TIFTON — Pilot Travel Centers has launched a major new initiative utilizing communications tools ranging from putting messages on its fleet of tanker trucks to launching new social media sites to promote its premium coffees in 2010 and confirm Pilot coffee as "the best on the interstate." A Pilot Travel Center is located at 4431 Old Union Road off I-75’s exit 60 in Tifton.

The initiative includes the company’s first official Facebook fan page dedicated exclusively to coffee and a brand new Twitter account.

"We are trying to tell the world about our great coffee program," said Tim Purcell, Pilot’s director of merchandising. "We are using every method we know of to communicate it. Social networks are just another new method we are using to deliver our message."

The Pilot Travel Centers fan page can be accessed by visiting http://www.facebook.com/pilottravelcenters. Fans of Pilot Travel Centers can print a coupon for a free hot beverage, redeemable at any Pilot Travel Center or Pilot Food Mart. Facebook fans also can take a poll about which Pilot coffee blend is their favorite and learn more about Pilot’s eight coffee varieties, including gourmet coffees and Pilot’s house coffee. The readers of Truckers News have named Pilot’s coffee offerings the "Best Coffee on the Interstate."

Purcell said the Facebook fan page is designed to connect Pilot with its customers nationwide, including interstate travelers, area residents, professional drivers and especially the coffee lovers among them. Pilot has hired Lynsay Caylor to be social media marketing manager in charge of Pilot’s new media initiatives.

"Our Facebook page will serve as a virtual community and information center for our loyal customers," said Jimmy Haslam, president and CEO of Pilot Travel Centers. "We hope our customers will continue to enjoy Pilot’s affordable, delicious variety of hot beverages as they refuel and recharge at our convenient travel center locations across the United States."

To follow Pilot on Twitter, go to http://www.twitter.com/pilottravel.

Pilot Travel Centers is also offering an in-store sweepstakes for lucky customers to win free coffee for a year. Customers can complete and submit a ballot at any Pilot Travel Center location during the month of January. At the end of the month, six entries at each travel center — more than 1,800 customers — will be selected to win a year of free Pilot coffee. More information about the sweepstakes is available at any Pilot Travel Center location.

In addition to coffee, Pilot also is unveiling a new series of six up-scale tea products. The Revolution Teas are premium full-leaf teas that have received much recognition for their quality, Purcell said. He said Pilot also will introduce new breakfast items that are popular with coffee drinkers, such as oatmeal.

Pilot Travel Centers LLC is a leading operator of travel centers, catering to professional drivers and traveling motorists in 41 states with over 300 retail interstate properties. The company is headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn. and employs 14,000 nation-wide and is held in a partnership between Pilot Corporation, wholly owned by the Haslam family, and Propeller Corporation.