I have read a fair number of post where folks have implied Flying J didn't allow for the discount for using the fleet card. This article was posted today describing how large trucking companies have a class action lawsuite against the Pilot Flying J as well a federal investigation.....
"By Laura Stevens A federal judge on Monday approved an estimated $85 million class-action settlement of a suit in which trucking customers alleged Pilot Flying J, the largest truck-stop chain in North America, defrauded them over several years through a diesel-rebate program. The settlement, which is between Pilot and plaintiffs in 10 of about 20 pending lawsuits against it, requires the company to have auditors examine its trucking accounts and pay any money owed, in addition to 6% in annualized interest. It also assigns Pilot all legal and auditing costs associated with the case. Judge James Moody approved the deal in the U.S. District Court in Little Rock, Ark., where a suit against Pilot was filed in April. A preliminary settlement agreement was reached in July. Any Pilot customers who didn't opt out of the class action won't be able to sue the truck-stop giant separately, limiting the company's liability. The settlement will help the company turn its attention to a federal criminal probe into allegations that members of Pilot's sales staff promised volume discounts, in the form of rebates, to some of its trucking customers, but then shorted those customers on what was owed. The alleged fraud dates back to 2008 and in some cases earlier, according to an affidavit filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the U.S. District Court in Knoxville, Tenn., where Pilot is based. Though no charges have been filed from that investigation, FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents executed search warrants April 15 at Pilot headquarters, as well as at the homes of company salespeople in other parts of the country. Several of the company's lower-level employees have pleaded guilty in connection with the case and are cooperating with federal prosecutors. The criminal investigation is ongoing. Around 5,800 trucking companies or accounts are eligible for participating in the class-action suit, although auditors are still determining which were underpaid and by how much, said Michael L. Roberts, co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs. Around 60 companies have chosen to opt out of the class and can sue separately. The company, which has already started paying back customers, will reimburse an estimated total of $55.6 million, in addition to $9.7 million in interest to the class members who were underpaid. The remainder of the settlement will go toward auditing and legal fees. Write to Laura Stevens at
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Pilot Flying J Fraud Case
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