(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
As Pilot Flying J approaches its 60th anniversary, the travel center operator is celebrating the milestones of its most recent quarter.
During the third quarter of 2018, the Knoxville-based company opened six new locations in the United States and Canada, expanded in four states, paved the way for 250-plus new parking spaces, created 200-plus new jobs, opened 35 more diesel lanes and added 18 more showers.
The travel center company completed three locations under its Facility Enhancement Project, its commitment to investing nearly $500 million to renovate existing locations over the next five years.
The latest project completions occurred at:
• Pilot Travel Center in Marengo, Ohio — completed Aug. 22
• Pilot Travel Center in Van Horn, Texas — completed Sept. 7
• Pilot Travel Center in Orla, Texas — completed Sept. 10
The retailer also accrued a number of new store openings across the U.S. and Canada. Two Pilot Travel Centers opened Aug. 25 in Bartow, Fla., and Odessa, Texas, respectively; and one Flying J Travel Center opened Sept. 22 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada.
In addition, Pilot Flying J took over and completed remodels at three travel centers: Pilot Travel Center in St. Rose, La., on Sept. 8; Pilot Express in Tucson, Ariz., on Aug. 24; and Pilot Travel Center in Cordes Lake, Ariz., on Sept. 7.
As of September, Pilot Flying J had 17 service centers, with another three service center locations planned to open by the end of this year in El Paso, Texas; Sioux Falls, S.D.; and Lake Township, Ohio.
The combined network of more than 750 Pilot and Flying J Travel Centers across North America serves more than 1.6 million customers daily.
In October 2017, Berkshire Hathaway made a $2.76 billion investment in Pilot Travel Centers.
Under the terms of the agreement, Berkshire will become the majority owner in five years.
© 2018 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.