Pilot Flying J Readies New Service Center

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- One year after merging to become one of the largest travel center companies in the country, Pilot Flying J is turning a vacant building in West Knoxville into an expanded business center for its national network.

The company is renovating a former Sears appliance repair center off Weisgarber Road to house administrative offices and support services. Remodeling work at the 13,000-square-foot building will cost approximately $3.5 million, according Knoxnews.com.

Employee move-in is slated for October and November, according to the news report, and the company does not expect to increase jobs at this time.

Pilot Flying J made headlines last week with news that it expects to offer diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) at the pump at 175 of its locations, totaling more than 1,100 fuel lanes, by Oct. 1. DEF availability will kick up a notch May 1 when it is expected to be offered at 1,800 fuel lanes located at 300 Pilot Flying J locations across the country, as CSNews Online previously reported.

Pilot Travel Centers joined forces with Flying J Inc. in 2010 to form a $20-billion company with more than 550 locations and 20,000 employees.