NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- After a 2013 FBI raid on the truck-stop chain owned by Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Pilot Flying J moved quickly to settle fraud claims. But a handful of companies that refused to settle say they have uncovered a deception that other firms overlooked.
The trucking companies agreed to buy fuel exclusively from Pilot Flying J in exchange for special rates, according to court documents. Those rates varied from company to company but often were based on the fuel cost plus a few cents per gallon. Pilot has admitted that in many cases it failed to provide the promised rate - for example, tacking on an additional 3 cents per gallon rather than a promised 2 cents.