Pilot Flying J Invests Millions to Offer DEF at the Pump

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Pilot Flying J wants to make the job of a truck driver easier — so much so, that the company made a $165 million investment in diesel exhaust fluid (DEF).

The Knoxville, Tenn.-based Pilot Flying J currently operates more than 650 retail locations and is the largest operator of travel centers and travel plazas in North America. Its 3,000 lanes offering DEF at the pump now stretch across nearly 400 locations in 42 states and four Canadian provinces.

“Drivers were stopping to refuel and then having to come inside to purchase gallons of DEF and carry them back out to their trucks to fill up their DEF tanks,” said Mark Hazelwood, president of Pilot Flying J. “We always love to have drivers come in to see us and grab a hot meal or a cup of coffee, but we don’t want them to be inconvenienced if they don’t have to be. Investing in DEF at the pump has been a direct investment in the quality of life for our professional driver customers, and that’s what matters to our team.”

Drivers are able to dispense DEF from the fuel island in the DEF tank of their trucks or vehicles. In addition, all Pilot Flying J locations sell DEF in one-gallon and 2.5-gallon containers.

Pilot Flying J plans to have DEF at the pump available at all diesel lanes by the fall.

"Our team is excited to complete this project, and it’s a convenience we hope every driver will enjoy," added Hazelwood.

According to the company, DEF is a nontoxic solution used in vehicles with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems to reduce levels of NOx emissions. Diesel engines purchased after Jan. 1, 2010, require the use of DEF in vehicles using SCR technology to reduce emissions and meet Environmental Protection Agency 2010 tailpipe standards.