Pilot Company
Pilot Company is the largest travel center operator in North America, running 900+ Pilot, Flying J, and One9 locations across 44 U.S. states and 6 Canadian provinces. It distributes over 12 billion gallons of fuel annually, serves 1.2 million guests daily, and provides fuel, food, fleet services, and EV charging to professional drivers, fleet operators, and travelers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1958
- HeadquartersKnoxville, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Pilot Company does
Pilot Company is a privately held, family-owned travel center operator and the largest of its kind in North America, operating over 900 locations across 44 U.S. states and 6 Canadian provinces under the Pilot, Flying J, and One9 brands. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, the company serves approximately 1.2 million guests daily and employs 30,000+ team members. Its core business is fuel distribution — through the third largest tanker trucking fleet in North America it moves over 12 billion gallons of gasoline, diesel, and DEF annually to its travel centers.
The company's product portfolio spans fuel (gasoline, diesel, DEF), proprietary and branded foodservice (Pilot eats, Pilot eats EXPRESS, Pilot Coffee, and partnerships with McDonald's, Subway, Arby's), convenience retail, and a deep set of professional driver amenities including showers, reservable truck parking (Prime Parking), mobile fueling, laundry, Wi-Fi, CAT Scales, IdleAir, and truck care through its Southern Tire Mart subsidiary. It is also building out electric vehicle charging infrastructure through multi-year partnerships with GM and EVgo (over 850 stalls at 200+ locations with a target of 2,000 stalls at 500 locations) and Tesla (Tesla Semi heavy-duty truck chargers along I-5, I-10, and other freight corridors). Its technology stack is anchored by a five-year agreement with NCR Voyix to deploy an AI-enabled commerce platform with a microservice architecture across 750+ locations, replacing legacy point-of-sale systems and supporting mobile ordering, loyalty, and fleet billing.
Pilot makes money primarily through transaction-based fuel sales and food/merchandise sales across its travel center network, supplemented by managed services revenue from fleet solutions including Direct Bill (consolidated invoicing with credit terms), Fuel & Factoring, Flying J Cardlock, and wholesale fuel. Loyalty programs (myRewards, Pro Driver Rewards, Auto & RV Driver Rewards, Push For Points) drive repeat visit frequency, particularly from professional truck drivers and fleet operators. Customer concentration is split between long-tail consumer traffic (individual drivers, RV travelers, EV drivers) and enterprise fleet contracts, with direct billing and factoring embedding the company into fleet back-office operations.
Pilot Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pilot Company
- Legal name
- Pilot Travel Centers LLC
- Website
- https://pilotflyingj.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1958
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Pilot Company is the largest travel center operator in North America, running 900+ Pilot, Flying J, and One9 locations across 44 U.S. states and 6 Canadian provinces. It distributes over 12 billion gallons of fuel annually, serves 1.2 million guests daily, and provides fuel, food, fleet services, and EV charging to professional drivers, fleet operators, and travelers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Pilot Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Knoxville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Pilot Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Fuel Sales: Sales of gasoline, diesel, and alternative fuels including DEF at travel centers across North America. Pilot operates the third largest tanker trucking fleet in North America, distributing over 12 billion gallons annually.
- Food and Beverage Sales: Proprietary food concepts including Pilot Eats and Pilot Eats EXPRESS, plus branded restaurant partners (McDonald's, Subway, Arby's, etc.) generating food service revenue
- EV Charging Services: Electric vehicle charging stations at travel centers with per-kWh pricing, part of partnerships with GM, EVgo, and Tesla
- Fleet Solutions: Credit offerings, direct billing, wholesale fuel, and fuel factoring services for fleet operators
- Retail Merchandise: Convenience store sales including snacks, drinks, and travel necessities
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | $6 Breakfast Deal |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | $8 Lunch and Dinner Deal |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | EV Charging |
| Freemium | Monthly | Push For Points Rewards |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Pilot Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pilot Company operates North America's largest travel center network, running over 900 company-owned locations under the Pilot, Flying J, and One9 banners across 44 U.S. states and 6 Canadian provinces. The business sells gasoline, diesel, and DEF; provides proprietary and branded foodservice; and offers professional driver amenities including reservable showers, truck parking, mobile fueling, and truck care. Separate fleet solutions (Direct Bill, wholesale fuel, and Fuel & Factoring) serve commercial fleet operators, while the Pilot app and myRewards loyalty programs support both retail consumers and pro drivers.
Product overview
Pilot Company operates North America's largest travel center network with over 900 locations under multiple brands (Pilot, Flying J, One9) across 44 U.S. states and 6 Canadian provinces. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services centered on fuel (gasoline, diesel, DEF), foodservice (proprietary Pilot eats/Pilot eats EXPRESS brands alongside name-brand restaurants), and professional driver amenities (parking, showers, truck care). The core offering includes loyalty programs (myRewards, Pro Driver Rewards, Auto & RV Driver Rewards), the Pilot App for mobile ordering and reservations, fleet solutions (Direct Bill, Fuel & Factoring), and EV charging infrastructure through partnerships with GM/EVgo. The product portfolio spans physical travel center operations, digital services (mobile app, ordering), and alternative energy offerings including EV charging and hydrogen fuel.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Tartan: Brand under Pilot Company's family of brands
- Stamart
- SCO Fuel
- Pride
- PSS
- Mr. Fuel
- Prime Parking
- Pilot eats
- Pilot eats EXPRESS
- Miles of Good
- Southern Tire Mart
- One9
Products and services
- Pilot Travel Centers
- Flying J Travel Centers
- One9 Travel Centers
- Pilot eats
- Pilot eats EXPRESS
- Pilot Coffee
- EV Charging
- The Pilot App
- myRewards Card
- Pro Driver Rewards
- Auto & RV Driver Rewards
- Prime Parking
- Mobile Ordering
- Direct Bill
- Fuel & Factoring
- Flying J Cardlock
- Southern Tire Mart / Truck Care
- Mobile Fueling
- Showers
- CAT Scale
- IdleAir
Quantifiable outcome
- 350kW chargers can add 150-200 miles of range in 15-20 minutes
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Pilot Company
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Pilot Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature3 records
Pilot Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.
- NCR VoyixcoreFive-year platform agreement to deploy AI-enabled NCR Voyix Commerce Platform for both retail and commercial fuel solutions across Pilot's 750+ travel center locations. Modernization creates microservice architecture improving mobile ordering integration, enabling local operation during network outages, and allowing faster software delivery.
- Black BuffalominorPilot Company named as a 2025 Herd Preferred Award winner by Black Buffalo Inc., recognized as a top retail partner for smokeless tobacco alternative products based on total can volume and cans per week metrics.
- GeotabstrategicPilot Company recognized at Geotab's 2026 Innovation Awards for committing over $1 billion to modernize its travel center network using Geotab analytics for fleet management and operational improvements.
- TeslacorePartnership to install Tesla Semi chargers for heavy-duty electric truck charging at select Pilot Travel Centers along Interstate 5, Interstate 10, and other major corridors. First sites opening summer 2025 with construction beginning in H1 2026 in California, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. Charging network delivers up to 1.2 megawatts of power per stall.
- General Motors and EVgocoreCollaborative EV fast-charging network deployed at over 200 Pilot and Flying J travel centers across nearly 40 U.S. states with over 850 public fast charging stalls. Partnership targeting up to 2,000 stalls at 500 locations. Network features 350kW fast chargers, Plug and Charge capability, and pull-through stalls with overhead canopies.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Pilot Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Love's Travel Stops: Love's is the closest direct competitor to Pilot, operating a similarly large network of travel centers across the U.S. serving professional truck drivers and motorists with fuel, food, and amenities. Both companies compete head-to-head for fleet customers and highway corridor real estate.
- TravelCenters of America: TravelCenters of America operates a national network of travel centers directly competing with Pilot Flying J for professional drivers and highway travelers. Acquired by BP in 2023, TA represents a major competitor with energy major backing.
- Buc-ee's: Buc-ee's operates mega-sized travel centers primarily across the southern U.S., directly competing with Pilot for auto and RV travelers with proprietary food offerings, large-format stores, and aggressive site expansion.
- RaceTrac: RaceTrac operates a large network of travel centers and convenience stores across the southern U.S., competing with Pilot for highway and interstate travelers with fuel and food service offerings.
Broad incumbents
- Casey's General Stores: Casey's operates one of the largest U.S. convenience store chains with fuel sales, prepared food, and bakery items, competing with Pilot for general motorists and small-town travel stops, though with smaller-format stores.
- 7-Eleven: 7-Eleven is the largest U.S. convenience store chain with fuel sales at the majority of its 13,000+ U.S. locations. While its urban and suburban store footprint differs from Pilot's highway focus, it competes for the same motorist fuel and convenience spend.
Regional players
- Wawa: Wawa operates a popular Mid-Atlantic and Southeast convenience store chain with strong proprietary food offerings. It competes with Pilot for east coast traveler and commuter fuel/food spend though with a regional focus.
- Sheetz: Sheetz is a privately-held convenience store and fuel chain operating primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions, competing with Pilot for traveler food and fuel spend with proprietary made-to-order food offerings.
- Kwik Trip: Kwik Trip is a large privately-held Midwest convenience store and fuel chain, competing with Pilot for highway and regional traveler fuel and food spend in its core Upper Midwest operating territory.
Others
- Pilot Thomas Logistics: While not a direct competitor, Pilot Thomas Logistics is an energy logistics and distribution company adjacent to Pilot Company's wholesale fuel operations, providing context on fuel supply chain economics relevant to Pilot's business model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Pilot Company social profiles
Digital presencePilot Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pilot Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Pilot Company subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Pilot Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pilot Company M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pilot Company
What does Pilot Company do?
Pilot Company operates North America's largest travel center network, running over 900 company-owned locations under the Pilot, Flying J, and One9 banners across 44 U.S. states and 6 Canadian provinces. The business sells gasoline, diesel, and DEF; provides proprietary and branded foodservice; and offers professional driver amenities including reservable showers, truck parking, mobile fueling, and truck care. Separate fleet solutions (Direct Bill, wholesale fuel, and Fuel & Factoring) serve commercial fleet operators, while the Pilot app and myRewards loyalty programs support both retail consumers and pro drivers.
Is Pilot Company a public or private company?
Pilot Company is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Pilot Company founded?
Pilot Company was founded in 1958. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Pilot Company based?
Pilot Company is headquartered in Knoxville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pilot Company make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Fuel Sales are the primary driver. The others are food and Beverage Sales, EV Charging Services, fleet Solutions and retail Merchandise.
Who are Pilot Company's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Love's Travel Stops, TravelCenters of America, Buc-ee's and RaceTrac. Broad incumbents are Casey's General Stores and 7-Eleven. Regional players are Wawa, Sheetz and Kwik Trip. Pilot Thomas Logistics is listed as an others.
Does Pilot Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pilot Company.