I here ya HFC. Until then we can always hope Pilot brings in Hooters!!!

Well then, the "powers that be" need to hear that. Go to the Flying J website, find the restuarant section and send them an e-mail stating what you just said.

I think they would appreciate it.

Also, stating your observations and thoughts to the Flying J staff when you are eating at the Country Market restuarants would help, too. AND ... contact the Pilot corporate offices with your thoughts so they know they should not tweak too much the restuarant situation.

Will that change things? Maybe not, maybe so.

But you have let three different categories of people know that there is a groundswell of anger about this restuarant issue due to the merger/takeover.

I would be extremely disappointed if Pilot just shut down everything had nothing in place of the Flying J restaurant. But it wouldn't surprise me either. Remember when they took over Williams travel plazas? Those had good restaurants and the first thing Pilot did was yank them out of there. Even after they were flooded with calls not to get rid of them. It all boils down to that Pilot doesn't care what the drivers want, it's whatever they can do to reduce costs.

I would like to see a Denny's or IHOP in all the Flying J's but I know that won't happen either.

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Do your part to combat global warming. EAT A STEAK!

IHOP? Cool.....I have a thing for one legged waitresses!!

If someone can remember the formula that Pilot used when shutting down the Williams sit down diners, then let us know.

I think it's profit margins and locations. More money can be made through a franchise Wendy's, Subway or McDonalds. A sit down restuarant like a Country Market eats up money (pardon the pun). Also, there is large turn over of customers with fast food places, hence, the name FAST food! AND ... it probably annoys some corporate restuarant bean counters (could that be another pun?) that some customers almost take up enough time and space at a sit down restuarant to qualify as a second home. The corporate suits want turnover of the customers, like a new one every few minutes or so. That means creating an enviroment that would not make it conducive for a customer to stay around an eatery. Ever been in a sit down restuarant on a day that is not too hot but there is still lots of air conditioned air being dumped down on you? That's a way for them to clear you out and make room for the next person or group and their money.

On the other hand, drivers want some place where they can relax off hours, socialize and eat a bit more healthy than would be possible if only fast food places were installed at the post March 2010 Flying J's.

Will all sit down restuarants go away? I don't know. Will there be half sit downs and half fast foods at the new fangled Flying J? I don't know. Will there be nothing but fast food (don't let the door hit you on the way out) places at the new Flying J? I don't know.

My hunch (at this time) is that SOME sit down restuarants will stay but only have a study has been done by the "new sheriff in town" from Pilot corporate headquarters.

Will input by drivers help the situation with the new dynamic with the Flying J restuarants? Go for it. At least you know you tried to help.

It's a shame, but you're probably right HFC. It's all dollars and cents (not sense). Personally, I'm just hoping that the whole indsutry doesn't go the same way. There aren't a lot of comforts out on the road, and sitting down at a restaurant might not seem like much, but it's something.

Excellent point.

I think it's going to be a case of where CENTS talks and SENSE walks.

There may come a day when there is only one or two truck stop chains and then they dictate what (if any) drivers get for comforts on the road. Because they have no competition, they have no incentive to change anything.

What to do in the meantime ...

express your concerns and your viewpoints to ...

Flying J suits
Pilot suits
the national office of Flying J restuarants
the restuarant staff at the local Flying J's

and your local US House of Representatives and US Senate district office.

If he is leaking he needs duct tape.....

__________________
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let freedom ring

******retired homeschool teacher*******
Revolution is brewing

I am competitave. I play to win. I see no point in doing something for "fun". America was founded by competitive people. I will NOT give up the American dream! May God bless the USA.

Duct tape will fix anything even a pissed off dispatcher.

__________________
Do your part to combat global warming. EAT A STEAK!

I will miss the tasty pizza slices for sure if they disappear! Great to grab and take with you when the truck doesn't stop moving in a team situation.