Pilot Flying J Using Driver Appreciation Week to Get Personal

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Pilot Flying J is devoting extra employees to meet and greet professional drivers during National Driver Appreciation Week, Sept. 17-22. The travel center chain’s employees will personally thank the men and women that keep America moving, and gather feedback for the company, according to the announcement.

"This week is dedicated to professional drivers, and we're excited to have this opportunity to celebrate them, thank them and get to know them better," said Jimmy Haslam, CEO of Pilot Flying J. "Our priority is to make each driver's day the best it can be, so we're always eager to hear from drivers about life on the road. We are committed to knowing our customers better -- not just during one week but every day of the year -- so we can best serve them."

Haslam will join Pilot Flying J employees as they meet and greet customers, and will help kick the week off by being out at the fuel pumps of the Flying J Travel Plaza on Watt Road in Knoxville, Tenn., the morning of Sept. 17.

All Pilot Flying J employees will wear colorful T-shirts made especially for Driver Appreciation Week for easy identification, the company said. The shirts reportedly share four sentiments that exemplify the spirit behind Pilot Flying J's renewed mission to make life better for America's drivers:

• We love drivers
• We thank drivers
• We respect drivers
• We appreciate drivers

Staff will greet drivers at each store's diesel pumps and thank them for their hard work, and drivers are encouraged to seek out staff with any feedback, suggestions or ideas.

"Professional drivers keep this country moving; without them, Americans couldn't live the lives we enjoy today," Haslam said. "We're looking forward to getting to know these men and women on a more personal level. They are hardworking, talented and inspiring. We're appreciative of the opportunity to thank them for all that they do and listen to their feedback. We want to hear what we can do to make a driver's day better."

Pilot Flying J is also recognizing September as Driver Appreciation Month by offering double points on professional drivers' MyRewards cards from Aug. 28-Oct. 2., as CSNews Online previously reported.

The Knoxville, Tenn.-based Pilot Flying J network operates more than 600 retail locations and is the largest operator of travel centers and travel plazas in North America, according to the company.