous, but I don't make the rules.

Also, every time a trucker rants on about how pilot is "raping the trucking industry" (direct quote), we ignore you because you're out of line. If you're that pissed, write a letter to corporate, but other than that, I actually have things to do besides listen to you rant about things I can't help. Once a guy accused me of "hating all truck drivers and their families" over a penny. I know that your job can be overbearing sometimes, but moments like that make mine the same way.

A lot of the complaints you will get will probably be about not enough parking and has fast food instead of a restaurant.

I'm at a Pilot right now in Georgia that looks like it used to be a Williams. The ones that used to be Williams have much better parking. And I just ate one of the ham and cheese baguettes that was pretty good. Actually, I think the deli items that Pilot offers are probably healthier than a lot of the restaurants in truck stops.

As far as customer service goes, I think it depends a lot with what part of the country you're in, or if you're in a big city. For example I might have a different experience at the Pilot in Atlanta as opposed to out here wherever I am now. I haven't had any problems with the clerks at Pilot. But my company doesn't fuel there so I don't have to deal with that.

My biggest problem, as mentioned above, is that so many Pilots have these tiny parking lots. They shouldn't put big billboards out on the highway like it's a major truckstop when there's only about 15-25 parking spaces.

The fast food is meant to assist you guys in exactly that - being fast. Our location has a McDonalds and a Subway. As far as parking, we're the 2nd largest pilot with over 300 parking spaces.

I've noticed our inventory start to gear more towards health as well...we offer fresh fruit and deli items now.

I suppose it might be a regional thing.

see above.

The very next post you made on this thread pinpoints your location. Are you sure you aren't a trucker?


{The fast food is meant to assist you guys in exactly that - being fast. Our location has a McDonalds and a Subway. As far as parking, we're the 2nd largest pilot with over 300 parking spaces.}

__________________
My childhood dream of becoming a truck driver turned into a nightmare!

easy to find. look in the pilot magazine they hand out and pinpoint the size of pilots and there it is. off hand i'm guessing not Ga............

LOL theres only 2 Pilots in the country that have more the 30 spots....I think the 3rd largest has 33 spots, and thats including the fuel Island and blocking there dumpsters....Now which has BOTH a Subway and a McD's..... Don't forget to mention the cheesy little, game room?...

I'm leaning towards east of the big hills and west of the big drink and to the north. Besides whatever those mags say they have cut that number in half. and thats how many spots they have.

there's the f'k'n yankee....where you been man ?......

Bosselman's Pilot don't count.

__________________

WOW! Your job sounds like mine. They complain to me about the rules that I can do nothing about and they make my day worse because I get all the complaints that I can do nothing about. Grrrr

__________________
"Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then."