KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — After closing its drivers’ lounges early in the pandemic, Pilot Co. has begun the process of reopening lounges in more than 100 Pilot and Flying J Travel Centers across the United States, according to the company, implementing new disinfecting procedures for the health and safety of its professional driver guests.
“It’s important for professional drivers to have a place where they can not only fuel up, but also relax and recharge when they’re resting from the road,” said Jason Nordin, Pilot Co.’s chief operating officer. “That’s why we reopened our driver lounges as soon as we could, with safety for our drivers and team members at the forefront of it all.”
In a statement on its website, Pilot Co. noted some of the efforts it is making to keep the lounges and all visits to its stores safe.
“It is vital that we all do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to help ensure that our team members and guests stay safe,” it said.
The company’s efforts to that end include following all state and federal mandated guidelines of social distancing, requiring all employees and customers wear face masks while in a Pilot store and frequent sanitization of all areas of the stores, among other things.
“We’ll reopen more driver lounges as local and state regulations allow and regularly review all current safety procedures in place to ensure the ones that are open can stay open safely,” Nordin said.
Meanwhile, Pilot Co. is offering a one-time, $75 incentive to its team members who choose to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The incentive is available to all Pilot hourly team members, professional drivers and general managers.
The company also is leaning into technology, putting foodservice first and focusing on cleanliness in light of the pandemic.CSP featured Pilot Co. and its efforts to modernize its stores on the cover of the February issue of its magazine. Click here to read that feature.
Based in Knoxville, Tenn., Pilot Co. has grown its network to more than 1,000 retail and fueling locations. Its Pilot Flying J Travel Center network includes more than 750 locations in 44 states and six Canadian provinces.
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