Pilot Travel Centers LLC 401(k) Review & Grade
Pilot Travel Centers LLC 401(k) Plan
Knoxville, TNRetail Trade28,998 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$778Employer $ per active participant
$1,705Employee $ saved per active participant
0.21%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$506.9MNet plan assets, end of year
–Average balance per account (account count looks misreported)
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity28.5 / 5057th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost4.2 / 2517th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving8.0 / 1554th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-13 pts2 issues reported on the filing
Total score31 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Retail Trade plans with 10,000+ active participants (124 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 57th |
| Lower admin cost | 17th |
| Employee saving | 54th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 32% |
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Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($97,890 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $4,903 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Pilot Travel Centers put in about $778 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($689). Contribute at least enough to collect the full match. Skipping it leaves part of your pay on the table.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- Direct plan expenses (0.21% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.09%). Check your annual fee disclosure, choose low-cost index funds if you can, and think about whether savings beyond the match belong in an IRA.
- The plan reported late deposits of employee contributions. Compare your pay stubs with your account statements, and contact the plan administrator if money shows up late.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $22,566,717 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $49,455,973 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $10,198,067 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $997,053 |
| Contract administrator fees | $990,548 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $6,505 |
| Benefits paid out | $67,053,049 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $439.3M / $506.9M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 28,109 / 29,888 |
| Participants with account balances | 13,596 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Lbmc, PC |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Principal Life Insurance Company | $982,227 reported compensation |
| Countrywide Investigativ | $6,505 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251008094240NAL0009487248001, received 2025-10-08, EIN 34-1953155, plan #001, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.