How many inspections has Pilot Travel Center in Bartow had?

Pilot Travel Center #1128 in Bartow has 2 FDACS food safety inspection(s) on record from January 2022 to present.

What did the most recent FDACS inspection of Pilot Travel Center in Bartow find?

Pilot Travel Center #1128 in Bartow was most recently inspected by FDACS on January 27, 2026 (Focused Inspection).

Has Pilot Travel Center in Bartow had any stop-sale or stop-use orders?

No, Pilot Travel Center #1128 in Bartow has no stop-sale or stop-use orders on record with Florida FDACS.

Pilot Travel Center in Bartow

Name: Pilot Travel Center #1128 in Bartow Inspection Records
Creator: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Last inspected: January 27, 2026

7996 State Route 60, Bartow, FL 33830

Polk County · Convenience Store Significant FS AND/OR Packaged Ice · FDACS
Owner: Pilot Travel Centers LLC
FDACS Estab #: 403673

Overview

Pilot Travel Center #1128 in Bartow had two inspections on record between May 2023 and January 2026. A May 2023 inspection documented 12 violations, including two priority-level temperature control failures. Hot-held potato wedges and corn dogs in the food service area measured between 116°F and 126°F, below the required 135°F minimum; the person in charge voluntarily discarded both items during the inspection. Packaged cut watermelons displayed on ice in a retail bin measured 45°F, exceeding the 41°F cold-holding requirement; these were also voluntarily removed and discarded. A priority-foundation violation cited a food employee applying nail polish while handling unwrapped single-use articles without wearing gloves; the employee washed hands and donned gloves before continuing. All violations were corrected on site. A focused inspection on January 27, 2026 for sample collection found no violations.

Summary generated from Florida FDACS public inspection records.

2FDACS Insp.

12Violations

Last inspected FDACS: January 27, 2026

Pilot Travel Center in Bartow: FDACS Inspection History (2)

Inspections conducted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), which oversees grocery stores, convenience stores, bakeries, food manufacturers, mobile vendors, and vending machines.

2026 — 1 inspection

Jan 27, 2026 — Focused Inspection· Focused Inspection

Inspector: TAMMY FLANNERY, SANITATION AND SAFETY SPECIALIST

Comments: Focused Inspection - Sample Collection.

No violations or enforcement actions recorded for this inspection.

2023 — 1 inspection

May 2, 2023 — Met Inspection Requirements· 12 violations· Met Requirements

Inspector: TAMMY FLANNERY, SANITATION AND SAFETY SPECIALIST

Person in charge: HOWARD SCHWIMMER

Comments: A copy of this report has been provided to the person in charge of the food establishment and will be available online at https://foodpermit.fdacs.gov/Reports/SearchFoodEntity.aspx . HOWARD SCHWIMMER, GENERAL MANAGER TAMMY FLANNERY, SANITATION AND SAFETY SPECIALIST

Risk-Based Violations

3-501.16(A)(1) Hot held time/temperature control for safety food not maintained at 135°F or above, or roast cooked or reheated to a temperature and for a time specified for cooking roast in the Food Code not hot held at 130°F or above. 3-501.16(A)(1) PP

Food service area- potato wedges and corn dogs out of temperature in the hot holding unit, internal temperatures taken ranged from 116 to 126 degrees F both food items. COS- person in charge voluntarily discarded the corn dogs and potato wedges into the trash. x

3-501.16(A)(2) Cold held time/temperature control for safety food not maintained at 41°F or below. 3-501.16(A)(2) PP

Food service area- in store packaged cut fresh watermelons in display bin on top of ice are out of temperature, internal temperature taken was 45 degrees F. COS- person in charge removed them from retail sale and voluntarily discarded the cut melons. x Print Date: 5/2/2023 Page 1 of 4

Good Retail Practice Violations

6-202.15 Outer opening not protected against the entry of insects and rodents by filling or closing holes and other gaps along floors, walls, and ceilings; closed, tight-fitting windows; and solid, self-closing, tight-fitting doors. Windows or doors kept open for ventilation or other purposes not protected against the entry of insects and rodents by 16 mesh to 1 inch screens; properly designed and installed air curtains to control flying insects; or other effective means. 6-202.15

Retail area- Gap between the outer front entrance doors. o

2-402.11 Food employee not wearing a hair restraint such as a hat, hair covering or net, beard restraint, or clothing that covers body hair, that is designed and worn to effectively keep their hair from contacting exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles. 2-402.11

Food service area- employees walking through processing/cooking area without wearing hair restraints. o

2-302.11 Food employee fingernails not kept trimmed, filed, and maintained so the edges and surfaces are cleanable and not rough. Fingernail polish or artificial fingernails not covered by intact gloves when working with exposed food. 2-302.11 Pf

Food service area- food employee with nail polish on fingers not wearing single use gloves whole working with unwrapped single use articles to package exposed hot food. COS- food employee washed hands and donned single use gloves before continuing to work with the food packaging. x

4-903.11(A) Cleaned equipment or utensils, or laundered linens not stored in a clean, dry location; at least 6 inches above the floor; or where they are not exposed to splash, dust, or other contamination. Clean equipment or utensils not stored in a self-draining position that allows air drying, or not covered or inverted. 4-903.11(A) and (B)

Back area- clean food equipment/utensils not stored in clean storage containers on the storage containers. Food service area- Arby's- wet food equipment not placed in self draining positions to allow the equipment to properly air dry. Fountain drink dispensing nozzles stored down in stagnant, pooled water in the bottom of plastic food container. COS- person in charge moved the nozzles over the to ware wash sink to be cleaned and sanitized again. o

4-501.12 Surfaces that are subject to scratching or scoring not resurfaced or discarded when they can no longer be effectively cleaned and sanitized. 4-501.12

Food service area- cutting board scored on both sides on the pizza fixings/condiment prep cooler unit. o

4-501.11 Equipment not maintained in good repair or condition; equipment component not kept intact, tight, and adjusted in accordance with manufacturer's specifications; or cutting or piercing part of can opener not kept sharp to minimize the creation of metal fragments that can contaminate food when a container is opened. 4-501.11

Food service area- Arby's- slicer unit has worn parts on the unit that need to be replaced, rubber seal behind the cutting blade and small rubber support pad located under the cutting blade. Rubber door seals damaged on some prep coolers for PJ Fresh and Arby's areas. o

4-202.16 Nonfood-contact surfaces not free of unnecessary ledges, projections, and crevices or not designed and constructed to allow easy cleaning and to facilitate maintenance. 4-202.16

Back area- inverted plastic cola and milk crates being used as storage shelving unit used for cases of single use articles in the front storage room located behind the fountain drink machines. o

4-602.13 Nonfood-contact surface of equipment not cleaned at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil residue. 4-602.13

Food service area- excess food slime buildup on waste/drip pans and drain hoses for one of the two main fountain drink machines. Outside area- heavy ice buildup on the inner walls of both bagged ice freezer units located in the front and back of the store. o

5-205.15(B) Plumbing system not maintained in good repair. 5-205.15(B)

Back area- pipe leaking water down through the ceiling rafter in the back laundry area onto the floor near a floor drain below, plumber is due to come in and repair the leak today. o Print Date: 5/2/2023 Page 2 of 4 53 Citation Description: Physical facilities not cleaned as often as necessary to keep them clean, or cleaning not done during periods when the least amount of food is exposed such as after closing. 6-501.12 Observation: Back area- water pooling on the floor in the laundering and mop sink room. Trash and food spillage on floors in the walk in coolers. o

6-501.11 Dressing rooms not used by employees who regularly change their clothes in the establishment, or lockers or other suitable facilities not used for the orderly storage of employee clothing or other possessions. 6-501.110

Back area- food employees personal food/articles found on same storage shelves with wholesome food and/or single use articles in some storage areas and not stored in designated area for personal articles and/or food/drinks. COS- person in charge and employees moved personal articles and/or food/drinks to proper storage areas for such items. x

Pilot Travel Center in Bartow: Frequently Asked Questions

When was Pilot Travel Center in Bartow last inspected?: Pilot Travel Center #1128 in Bartow was last inspected by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) on January 27, 2026. Inspection type: Focused Inspection.
How many inspections has Pilot Travel Center in Bartow had?: Pilot Travel Center #1128 in Bartow has 2 FDACS food safety inspection(s) on record from January 2022 to present.
What did the most recent FDACS inspection of Pilot Travel Center in Bartow find?: Pilot Travel Center #1128 in Bartow was most recently inspected by FDACS on January 27, 2026 (Focused Inspection).
Has Pilot Travel Center in Bartow had any stop-sale or stop-use orders?: No, Pilot Travel Center #1128 in Bartow has no stop-sale or stop-use orders on record with Florida FDACS.
What are the most common violations at Pilot Travel Center in Bartow?: The most frequently cited FDACS violations at Pilot Travel Center #1128 in Bartow are: 3-501.16(A)(1): Hot held time/temperature control for safety food not maintained at 135°F or above, or roast cooked or reheated to a temperature and for a time specified for cooking roast in the Food Code not hot held at 130°F or above. 3-501.16(A)(1) P; 3-501.16(A)(2): Cold held time/temperature control for safety food not maintained at 41°F or below. 3-501.16(A)(2) P; 6-202.15: Outer opening not protected against the entry of insects and rodents by filling or closing holes and other gaps along floors, walls, and ceilings; closed, tight-fitting windows; and solid, self-closing, tight-fitting doors. Windows or doors kept open for ventilation or other purposes not protected against the entry of insects and rodents by 16 mesh to 1 inch screens; properly designed and installed air curtains to control flying insects; or other effective means. 6-202.15.