ShinerBock wrote:
Copperhead wrote:
I might have missed where someone else hit this point, but diesel at all locations in the same geographical area comes from the same fuel terminal. And that comes from a variety of refineries. The only difference is when the fuel is loaded on the tanker, the station that it is going to can specify some additional additives. It really is that simple.
The key to getting the best results from diesel is to buy from high volume, reliable retail locations. I go thru about 21,000 gallons of diesel a year for my various needs, and this is my main focus on where to buy my fuel. I am brand loyal to no one, and the marketing hype doesn't phase me a bit.
I am not sure how true this is at least for my location. The local Exxon Mobil delivery fleet was one of my customers back when I was a territory manager. The terminal is located here (LINK). This fuel was the only terminal Exxon fuel stations in the area got their fuel and some other non branded stores as well. If the Exxon branded stations got their fuel from any other non-Exxon terminals then they could not advertise that they were Exxon-Mobil from what I was told by my customer who was the fleet manager of that terminal.
This terminal a short distance away (LINK) delivers to most of the generic stations. Then there is the Motiva terminal that supplies fuel to all of the Mid-Tex locations(LINK).
All of the Valero stores in this area get their fuel at this(LINK) Nu-Star terminal unless something has changed in the last several years. Nu-Star was owned by Valero at one time. They separated, but still work together.
I don't know how it is where you guys come from, but here they don't all share the same terminals.
Most of the diesel fuel consumed in the United States is produced in U.S. refineries
U.S. refineries produce most of the diesel fuel that the United States consumes. In 2017, imports of ultra-low sulfur distillate (ULSD) fuel oil, which is distillate fuel with a sulfur content of 15 parts per million or less, were equivalent to about 3% of total ULSD consumption in the United States. About 80% of those imports were from Canada. ULSD is sold as diesel fuel and heating oil in the United States.
How does diesel fuel get to a refueling station?
Most diesel fuel moves by pipeline from refineries and ports to terminals near major consuming areas. Barges and trains also move diesel fuel to terminals. Trucks transport the diesel fuel from the terminals to retail service stations and to large volume consumers such as vehicle fleet operators.
Diesel fuel and other products are sent through shared pipelines in batches. These batches are not physically separated in pipelines, and some mixing or commingling of products may occur. Because mixing is possible, the quality of the diesel fuel and other products must be tested to make sure they meet required specifications as they enter and leave pipelines. When products fail to meet local, state, or federal specifications, they are either removed and trucked back to a refinery for further processing or they are sold as different products.
