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

Not to mention the loss of the points we get on our J card for fueling.

Denny's has already stated they won't take them, the crud on the hot bar, I don't eat, but Pee-lot has already stated that they won't accept the points for purchase of hot bar items.

What are we supposed to do with these points? Save them up for two years to purchase MAYBE one worthwhile, useful, yet OVER-PRICED item from the J on-line store? That is, provided the Pee--lot even keeps THAT.....

Judi Kay

 

Yes, you are quite right. Case in point, I have seen several drivers and four wheelers at the Flying J rest room NOT washing their hands after going to the urinal and in some cases, after going to the commode.

I happened to follow one driver (who did not wash his hands after using the urinal) out to the buffet where he picked up and looked at a dinner roll, turned it over a few times and then put it back. I have seen people (both drivers and four wheelers) return to the buffet for seconds, etc. without getting a new plate.

Knock on wood, I am still here and still healthy.

What can be done to fix that situation. Signs in the bathroom that say EVERYONE IS TO WASH THEIR HANDS AFTER USING THE RESTROOM. Bigger signs that say DO NOT USE YOUR FIRST PLATE WHEN GETTING MORE FOOD.

And an idea I have seen at some Golden Corrals ... a big pump bottle of hand sanitizer within plain view of the buffet area and the plate and silverware area.

 

Well ain't I the fly in the proverbial soup? I'm glad Pilot bought the J.

Our fuel stop used to be Flying J only. Now with the merger, we are allowed to fuel at Pilots too--I haven't so much as visited a Flying J since.

Numero uno for me is the coffee. Where I used to have to fuel at the J, then make an additional stop at the Pilot for coffee, now I can do both at the same time. I don't know what that licorice tasting crap is that the J sells, but it sure ain't coffee.

I also like fast food. Most of the time I don't have a spare minute to waste sitting in a restaurant, so the ability to fuel, get decent coffee AND a hamburger all in the same stop is an extra bonus.

 

I contacted them just now through the customer service contact page and asked them to reach me through e-mail in reference to some issues I have raised and am concerned about.

 

What we need here obviously, is a "restroom mommy." She won't let you out the door if you have not properly washed your hands.

 

My comments would be this.
Flying J has some of the largest lots around for trucks to park over night.
Most of these lots are in very good condition and are designed allot better than peelot or even some of the TA's. Much less chance of a large pot hole in a J.
They need to make money to keep these locations open so that drivers have a place to sleep, fuel, eat or whatever. But many of the drivers that stop at the truck stops are not spending allot of money. They will buy coffee and maybe one meal, but that is about it. Yes we buy fuel, but what percent of rest break stops do you buy fuel?

Truck stops need to make money. So they have room for 200 trucks to park in the lot. That means maybe 275 customers?
Each person will spend an average of probably 8 bucks (being giving here, normally would be less) and of that 8 bucks 25% would be profit. So for 10 hours of parking they are looking at a profit of 550 bucks off of the entire full lot each night.
Remember, this is an average. Some drivers will be eating at the restaurant, but many will not.
To add to those numbers they will have trucks that will pull thru and just grab a few things they need. Those drivers will probably spend more money than the ones that are parked for 10 hours on average. This is because the pull in drivers are just there because they need something. These guys are great, since they do not add to the cost of maintaining a large lot.

Now we have the fuel purchases. Yes, I am sure some were waiting for this.
So you are adding allot to the bottom line here........
You buy 300 gal of fuel at that stop...... They made a whopping 30 bucks off of that sale if they are lucky. Yup the MAX profit that most stations ever see is 10 cents per gal. Most stations never see more than 2 or 3 cents per gal of fuel sold in profit.
The profit comes from the stores and food. This is why convenience stores have gotten so big.
This is why our beloved truck stops have become travel centers, and most of the old mom and pop truck stops are gone. To make enough profit to keep the lots, buildings etc maintained and the employees paid, the truck stops had to find more customers. There just were not enough truckers in the doors every day to pay the bills.
So we go to the other group on the highways. The 4-wheeler driver.
The average 4-wheeler driver on the interstate, that is not commuting to and from work, is going somewhere. They mostly will not have coolers or any way to keep food in the car. They have a small fuel tank. And they have money to spend.
So the truck stops changed. They made themselves as car friendly as possible.

You guys that see this as a bad thing need to think more.
If the truck stops did not have 4-wheelers coming in, they would not be here at all.
We do not add up to enough profit for them to stay.
So next time you are in a truck stop make sure to thank a 4-wheeler.
Without them you would not have truck stops to sleep in. EVER.
You would have little 4 pump covered fuel stops without anything else. Maybe a coffee pot at the register if you are lucky.

 

Um....wow. I can't really comment on this, but what a way to support the trucking community...

"4-wheelers" have: regular gas stations, shopping centers, restaurants, malls, plazas, etc.

Where can truckers park for a quick break? Here's what truckers have: "truck" stops (more like 4 wheeler stops now), and maybe some Walmarts for shopping (if you don't get kicked off property). That's it.

I don't really know what's wrong with regular gas stations for cars. As far as truck stops making revenue? Maybe you haven't seen how many trucks refuel daily. Maybe you forgot that the average truck purchases somewhere between $200 to $500 dollars of fuel or more PER TRUCK. That's ALOT of money. On a grand scheme, that's alot of money at alot of truck stops. The BIGGEST REVENUE FOR TRUCK STOPS IS FUEL! MAYBE YOU'RE NOT EVEN A REAL TRUCK DRIVER!!!

How dare you say that "We do not add up to enough profit for them to stay". What a load of garbage.

 

And what's the net margin on that? Next time you stop into a J, ask the manager what the monthly electric bill is... or monthly payroll... or property taxes... or liability insurance... the water bill... building maintenance... lot maintenance...

I'm quite sure they wouldn't have filed chapter 11 if every available nook and cranny at the corporate office was stuffed with hundred dollar bills.

 

Something like that. Apparently, what the bottom line is that people don't have ethics anymore and am not concerned about others. This is observed when they leave the bathroom without washing their hands and putting others health in jeopardy.

 

I'm going to be honest and say that we never buy fuel at a Flying J and almost never at a Pilot. We get fuel at terminals and on occasion truckstops. I'll miss the drivers lounge and Lord I hope that doesn't mean they're taking out the showers too. I don't like the 4 wheelers or the RVers either. But my occasionally eating in the restaurant isn't going to keep them financially afloat. So.......if they have to have the 4 wheelers in order for me to have a place to park and a potty to use.....so be it.