Pilot Flying J history

1965: Marathon Oil Co. buys half of the $2 million-a-year Pilot and loans $4 million to build new locations.

1968: Flying J Inc. begins with four gas stations in Utah.

After working at Pilot stores throughout high school and college since 1969, Jimmy Haslam joins Pilot Corporation, and then in December marries Dee Bagwell Haslam who later becomes a partner in the business.

After working at Pilot stores throughout high school and college since 1973, Bill Haslam joins Pilot Corporation and its board of directors following his graduation from Emory University.

1976: Pilot opens its first convenience store on Alcoa Highway in Knoxville, Tennessee.

1977: Pilot buys Lonas Oil Co. in Knoxville, Tennessee, converting most of that company's locations to convenience stores.

In 1979, Call debuted the Flying J "travel plaza," in West Haven, Utah, adding amenities such as a restaurant, motel, shower stations, and fuel islands for both cars and trucks.

But in 1981, Pilot's partner, Marathon, was busily fending off a hostile takeover by Mobil Oil.

In 1984, Pilot started to branch out into the restaurant industry when it opened the first Pilot Kitchen in one of its Travel Centers.

1985: Pilot adds national restaurant chains to Travel Centers.

In 1986, Flying J made its next major move, more than tripling its annual sales with the $70 million purchase of the United States refining and retail operations from Canada's Husky Oil Ltd.

1987: Flying J introduces the Frequent Fueler professional driver loyalty program.

DQ liked the idea and, in 1988, the first Pilot Travel Center-based Dairy Queen opened in Hebron, Ohio, and the company's in-store restaurant business was off and running.

1990: Flying J introduces buffets to their restaurant concept.

1991: Conoco and Flying J create a joint venture, triggering significant travel plaza expansion.

After partnering with Louis Dreyfus in 1992 and expanding rapidly in the travel center business, Pilot acquires Dreyfus ownership.

On November 15, 1993, Pilot entered a joint venture with Marathon Petroleum Company, and all Pilot Truck Stops were renamed Pilot Travel Centers.

By 1995, Call had stepped aside from that project as well, allowing daughter Crystal and her husband to operate and expand the new hotel chain, which would remain closely linked with the family's Flying J chain.

By 1996, the chain had grown to 96 Flying Js, with the company announcing plans to add 15 to 20 travel centers per year toward the end of the century.

1997: Pilot ranks 99th on Forbes list of the 500 largest privately held companies.

1998: Already the nation’s largest supplier of diesel fuel to over-the-road trucks, Pilot ranks as the 25th largest restaurant franchisee in the United States

From these modest beginnings would grow, by the year 2000, an enterprise approaching $2 billion in revenue.

Mitch Steenrod, who joined the company in 2001, is promoted to Senior VicePresident, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Risk Officer.

Marathon converted many Speedway truck stops, wholly owned by Marathon, over to the Pilot Travel Center moniker starting in mid-2002.

Will Haslam, who started working with the company in 2003, is named Director of Giving Back.

Whitney Haslam Johnson, who joined the company in 2005, is named Chief Experience Officer.

2006: Pilot goes international, opening its first travel center in Canada.

2007: Pilot is recognized by Area Developer magazine as one of the “Top 99 Megafranchisees.”

In 2008, Pilot bought out Marathon's interest in the business and entered into a new partnership arrangement with CVC Capital Partners, an international private equity firm.

In July 2009, Pilot agreed to purchase Flying J's travel centers, as a part of Flying J's efforts to remove itself from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Completing its investment started in fall 2010, BDT Capital Partners buys into Pilot Flying J as an investment partner.

In 2011, Pilot Flying J began a partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking.

In 2012, the company signed country music singer Trace Adkins to become its new spokesperson for its relaunched loyalty program.

In 2013, the company sponsored Annett in the Richard Petty Motorsports number 43 Ford Mustang in NASCAR's Nationwide Series.

In October 2014, Pilot Flying J announced they would borrow funds to provide a $750 million dividend to shareholders and facilitate a buyout of its private-equity partner CVC Capital Partner.

In 2015, the Haslam family completed the buyout of CVC Capital Partner's stake.

Pilot gives $2 million to renovate the West Side YMCA in Knoxville, which will be renamed the Pilot Family YMCA upon completion in fall 2018.