Truck stop giant to spend $1 billion on overhauling 400 locations

One of the nation’s largest chain truck stops announced plans to renovate hundreds of truck stop locations over the next few years.

As part of a project dubbed “New Horizons,” Pilot Company will spend $1 billion to overhaul more than 400 Pilot and Flying J travel centers nationwide over the course of three years.

During the first phase of the New Horizons project, Pilot Company plans to renovate 50 stores in 2022.

The company says that stores will be given “top-to-bottom exterior and interior remodels.”

Pilot says that key location enhancements will include:

• Store exteriors and interiors: Top to bottom overhauls from the curb to the counter, including more energy-efficient lighting for well-lit parking lots, improved fueling experience, updated branding, refaced walls and store features with industrial style accents to create a welcoming environment that leaves a lasting impression.
• Restrooms, showers and laundry: Adding more and remodeling existing facilities with modern, energy efficient fixtures – including touchless where possible – new tile, fresh paint and brighter lighting.
• Seating and lounges: Expanding spaces for guests to relax with comfortable furnishings and additional dining areas.
• Retail, food and beverage: Redesigned store layouts will increase variety and bring more of Pilot’s signature fresh deli items, including pizza, homestyle meals, grab-and-go foods, and premium coffee to more locations, all in an easy-to-shop atmosphere.
• New technology: Installing state-of-the-art retail and fueling technology, including adding self-checkouts, to increase efficiency and enable team members to further personalize the guest experience.
• Improved team member areas: Upgrading, reconfiguring and expanding breakrooms and workspaces, including installing new kitchen equipment and back-office solutions, to make team members’ jobs easier and able to focus more on providing great service.
• Future innovations: Equipping our stores with fueling alternatives, including electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and developing a strategy to support low emission and zero emission vehicles.

“For 63 years, we’ve been proud to fuel millions of journeys and as we have done since our founding, we will continue to evolve the travel center experience to meet the changing needs of our guests and team members,” said Shameek Konar, Pilot Company CEO. “We are listening to what our guests want most at our locations and how we can improve our offerings to make their travels easier and more enjoyable. New Horizons will incorporate this feedback as we overhaul our entire network to deliver on what our guests value today and prepare our stores for the future.”

In February, Pilot Company announced plans to open 14 new travel centers in 2022.