Fueling up at a truck stop

I never use a truck stop. Why would you pay more for fuel than you need to?
I use the GasBuddy Iphone app. Usually I find diesel about 5 to 10 cents cheaper at branded stations. Only exception seems to be a branded station at the same off ramp as a truck/travel stop. Also truck stops usually charge a premium for credit cards where regular stations do not. (some exceptions apply)(also premium may be priced in).

Rarely do I run into a problem accessing the pumps. But in the rare times that I do, I simply pass it up and go to another station nearby.

I guess ignorance is bliss.....I've been towing with my diesel for 4 years now and use only truck stops and haven't ran into near the issues you guys have. I use flying J's almost exclusively though so I guess that's the difference. There is 1 pilot I use that you have to pre-pay but the flying J's I use I can pay at the pump. Just have to choose "tractor" then pretty much skip all the next questions until you can fuel. It's basically the same as using any other pump once you get past the little things set up specifically for the big trucks. They do pump some fuel in a hurry though which is another good thing.
I did use one this trip ( which is one I've used several times before) that on our way into the lot my wife saw a sign that said "CDL drivers only past this point". I was already on the lot so I went ahead and filled up and left. Not sure if that was for the pump area or if she saw a sign for some other area on the lot.....I never saw it.
I've been forced into using a regular station on a couple of occasions and there's very little that's less fun that that. There's never enough room to maneuver though the lot and then the diesel pumps are commonly found in the gas lanes and you have cars to deal with in and out of the pumps. I hate it. I use an app called "truck path" for the phone and it's the best app I've used so far to find truck stops. If I'm at a regular gas station with the trailer then that's a worse case scenario for me.

We use the fueling at truck stops also as a rest stop. After fueling up I park the rig and go inside to pay, walk around the store, buy coffee, and use the bathroom. I find most overland truckers enjoy talking to you about your rig.
Don

Pilot flying j have been working great for us. I do the same with send wife in to start pump number X then she grabs our road drinks etc and then pays at till. I do pull forward same as the truckers. Never a problem. We've spent a few one nights there as well. Some restful some not. Fine if it is cool enough to shut windows.

I try to avoid using the big rig pump areas as they are usually very dirty, somewhat confusing as to where exactly to pull in and pump from, and I don't feel comfortable having my family & dogs getting out in those areas. Don't care that they don't have pay at pump though because most places cut me off at $100 if I use my card, and I don't like having to go through the entire process twice. I just pump once and pay inside.

Kwik Trips are my diesel station of choice. They always have one large hi-flow nozzle and one regular car type diesel nozzle at every diesel pump. Clean and friendly place with good prices and nice stores.

greende wrote:

SkipnPatty wrote:
On our trip last week, we noticed that with Loves, TravelAmerica and some Pilots, they do not accept the credit card outside and make you go in. Once in they almost always asked how much. I had to estimate the amount of fuel I needed to take on. I was usually real close in my estimate. I am waiting on the check card bills to come in now to compare what I was charged compared to what I estimated. Also, as said above, make sure your truck will accept the large nozzle. This trip was along I-81, 40 and 59 from Va to Ala.

I have never had a problem with them overcharging me. Go in after you pump and they will charge your card the right amount and give you a receipt. Just estimate generously so that you don't get the pump shut off on you too soon and have to go back in and go through the process all over again. Don't ask me how I know this:S.

You can also use apps like GasBuddy to check fuel prices, so you should know pretty close to what the actual price per gallon is. Also, I believe some states =require= that all fuel prices be posted, so you can easily see what full, exempt, cash and credit prices should be.

One thing, at least in AZ, you can buy red diesel so long as it's going in a nurse or aux tank. If you then pump some into your truck's tank, that's up to you. I know a lot of guys that will do this on a fairly regular basis, but will always run a number of "clean" tanks in-between.

Lyle

Some other RV net guy suggested to smell the nozzle each time before you fuel. I have done that for several years now and it gives me a sense of security!

naturist wrote:

Road Runners wrote:
{SNIP}You usually find that the diesel hoses have a green handle. However, I have found some to be colored yellow.

Practically all the gas stations that have diesel fuel advertise their price in a green color.{SNIP}

I agree with everything else in this post, but it is absolutely crucial, as a new diesel owner/driver, that you realize that THERE IS NO COLOR STANDARD FOR PUMP HANDLES OR SIGNAGE.

Having three diesel cars (well, ok, two of them are SUVs) and driving diesel for over a decade now, I hang out on a couple diesel specific forums here on the 'net, and hardly a week goes by that some newbie hasn't posted a horror story about pulling up to the pump with the green handle and finding they got a load of gasoline instead. You have years of training about getting gas for your ride to "adjust" now that you have a diesel, and unless you teach yourself to PAY ATTENTION TO THE sign saying "diesel" on the pump, sooner or later you are going to zone out, grab the green (or yellow, or black, or whatever color the diesel pump is at your favorite station) and screw yourself royally.

So let me say it again: THERE IS NO COLOR STANDARD FOR PUMP HANDLES OR SIGNAGE. Instead, read the label on the pump. Twice. No, three times. If it doesn't SAY diesel on it, wrong pump.

Also, unless the nozzle is virtually brand new, it will the dirtiest and smelliest one on the pump. :-)

Lyle

Road Runners wrote:
In general, when you get fuel at the truck islands you do have to go inside and talk to the teller. You may have to leave a credit card or pre pay to get fuel. Oh yes, it is a good idea to get the pump number you are at as they usually want to know that. Some stops have a telephone near the pump and you can use ir to find out the procedure for getting fuel.

These past few years tho, I have been finding some truck stops have upgraded their pumps so that you can use your credit card just as you do at the car pumps.

It is also very imperative that after you fill up you move your rig forward out of the pump area to let a truck behind you get in to refuel. It is not like at the car pumps where some park their car at the pump after fueling while they go do your errands inside the store.

Lots of stations have car diesel pumps in the car islands. These are usually the pumps on the end. I use them a lot. You can tell which are the diesel pumps as they usually have two hoses attacked to the pump. You usually find that the diesel hoses have a green handle. However, I have found some to be colored yellow.

Practically all the gas stations that have diesel fuel advertise their price in a green color.

Just use your head and be polite and you will get along just fine.

There are still a few stations around that have green handles on premium gas, so be damn sure you're pumping diesel if you're at an unfamiliar station, especially a mom 'n pop-type.

Lyle

On our first trip after getting a diesel tow vehicle, we stopped for fuel at a truck stop. I thought it strange that the pump didn't have any indicators showing how many gallons were pumped, cost per gallon, etc. Anyway, I proceeded to fill the truck. When I went in to pay, there was a guy at the counter having a very heated conversation with the attendant. He was trying to convince her that his truck couldn't possibly hold that much fuel. Long story short, I had used the satellite nozzle to his pump. Since I had been tracking fuel usage by means of my DriverInformatinCenterm, we were able to divide the total bill pretty close to being accurate. Since I was the one that really messed up, I probably gave the guy a gallon or two on my dime. In the end, we all had a good laugh and I learned a valuable lesson.

BTW, if you are ever in that situation and can only fuel from the satellite nozzle, the correct way, according to one station I had to use, lift the nozzle from the pump station with the information displays, start the pump by lifting the lever or pushing the button, lay the nozzle on the ground, the fill from the satellite nozzle.