The Sad Destruction of Flying J by Pilot- catering to cars

Too bad, I used to stop there and then go to the Tanger Outlets nearby. Here's a report I found from two and a half years ago about expired food at the Flying J at Commerce, GA. I-85, Exit 147.

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/commerce-ga/TI6EMV3K6BQQ92N80

Yep, you are right ... there is no food service listed for the Flying J at Commerce, GA. The nearest food service (Patriot Farms Restuarants) belonging to Flying J is at Carnesville, GA at I-85, Exit 160.

http://www.pilottravelcenters.com/Locations/Location.aspx?location_id=629&Title=%23629+Commerce%2c+GA

I think the manager's hunch is right on the money. I also did kinda wonder why they had two Flying J's so close to each other. Well, Flying J at Commerce, GA will pass away next month.

Thanks for the insightful report about Flying J's after the "merger" with Pilot.

 

I have spoken to 2 or 3 managers at Flying J's and they have told me that their business has dropped dramatically since Pilot took over. I have yet to speak to any of their employees who are happy with the changes. I have contacted Pilot and Flying J in the past about issues and have yet to receive even a form letter from them. I don't think they really care about our opinions. Since the acquisition by Pilot I have taken most of my business to TA (Petro) or Loves. I try to find independents in an area where I go. If I do go to an area where there is a Flying J then I may purchase 50 gallons to get a shower. I may have posted on the here about it but I think that I have bought fuel about 5 times at Flying J since the merger. Flying J was my primary fuel stop before the merger. I have done business with them for many years. I feel the best way to express my displeasure of the changes is to move my business to where I think that it is more appreciated. I have a couple of friends who have also stopped doing business with Flying J since the merger. If you look at the fuel islands at some of the Flying J's you would never know there has been a change. I stopped at the Flying J in Knoxville, TN a few days ago and they were very busy at the fuel island. I don't think that Pilot understands how to operate a truck stop. They do a very good job of selling fuel to the major carriers and 4 wheelers. I am not sure they can survive with the changes they are making at the Flying J's. The two chains are very different in their target market. Flying J has always catered to the owner operators and small fleets. Pilot has catered to the major carriers. They are two very different markets.

 

Pilot will go where the money is. It doesn't matter to them, or probably any other business WHERE that leads.

As far as Denny's at truck stops, several years ago, I would have cheered for that. But since Denny's has changed their menu, I flatly will NOT go there.

It has been interesting over the past forty or so years, to see the changes at Denny's. They used to be the worst of the worst, then over time, as they went to local franchises, they seemed to improve, vastly. Now, they are back on my "UUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHH" list.

 

When I was in my twenties, Denny's was the place we'd go eat after the bar. It didn't matter what it tasted like because you were gonna puke it up in the parking lot anyway.

 

The case I was refering to WAS true at the Flying J at Winchester (Clear Brook, VA) [ I-81, Exit 323 ] before mid September 2010.

At that time they did have a buffet and YES, I did see drivers and other people coming out of the urinals and stalls where they did NOT wash their hands and go to fondle the buffet food.

BUT, after September 27, 2010, that is not the case since the buffet has been done away with and all food in now Denny's or Subway's - off the menu.

 

Gotta love the love Flying Pukes get now. Before they drove themselves out of business all everyone could do was complain about 'em

 

They are showing an increase in profit, so something is improving. They were decreasing. Negative to positive means they will be around a long time to make you miserable. The stock holders are happy.

 

I would look at all the j's on my route & only stop at them. they had the best fuel prices. usually. they had bigger parking lot's & I liked the showers. I always disliked the pilot's. they must be doing something right to be able to buy the hook's. nevertheless I still don't like them. I used to stop quite a bit at the whiteland IN J. but have not been there due to running local the last couple years with the exception of a couple times while on personal business. at that time the merger had taken place, but no changes at that location at that time. the friendly waitresses is what I miss. since going local & I dont know how long that will last, I have gone to the loves. so far the only place I have been to in the last 7 months is the loves in columbia TN. they are clean, prices are competetive & I like the points sys. the free refills are nice, cause you can bring in your own ANY size container for the refill too. and refill what ever you want. I have not had to spend the night in my truck for 7 months or so, so I dont know about the showers at the loves. I will miss the j.

 

I have no doubt that Pilot profits are up. They have targeted the major carriers and have been very successful with that market. They chose to go after the high volume fuel users rather than the small fleets and owner operators. Of course, they have gotten some owner operators who are leased to some of these major carriers due to them being able to save a few pennies on fuel purchases by using the corporate fuel card. It may be difficult to get real numbers from Flying J with the merger. Neither are publicly traded companies so real numbers may not reflect actual figures. My guess is that those Flying J's that are not profitable will either be sold off or closed. Pilot is very profit oriented. If it doesn't make money they don't want anything to do with it. I am sure some Flying J's are making money. But I would also not doubt that some are not making money since the merger. I would think that they have picked up some revenue since they started accepting Comdata. But they have also lost a lot of business from those of us who don't want to do business with Pilot. Only time will tell how much of an impact, if any, the merger and loss of Flying J's base will have on the long term.