Truck stop operator Pilot Flying J has agreed to a settlement with eight trucking firms following a lawsuit against the company.

The eight trucking firms have filed a federal law suit alleging that the truck stop operator duped them of millions of dollars in diesel fuel rebates. A class action settlement proposal by Pilot received an initial approval by the U. S. District Judge Joseph Moody in Little Rock, Ark. In the settlement, the company did not admit any wrongdoing but only promised to payback truckers all rebate money that was due to them.

Pilot said in a settlement that it wold repay all of lost rebates as well as 6 per cent interest to the trucking firms. The amount due to each of the trucking firm will be determined following an internal audit at Pilot and the results will be analysed by an outside independent auditor.

Elizabeth Alexander, a lawyer for one of the plaintiffs said, "Pilot's commercial customers will get every penny they are owed. Because the settlement provides for independent accountant review and an additional interest payment, there will be no lingering questions as to the accuracy of the payment amounts."

Lawyers also said that Pilot will pay for the trucking companies' lawyers besides the settlement amount.