Judge Dismisses Many Wright Transportation Claims Against Pilot Flying J

Embattled truckstop chain, Pilot Flying J, has scored what is being called a “major legal victory” against one trucking company.

A federal judge has dismissed many of the claims filed by Alabama-based Wright Transportation, following the disclosure of an alleged multi-million dollar rebate scheme, according to The Tennessean.

This follows an $85 million dollar federal class action settlement being approved late last year for trucking companies that decided not to opt-out, over claims Pilot Flying J purposely held rebate money from trucking customers fuel purchases in order to inflate company profits.

Among the biggest claims by Wright the judge dismissed wasracketeering against Pilot Flying J and CEO Jimmy Haslam, however he noted some claims could be refilled later.

Pilot Flying J’s attorney was quoted by the newspaper as being “delighted” by the decision, while Wright Transportation has yet to publicly comment.

In April of last year federal agents raided the headquarters of Pilot Fying J in Knoxville, as part of a criminal investigation into allegations it had cheated trucking customers out of money. This resulted in some employees being fired or put on administrative leave and more than a two-dozen lawsuits being filed against the company by trucking operations. Since then at least seven current or former employees have pleaded guilty for their roles, but have yet to be sentenced.

Pilot Flying J and Haslam continue to deny any wrongdoing.  It still faces lawsuits by trucking companies who decided not to participate in last year’s settlement. 

Read more from The Tennessean.