GREENVILLE, S.C. (March 10, 2004) — Michelin North America Inc. will be a preferred supplier of Michelin and BFGoodrich commercial truck tires to Pilot Travel Centers L.L.C. nationwide.
Pilot, the nation's largest interstate travel center operation, currently sells Michelin truck tires at one Pilot Truck Care Center. The company plans to expand its truck tire business to 30 locations by 2005, according to Michelin.
In announcing the agreement with the truck stops, Luc Minguet, COO of Michelin Americas Truck Tires, said the Greenville-based tire is “pleased to be aligned with a strategic retail partner like Pilot. Michelin and Pilot have established a reputation of providing great products and excellent customer service. We look forward to providing our customers with an additional network of outlets to purchase Michelin and BFGoodrich tires.”
Pilot President and CEO James A. Haslam III said adding tires to the company's portfolio “will enable us to offer our customers additional products to meet their needs. Michelin and BFGoodrich represent two of the most respected and trusted brand names in the industry. This new agreement will help ensure the long-term growth of our business.”
The new Pilot Truck Care Centers will feature a full line of Michelin and BFGoodrich tires including the Michelin X One wide single tire line.
Pilot, which has its headquarters in Knoxville, Tenn., operates 264 locations in 37 states. The company has 13,000 employees and annual revenues of $5.5 billion. Pilot Travel Centers is a 50-50 joint venture owned by Pilot Corp. and Findlay, Ohio-based Marathon Ashland Petroleum L.L.C.