Side by Side, Mile After Mile: Meet Pilot Drivers and Twin Brothers Jason and Jeff
Every day, Pilot is committed to showing professional drivers they matter. Each September, Driver Appreciation Month gives us a chance to shine an even brighter spotlight on their hard work and dedication.
While pro drivers’ stories are as diverse as the miles they travel, all pro drivers are essential to delivering the products and services people across North America rely on every day.
This Driver Appreciation Month, we’re highlighting twin brothers Jason and Jeff Love, who have each driven for many years for Pilot. Their lives and careers reflect Pilot’s commitments to safety, reliability and authenticity.
A Family Tradition
Jason and Jeff are identical twins who grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. They both now live with their wives and children in Colorado, where they decided to settle after spending summers there with their parents. They’ve been driving professionally for over two decades and have each been with Pilot for about 14 years, transporting and delivering diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) across the western United States and Canada.
Their parents, who also spent several years as DEF drivers for Pilot, inspired them to join the driving profession. As Jason says, “we knew the trucking lifestyle, and there were always trucking jobs available, so it just seemed like a natural step for us to become drivers, too.”
Their parents’ examples paid off, and now the brothers follow in their mom and dad’s footsteps as pro drivers—a career that suits them perfectly.
From the Same Crib to the Same Cab
Jeff jokes that his and Jason’s very similar life stories “sound like a broken record.” He says, “We’ve been together our whole lives. Literally, we were in the same crib as babies. Becoming team drivers was kind of business as usual.”
Jason and Jeff drove their Pilot tanker together as a team for about a decade. They said they didn’t have any friction on the road because they know each other so well. For example, when they stopped for a meal, each knew what the other wanted to eat.
The dynamic duo also enjoys being a driving team because of, surprisingly, their differences! Jason loves to drive at night and says that he and coffee “have a special relationship.” Jeff, on the other hand, jokes that “night drivers, they’re vampires, man!” He prefers to drive during daytime hours, calling himself a “solar-powered driver” and would rather drink tea than coffee.
But what their easy pairing really comes down to is a close brotherhood. “Up to the point where we got married, we did everything together,” Jason said. “Why would we want to do anything else when we’re each other's best friend?”
A Day in the Life
As team drivers for the first decade they worked for Pilot, Jeff said their truck was their “home away from home.” The duo started the day at 7:30 a.m., with Jason waking up Jeff, sometimes not-so-delicately, as Jeff says, “by shoving a breakfast sandwich in my face!” They’d then catch up with each other until Jason was ready to take a break to call his wife, relax and sleep.
At 7:30 p.m., they’d switch roles. Jason would get in the driver’s seat while Jeff rested and called his family, sometimes reading a book to his children over the phone, before getting some shuteye.
These days, the twins share a truck, but they no longer share a cab. Now one brother drives and delivers DEF for a week while the other spends time with his family. The following week, the other brother drives the truck, giving his sibling time at home. Their schedule is just one example of how Pilot offers drivers flexibility, including jobs that get drivers home every night.
Throughout all the miles they’ve shared, their personal bond has never changed. And they’re proud to be part of the larger brotherhood that exists among truck drivers. “Pro drivers really support each other by watching out for each other,” says Jason. “ Truck drivers have a kind of unspoken net across the country. We can really take pride that we’re the eyes on the road watching out. If someone’s in trouble, there’s probably going to be a truck driver that comes by willing to help.”
Safety First, Always
When they’re in the cab, dropping fuel or preparing for their next load, the brothers emphasize, more than anything else, safety.
They both talk about how much they appreciate the safety measures Pilot has in place for drivers—and for all team members. According to Jason, Pilot’s safety-first mindset means “you can take your time to do things right and follow safety procedures. We are efficient, but Pilot prioritizes safety. Safety always comes first.”
Pilot’s choice to pay drivers by the hour instead of by the mile makes them feel, Jason continues, “like you can slow down and take proper time. You don’t stress about being stuck in traffic or feel pressured to drop a load of fuel too quickly. Being paid by the hour has revolutionized the whole mindset of working safely and slowing down.”
The brothers also appreciate the daily safety tips they receive each day via text from Bob Miles, safety manager, SC Fuels. Jeff says, “I read those every day. It’s part of my routine.” And they’re thankful that Pilot stays on top of truck maintenance schedules and repairs, noting that as an important element of driving safely.
At Pilot, Support Goes the Extra Mile
Jason and Jeff are thankful for the stability and flexibility Pilot gives them. Jeff says Pilot is “always sensitive to family,” applauding the company for understanding that family events and emergencies happen. The twins like knowing they have the flexibility to plan time off for family responsibilities and vacations.
They also speak highly of their fellow team members, both in the field and at Pilot’s corporate offices. Jeff says, “Every time I’ve had an issue with something and called the corporate office for help, next thing I know I’m in a meeting with a group of other team members helping me solve it. That’s impressive.”
Jeff also shares, “Very rarely do I feel anxious driving for Pilot. I don’t feel overwhelmed or pressured. It’s a hard job to beat!”
Feeling Welcome at Pilot Travel Centers
As professional drivers, the brothers have high standards for travel centers, and that’s why they stop at Pilot. They prefer our travel centers for the creature comforts we offer, like coffee and clean showers, but what really makes them choose Pilot is the welcome they receive from store team members.
Jeff says, “It feels like family, you know, when you park at a Pilot. It feels like you’re at home. If I stop at another truck stop or rest area, I just feel like I’m camping out.”
Jason agrees, saying, “Part of the fun of driving is getting to know the people in the stores and catch up when you see them. At other places you’re just a customer, but at Pilot you’re a member of the team.”
Being identical twins has also made for some lighthearted moments at travel centers through the years. Store team members will often do a double take when the brothers come in together or, once they get to know them, call out, “the twins are here!”
Celebrating Driver Appreciation Month
When asked what Driver Appreciation Month means to them, the brothers are quick to laugh. “The free stuff!” says Jason.
They admit they enjoy the giveaways, treats and special offers that come with the annual celebration. Though for them, the meaningful part of Driver Appreciation Month goes beyond the freebies.
Both brothers appreciate the travel center team members who take time to personally thank drivers. Jeff recalls stores setting up tables with snacks and treats while team members greet drivers one-on-one as they stop in. They’ll say, “Hey, we really appreciate you,” says Jeff. “I really like that.”
For Jason, those interactions can make a bigger difference than people realize. “Drivers like being recognized and feeling like what we’re doing is meaningful to somebody,” he says. “It makes a difference.”
Words of Advice
After decades behind the wheel, the Love brothers understand what it takes to be safe and successful on the road.
To new drivers, Jeff recommends, “Just slow down. Don’t let traffic rush you because that’s when you get in trouble.” Jason says, “If you start feeling anxious or rushed, that’s when you start making mistakes. Stay in the right mindset where you’re focused and in control.”
For fellow veteran drivers, the twins ‘advice is simple. “Sleep! Get enough sleep,” they say. The brothers also stress the importance of following established safety procedures every time. Jeff says, “If you get in a hurry, you get in trouble because you start forgetting or skipping parts of the routine. The routine is what keeps you safe.”
And to the non-pro drivers on the road, they ask for a little extra patience and space. “People don’t understand the mechanics or the physics of driving a vehicle that weighs 80,000 pounds,Jeff says. “People drive all around your truck thinking you can just speed up or slow down and maneuver just like they can, but we can’t.”
Both brothers hope motorists remember just how much we rely on professional drivers every day. As Jason says, “If you put gas in your car, it came from a truck. If you buy groceries, they came on a truck. If it weren’t for the trucking industry, the world would grind to a halt.”
For the Love brothers, driving is more than a career. It’s a lifelong partnership built on family, service and a commitment to safety. Pilot is proud to celebrate Jason, Jeff and all professional drivers whose hard work and dedication helps keep our guests, communities and countries moving.
Let’s all keep showing professional drivers they matter at every turn.