Diesel prices - truck stops vs regular gas stations

diftw wrote:
We live in Indiana and have noticed the truck stops (Love's/Pilot/Flying J/etc.) are around $0.30/gallon for auto diesel than gasoline stations. Maybe it isn't like that in other states-just wondering if you have noticed that and if so why do you think they do that?

Thanks.

1 stop shop and convenience store close to all the exits. Easy in and out for the big rigs. So people pay it.

I live 4 miles from I-94 here. All the gas stations and truck stop right by the exit are more expensive that the stations 6 miles from the exit.

You'd think that they would be cheaper due to bulk sales much like the Walmart model of business. But as you've mentioned, people will pay more when traveling for convenience.

Bulk users, such as big trucks that use a lot of fuel, do get considerable discount.

The reason is that the truckstop chains have deals in place with trucking companies. Depending on their size and leverage, the trucking companies are paying very little above the truckstop's cost for the fuel. In any case they are not paying anywhere near the posted price. That price is for anyone else who falls into the truck stop and buys diesel.

Gas stations OTOH don't have the same kind of customer base, there is usually some local price competition, so they view the diesel price differently.

This is based on first hand knowledge of the truck stop industry.

Snowman9000 wrote:
The reason is that the truckstop chains have deals in place with trucking companies. Depending on their size and leverage, the trucking companies are paying very little above the truckstop's cost for the fuel. In any case they are not paying anywhere near the posted price. That price is for anyone else who falls into the truck stop and buys diesel.

Gas stations OTOH don't have the same kind of customer base, there is usually some local price competition, so they view the diesel price differently.

This is based on first hand knowledge of the truck stop industry.

That certainly makes sense. If you're a large trucking company, you have the power to negotiate and save a lot of money. It's a win-win for both parties. The trucking company saves on fuel and the truck stop gets lots of business from hungry truckers needing a shower and some sleep.

I was a truck driver about 15 years ago. I remember there being something different about the way tax was handled on diesel at the truck stops in Indiana. It was different than any other state I ran in.
I don't normally see that much difference in other states. Here in VA diesel at truck stops is often very similar to regular gas stations. Sometimes the truck stops are less by a few pennies, sometimes not.

Yes, its the same elsewhere. FlyJ is owned by Pilot... have not used either in six years as six blocks away it's 30+ cents less. In Tampa last week FlyJ was $2.75 but you could find $2.30-35... a 40+ savings. When you buy 100 gallons, guess where I buy fuel and in 15 years I have never not gotten any bad fuel at stations that do not pump as much fuel.

Last summer I was in 20 states using 1000 gallons of diesel. GasBuddy saved me $350+ Plus I spent the night at several without all the truck noises.

We either fuel at Sam's Club where there's lots of room, the DW can do the grocery shopping while I fuel and their price is a lot cheaper than the truck stops.

Or we fuel a Kroger's / Fred Meyers. You 10 cents off per gallon for every $100 you buy in the store. Average month is $300 or 30 cents off per gallon.

We only fill up at a truck stop once or twice a year when we pull in to sleep.

Bill

We full time and travel at least every two weeks. We have been in the majority of states. Truck stops are always more expensive. Average is 30 to 50 cents a gallon. I have pulled into many service stations with the fiver attached to get a good price. Sometimes I had to back out. For the last five years I have been running a 60gal aux. fuel tank. I only fill up when I have to. I fill up where I find the best price. When you buy 60 gals or more saving 30 to 50 cents a gal adds up fast. I fill up without the fiver attached makes it real simple.

In my experience the Love's, Pilot's, Flying J's and TA's always more expensive than say convenience stores on the same interchange. But, often it's much easier to navigate the travel centers fuel islands than the convenience stores' pumps.