Two Fleets Accuse Pilot Flying J CEO of Fraud over Fuel Rebates
A federal lawsuit against truckstop chain Pilot Flying J has been amended, accusing the company's top executive of directing an alleged fuel rebate scheme.
A federal lawsuit against truckstop chain Pilot Flying J has been amended, accusing the company's top executive of directing an alleged fuel rebate scheme. The alleged rebate skimming first surfaced in April 2013 as part of a criminal probe by the FBI and IRS.
In a civil case, Keystone Freight Corp. and National Retail Transportation Inc. accused Pilot Flying J CEO Jimmy Haslam of orchestrating employees to defraud the two trucking companies of money they were due in the form of rebates from fuel purchases from 2004 through 2013. The suit makes similar allegations against former Pilot Flying J officials.
About a year ago, Pilot Flying J agreed to an $84.9 million settlement with thousands of trucking companies in the case. However, neither Keystone nor National Retail were part of that agreement.
Also this past summer Pilot Flying J agreed to $92 million in fines from the federal government to avoid prosecution, though individuals can still be indicted.
Since an April 2013 raid on Pilot Flying J’s Knoxville headquarters and other offices by federal agents, Haslam has denied any wrongdoing by the company and claimed he had no personal knowledge of alleged efforts to bilk customers. At least 10 Pilot Flying J employees have pleaded guilty to charges in the case, but none have been sentenced.
Read more about it from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
More Fuel Smarts
How Volvo Updated Its D13 for EPA 2027 [Watch]
Volvo’s updated D13 promises lower emissions without sacrificing performance or fuel economy. Take a closer look at what changed inside the engine in this HDT Spotlight video.
Read More →
Diesel Price Spike Shortens Payback for Natural Gas Trucks, Report Says
Energy Vision estimates fleets could recover the higher purchase price of an RNG-fueled Class 8 tractor in 1.3 to 2.8 years under current fuel-price scenarios.
Read More →
Calstart Becomes Catalyst Mobility, Reflecting Broader Focus
Calstart is now Catalyst Mobility, reflecting the nonprofit’s growing national role in clean transportation, including zero-emission trucks, infrastructure and incentive programs.
Read More →
Record Diesel Prices Squeeze Trucking Fleets
Average U.S. diesel prices have climbed to nearly $6 a gallon, surpassing the 2022 record as tight refinery capacity and Middle East disruptions keep fuel costs elevated.
Read More →
How Fuel Delivery Shapes Engine Performance
Fuel delivery depends on more than what happens at the injector. For fleet, maintenance and technical professionals, looking at the full path from pump to injector can provide useful context for understanding engine performance.
Read More →
East Coast Port Launches $45M Electric Truck Push
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced millions in incentives for zero-emission drayage trucks, yard tractors, and new charging hubs near the port.
Read More →
California Bill Could Shed Light on Electric Truck Prices
Why do battery-electric Class 8 trucks remain so expensive? A California bill headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom would give fleets and state agencies more visibility into what manufacturers charge.
Read More →
Detroit Opens Orders for EPA 2027 Engines
Detroit isn’t starting from scratch to meet EPA 2027 diesel emissions standards. Its Gen 6 DD13 and DD15 engines keep much of today’s platform while updating the fuel and aftertreatment systems.
Read More →
Zero-Emission Truck Corridor Planned for West Coast
California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Baja California are coordinating plans for truck charging and hydrogen fueling from Canada to Mexico.
Read More →
A Closer Look at Kenworth’s Electric T880E Vocational Truck [Video]
Learn more about Kenworth's T880E battery-electric vocational truck at the Paccar Technical Center, including its range, applications, upfitting considerations, and PTO options, in this HDT Spotlight video.
Read More →