@RDBG Yep there are many companies that force PFJ on drivers. Like @STexan said, follow the money. Fortunately I have a choice. Rarely do I go to PFJ and haven't fueled there in well over a year. FYI PFJ, revolving your specials around that stupid Philmore cup is zero incentive to return. Wow I can get a 50 cent donut if I overpay for coffee. Woohoo! Pound sand Pilot. I use Loves because of the fuel incentives. Now, being home everyday I don't need the showers . I understand though the drivers who face that dilemma.
PFJ is our only authorized fuel stop. It sucks, but what can ya do.... I buy my coffee wherever I'm parked, and I save up my points to pay for scales and random lunch items.
I have that dilemma. My solution has been go there ONLY for fuel and shower ONLY and do that in one stop in the middle of the day then stay the night wherever I decide to. Only reason I ever stay at one is if it's the last closest thing to an early morning drop.
It is amazing how many of the new breed of driver's believe they are required to only stay at the truck stops on their fuel stop lists. I don't know if they are told that by their trainers or by the managements of the companies.
I had this same thought(slightly offended at first)...but look at it like this. They're doing a service to truckers by excluding trucks from their business. That means we don't have to deal with 4wheelers clogging up the aisles with their little brats while they move at a snails pace up to the register with their arms full of energy drinks and junk food to keep their little brats amped up for the rest of their trip. Not to mention them zooming through the parking lot like they're trying to qualify for the Daytona 500. Win win, thanks Buckees
I've wondered this too. I know Pilots are smaller then Js but last summer they opened a Pilot down the street that's the size of a sardine can. From the moment it opened the lot has been a cluster with double and triple parking late at night the norm, I drive by and look and know there are guys there that will not even be able to get on the scale if that's what they are pulling in to do (A different problem, I know). Strange part is, within 5 minutes of this site, there is property just sitting where they could have had probably 20 acres in an industrial area, in a town that has been openly advertising they would like to have a truckstop (how often do you hear that one?) It probably was a lot to do with politics, I have no clue of the big picture, but sometimes the decisions made seem to have no rhyme or reason.
I'm sure they have it figured out the average revenue per truck parking space and I'm sure it's shrinking, considering how many drivers only use the truck stop for fuel and a shower and cook in their truck. It wouldn't benefit them to have 200 spaces when they can keep up appearances by having 20. They know they've got plenty of large accounts where the drivers will line up and wait for fuel and every other service they offer, because their company has dictated they will fuel exclusively at Pilot. I'm sure the property tax is more for a larger lot. Maybe a solution to the parking problem would be to lower the property tax rate for them to build more spaces. And maybe once again tip it in their favor of cost vs expected revenue per truck parking space while having private money build the spaces rather than government money.
