Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

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.

Evan Lockridge
Evan LockridgeFormer Business Contributing Editor
June 13, 2013
Another Week, Another Pilot Flying J Lawsuit; Separate Litigation Dropped

 

2 min to read


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The Tennessean newspaper reports on lawsuit has been withdrawn for unknown reasons, a case originally filed last month by Alabama-based W.T.W. Enterprises and owner Charles E Winborn III.

Ad Loading...

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.

More Drivers

YouTube thumbnail showing two Western Star trucks with the text "Behind the Experience: Western Star Star Nation"
Equipmentby Lauren FletcherAugust 3, 2026

Drivers Put Western Star Trucks to the Test at Star Nation Experience

Watch to get an inside look at the Western Star trucks, technology, and community behind the Star Nation Experience 2026!

Read More →
American flag in background with photos of military truck and Freedom Haulers ad graphic
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJuly 30, 2026

Trump Administration Looks to Put More Veterans Behind the Wheel

The Freedom Haulers program pulls together existing and expanded programs at several federal agencies to recruit veterans to drive commercial heavy-duty trucks and cut the red tape for them to get a CDL, training, and employment.

Read More →
Equipmentby Jim ParkJuly 30, 2026

Putting Mack’s Command Steer to the Test

A test drive of Mack’s Command Steer active steering system evaluates how it can make truck driving easier and less tiring.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Truck driver behind the wheel with illustration overlaid of someone handing out cash
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJuly 28, 2026

Competition Heating Up for Truck Drivers

New report reveals rising driver hiring costs, the return of sign-on bonuses, growing AI advantages, and the operational factors shaping driver retention.

Read More →
Line of gray semi trucks with Fraley & Schilling logo
Safety & ComplianceJuly 15, 2026

How Fraley & Schilling Improved Logbook Compliance by Over 50%

Fraley & Schilling needed a way to close a compliance workflow gap in its ELD system without adding more work from driver training, reminders, and back-office follow-ups. It found the answer in a custom driver app.

Read More →
Volvo American Truck Simulator.
Driversby News/Media ReleaseJuly 8, 2026

Volvo Goes Gaming

Volvo has roared into American Truck Simulator with two new flagship trucks.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Two black men in safety vests walking together laughing in a truck fleet yard
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJuly 6, 2026

What the Best Fleets to Drive For Teach About Driver Retention

Survey fatigue, AI-powered routing, owner-operator expectations, and the decline of social media all emerged as themes from this year's Best Fleets to Drive For program.

Read More →
Podcast thumbnail showing Jane Jazrawy, the words "When Drivers Tune Out," and a line drawing of a truck.
DriversJuly 2, 2026

Driver Retention Lessons From the Best Fleets to Drive For

What separates trucking's best workplaces from the rest? Jane Jazrawy shares the biggest lessons from this year's Best Fleets to Drive For program on driver retention, communication, AI, and workforce trends on the HDT Talks Trucking podcast.

Read More →
Man standing beside tractor-trailer in sepia tone with the words "Farewell CDL" superimposed on top
Driversby Jack RobertsJuly 1, 2026

Farewell, CDL: Why I'm Giving Up My Commercial Driver's License

After more than 20 years as a CDL holder, HDT Executive Editor Jack Roberts is letting his commercial license expire. Not because he wants to — but because trucking's nuclear verdict crisis has made the risks of public-road test drives too great for editors, manufacturers, and everyone involved.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
HDT Talks Trucking thumbnail with photo of Jane Jazrawy and the text,, "When Drivers Tune Out"
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJune 24, 2026

How Top Trucking Fleets Improve Driver Retention [Video]

What do healthy snacks, optimized routing, and just picking up the phone have in common? They're all strategies the Best Fleets to Drive For are using to retain truck drivers.

Read More →