KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Pilot Travel Centers LLC (Pilot Travel Centers and Flying J Travel Plazas) have announced today that the company is making a $49 million investment to remodel and upgrade its existing network of showers. By December of 2013, Pilot Flying J will have upgraded all of the more than 4,400 showers in the network, with 75% of the showers rebuilt over the next 18 months.
"Our fleet customers want drivers to have a great experience in the facilities where they are asked to purchase fuel," said Mark Hazelwood, executive vice president of sales for Pilot Flying J. "We are doing whatever it takes to make a driver's day the best it can be, and one of those things is to provide the most comfortable and relaxing shower experience possible. We have by far the largest network of showers in North America, and we want to make certain it's the best."
During remodeling, showers will remain open at each location so that customers can continue to use the facilities without interruption. As part of the upgrades, Pilot Flying J plans to install all high-quality products including specially designed porcelain tile and new mold-resistant grout to improve maintenance and cleanliness of the shower.
The shower upgrades include many other improvements designed with the driver's experience in mind, including more hooks to hang and store personal items; new shower gel; better ventilation;
iPod listening stations to allow drivers to play their own music; custom-designed benches for seating or to place personal belongings; softer, thicker, larger towels; brand-new cloth bathmats; and high-end, "spa-style" shower heads that provide ideal water pressure for a great shower experience.
Recognizing that clean, modern shower facilities are an essential need for professional drivers who are away from home for extended periods of time, Pilot Flying J said that it is excited to complete this new project for their customers.
"We want professional drivers to feel more at home when they visit our locations," said Jimmy Haslam, CEO of Pilot Flying J. "We know that drivers just want a clean place to rest, relax, and refresh before they have to get back out on the road. We listened to what features they wanted to see in our showers and are making these changes in order to provide the best shower facilities available to them while on the road."
Pilot Flying J, Knoxville, Tenn., has more than 600 retail locations across North America.
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