Another Week, Another Pilot Flying J Lawsuit; Separate Litigation Dropped
It wouldn’t be a week in trucking lately if there wasn’t some news about the truckstop chain Pilot Flying J. This one has been no exception, with a new lawsuit being filed, one being dropped, and questions arising over who owns the company that’s come under fire following the disclosure of a federal investigation into allegations of shortchanging customers on fuel rebates.
It wouldn’t be a week in trucking lately if there wasn’t some news about the truckstop chain Pilot Flying J. This one has been no exception, with a new lawsuit being filed, one being dropped, and questions arising over who owns the company that’s come under fire following the disclosure of a federal investigation into allegations of shortchanging customers on fuel rebates.
An Alabama trucking company is the latest to file suit, claiming the company and CEO Jimmy Haslam came up with a scheme to “secretly and unlawfully withhold diesel fuel price rebates” to customers.
Ad Loading...
The move by Eagle Motor Lines in federal court is a class action. So are many of the other estimated more than one dozen suits that have been filed since mid-April, when agents from the FBI and IRS served several search warrants on the headquarters of Pilot Flying J and the homes of some executives as part of an investigation.
Two people have pleaded guilty to charges for their roles and have agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Pilot Flying J and CEO Jimmy Haslam have denied accusations against them. No other charges are known to have been filed so far.
The Tennessean newspaper reports on lawsuit has been withdrawn for unknown reasons, a case originally filed last month by Alabama-based W.T.W. Enterprises and owner Charles E Winborn III.
In the meantime, the Knoxville News Sentinel newspaper this week published a story about secrecy surrounding the ownership of Pilot Flying J. It notes while the company has been tight-lipped, government documents reveal a lot more, including a number of different owners, though the family of Jimmy Haslam and Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam retain a majority of the ownership.
Listen as transportation attorney and TruckSafe Consulting President Brandon Wiseman joins the HDT Talks Trucking podcast to unpack the “regulatory turbulence” of last year and what it means for trucking fleets in 2026.
Safety, uptime, and insurance costs directly impact profitability. This eBook looks at how fleet software is evolving to deliver real ROI through proactive maintenance, AI-powered video telematics, and real-time driver coaching. Learn how fleets are reducing crashes, defending claims, and using integrated data to make smarter operational decisions.
Fleet software is getting more sophisticated and effective than ever, tying big data models together to transform maintenance, safety, and the value of your existing tech stack. Fleet technology upgrades are undoubtedly an investment, but updated technology can offer a much higher return. Read how upgrading your fleet technology can increase the return on your investment.
The Federal Highway Administration is asking motor carriers and truck drivers to give input on where and when drivers have difficulty finding truck parking, and on how drivers prefer to get information on available parking.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration continues a crackdown on an increasing number of states it says have been issuing non-domiciled CDLs improperly.
The Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration took several actions in 2025 to tighten enforcement of regulations for commercial drivers. Will those affect trucking capacity in 2026?
Lisa Kelly talks to HDT about the return of the show Ice Road Truckers, what really happens on the ice roads, how reality TV shapes drivers’ stories, and the career she’s built beyond the show.
