Flying J, Pilot formally announce preliminary merger agreement

Good tasting food sells. Flying J sells nasty crap that costs too much. Ever have a Philly steak and cheese from the Huddle House? Those things are to die for! (maybe literally... but oh well)
I'm currently at the Petro in Carnesville, GA—across from the Flying J. The parking lot at the hook had maybe five trucks when I fueled up. Looks like the beginning of the end.

 

I refuse to eat at any fast food restaurant unless I have exhausted other options. And the Grilled Salmon at FJ is pretty #### good. Though not NEARLY as good as the one at Chilis...

As I was raised nearby Philly I refuse to accept a Philly cheese steak as tasting good unless it comes from one of those greasy side street carts as its a mixture of unwashed hands, sweat, and the smog of Philly that gives a REAL philly cheese steak its flavor dontchakno

 

Walmart should have it's own truckstops... Most of the walmarts are off the interstate anyway. I always see tons of trucks parked at the one near where I live. They have gas stations for cars (under a different name... like star something... can't think)... why not have fuel for big trucks and maybe a lounge/cooking area? Truckers could go into walmart, buy what they want... and cook and eat it there.

 

Because of a few rouge truck drivers have ruined it for us. People don't want trucks on their property.

 

It's Murphy USA that Wal Mart sells gas to four wheelers under that trade name.

 

Can you tell if the Flying J restuarant in Carnesville, Georgia shuttered? This is the same one where I saw on the floor the markings of where the buffet line used to be. It's when I asked about that and I was told (it's now been about two and a half years) that buffets at Flying J's will be done away with.

But then I asked at other Flying J 's and I was told NO, we are going to be keeping our buffets.

 

I never looked... I fueled, went inside to shower... never even went past the fuel desk. Did my business there and then went across the road to the Petro to eat.

The only thing that will suck if the Flying J goes under is the showers. They usually never have a wait and they're mostly pretty clean. Can't say that for Pilot.

 

If there's one thing this thread has proved, it's that every driver wants something different. And that's the problem with all these buyouts and mergers- we lose the variety.

Some like J's, some prefer Pilots. It was the same with TA and Petro. And then we have the vast differences between the various mom-n-pop's out there. It's becoming harder and harder for us as individuals to find a stop that suits our personal wants and needs. These companies are thinking expansion, and turning every stop they buy into a carbon copy of the others they own, and they forget that truck drivers are a bunch of independent cusses that can't agree on anything. There will never be a one-size-fits-all truck stop. It's impossible. But we seem to be heading that direction.

But what can we as drivers do about it? We have to park somewhere, there's very little public parking available (even less as states close rest areas), shippers/receivers keep kicking us out, and if we try to park at a mall or a Walmart, we end up spending our break arguing with the local cops instead of sleeping. Truck stops are becoming our only option, and the majority of truck stops are becoming "big brand". Sure, I like the mom-n-pops, but I've lost count of the number of times I've seen a favorite disappear. Either a big name buys them out, or a big name builds a new stop across the street and puts the old stop out of business.

I understand that Pilot is successful because that's what a lot of drivers want. But I'm upset at the loss of choices we are having to put up with.

 

Oh.

Well, if you or anyone else has a chance, please check to see what you can find out about Flying J's restuarants and their future (or lack thereof).

Thanks !