Bad news for Flying J fans

**Special K** · 07-13-2009, 05:22 PM

A trucking friend whose wife works for a J-related truck stop in Salt Lake City just called to tell us that Flying J has just (today) sold out to Pilot. I don't have any links for people to verify it, maybe some of you more tech-savvy folks can find one. Marda

**chefdennis** · 07-13-2009, 06:00 PM

a quick call to "J" corp. offices and a conversation with a virgina parker, director of market was enough to find out that the "J" fuel centers are not going anywhere and nothing will change for those using their many services.

the are changes that will involve pilot, and a press release will be out today...she invited me to call her back later this evening or tomorrow morning and she would then be free to provide details...but unless she is lying, its not going to affect us...and i have no reason to doubt her....

**OntarioVanMan** · 07-13-2009, 06:00 PM

am on the search...only this archived article...

Flying J announces it is closing 7 restaurants
June 23rd, 2009 @ 4:39pm
Read it in Spanish

OGDEN, Utah (AP) -- Ogden-based oil company Flying J Inc. is closing seven restaurants because of poor economic conditions.

Flying J is closing restaurants in Payson, Utah; Bessemer, Ala.; Commerce, Ga.; Lubbock, Texas; and three Wyoming locations -- Cokeville, Evanston and Casper.

The Flying J convenience stores at those locations will continue selling hot and cold deli items.

Flying J filed a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware in December. In February, Flying J announced it was laying off 200 workers as part of its reorganization.

Virginia Parker, director of marketing for Flying J, said Monday in a statement that the company regularly reviews the long-term potential of each property and evaluates the performance that's needed for it to continue operating.

**Dreamer** · 07-13-2009, 06:01 PM

I haven't been able to find anything on it, but it wouldn't surprise me. Pilot has bought up so many of the old truckstops.

Hate to see it happen tho, not a lot of 'full service' truckstops left.

Dale

**OntarioVanMan** · 07-13-2009, 06:07 PM

as long as they run them as separate entities like Petro/TA are doing and I don't lose my shower credits...

**jujubeans** · 07-13-2009, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by OntarioVanMan

as long as they run them as separate entities like Petro/TA are doing and I don't lose my shower credits...

Hope the coffee improves...

**guido4475** · 07-13-2009, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by jujubeans

Hope the coffee improves...

The heck with the coffee, how about the food?

**Dakota** · 07-13-2009, 08:35 PM

I actually like the Pilots so this is good news for me

**cheri1122** · 07-13-2009, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by guido4475

The heck with the coffee, how about the food?

Blasphemy! Coffee is waay more important!!

Wonder if they'll be accepting Comdata....

**aileron** · 07-13-2009, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by cheri1122

Wonder if they'll be accepting Comdata....

I would think so. We will see shortly I guess..

**alwaysontime** · 07-13-2009, 10:19 PM

Obama should force the flying j's to accept comdata!!

**teamjdw** · 07-13-2009, 10:23 PM

Turn all j's into pilots.That would be nice,i like j's,but were not allowed to fuel there.There showers are better than pilot.

**Special K** · 07-13-2009, 11:11 PM

This keeps coming up, and I'd like to set the record straight about "Flying J not allowing Comdata". When Flying J created their TCH (Transportation Clearing House) system, it was in direct competition with Comdata (and T check, for that matter), and COMDATA cut Flying J off, being unwilling to contribute to the profit of a competitor.

**moose** · 07-13-2009, 11:25 PM

It's Just a Pilot program ...

**Turtle** · 07-14-2009, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by Special K

This keeps coming up, and I'd like to set the record straight about "Flying J not allowing Comdata". When Flying J created their TCH (Transportation Clearing House) system, it was in direct competition with Comdata (and T check, for that matter), and COMDATA cut Flying J off, being unwilling to contribute to the profit of a competitor.

Actually, it was Flying J that cut Comdata off. But it's complicated.

From another post on 6/1/09:

The reason Flying J doesn't take Comdata is a result of a long history of legal disputes between the two parties. Basically, Comdata doesn't want to process the Flying J Fleet cards as fleet cards in the same manner that they process their own cards (and others) at non-Flying J locations. And, Flying J wants to charge Comdata more than Comdata wants to pay for installing Comdata networks at Flying J locations. This has been going on in the courts since 1996. The judge keeps ruling, generally, in Flying J's favor, but Comdata keeps interpreting the rulings on how to implement the changes in such a manner that the judge did not intend, so back to court it goes. It's very complicated and has to deal with how transactions are electronically processed on two fronts, the point-of-sale and the fleet card processing.

In 2001 Flying J was awarded $49 million in damages to be paid by Comdata in the antitrust suit. Comdata announced they would comply (Comdata Settles Litigation with Flying J 2001), and then promptly refused to comply.

In 2005 they judge re-awarded Flying J the settlement, and clarified how Comdata was to proceed. Comdata has yet to comply.

Basic explanation can be found in the last paragraph here:
Flying J Inc. -- Company History

Full details of the decision (of which the basics are in the first paragraph) here:
Comdata Settles Litigation with Flying J 2005

The only thing I've heard is that on Sunday there was a conference call between Flying J corporate and all of its store managers, announcing a merger of sorts, best I can figure it deals with ConocoPhillips and the fuel supply side of things more than anything else.