Truck stops.

[grizz272]

After deciding to buy a Fifth-wheel I started thinking what I would need to know about this thing. One of the first things I realized is I have not been at a truck stop with a trailer hitched up since 2003. So what do I do when I pull up to a diesel pump at a truck stop now?

[ToddD]

fj12ryder wrote:
The $100 cap is not at the behest of the CC companies. It is the particular gas station/company that sets that. Some places set it at $75, some at $100. But it's not the CC company.

Kind of, but not really. The reimbursement cap comes from the credit card companies. If a fraudulent transaction happens, that's the most the credit card companies will reimburse the station, hence the choice of the stations to limit to that amount.

[fj12ryder]

ToddD wrote:
The truck stops don't take regular credit cards at the pump since they are capped at $100 when swiping at a gas station pump, it's a fraud prevention measure put in place by the credit card companies.

Given the size of semi truck fuel tanks, $100 does not go a very long way.

The $100 cap is not at the behest of the CC companies. It is the particular gas station/company that sets that. Some places set it at $75, some at $100. But it's not the CC company.

[NamSniper]

We just got back from spending a week in Gallup, NM. I used truck stops both ways with no problem and got the 8 cent discount at Flying J. The truck stop we used in Trinidad, CO I had to use the truck island and there was no problem paying at the pump. They even had the normal sized fuel spout. Just easier to get in to and out of.

[Learjet]

one_strange_texan wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

one_strange_texan wrote:
...

I agree about how to pay at lets say Loves. When using your fly J card what discount are you getting since it sounds like it comes out of your bank account. I assume you can't use a Costco/Visa for example and get a nice discount also?

At the truck pumps for Flying J, you would have to go in to have the pump turned on versus doing it all at the pump. The RV lanes may be friendlier about allowing pay at the pump with various credit cards. I really do not remember.

Our Visa card does give credits/rebates/discounts, but fuel purchases are excluded, so it is not an issue that we do not use them.

Not if you have the card...you CAN pay at the pump FlyingJ and Pilot with their card and get @ 8 cent discount.

https://www.rvpluscard.com/

[ToddD]

waltbennett wrote:


In three trips coast to coast and two from VA through Canada and back, I've come across very few truck stops that will take a credit card at a truck diesel pump. Around 80% require you to go inside and pay. Slightly irritating, but it does make me walk around a bit.

The truck stops don't take regular credit cards at the pump since they are capped at $100 when swiping at a gas station pump, it's a fraud prevention measure put in place by the credit card companies.

Given the size of semi truck fuel tanks, $100 does not go a very long way.

[one_strange_tex]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

one_strange_texan wrote:
...

I agree about how to pay at lets say Loves. When using your fly J card what discount are you getting since it sounds like it comes out of your bank account. I assume you can't use a Costco/Visa for example and get a nice discount also?

At the truck pumps for Flying J, you would have to go in to have the pump turned on versus doing it all at the pump. The RV lanes may be friendlier about allowing pay at the pump with various credit cards. I really do not remember.

Our Visa card does give credits/rebates/discounts, but fuel purchases are excluded, so it is not an issue that we do not use them.

[Edd505]

Butch50 wrote:

Wild Card wrote:
I prefer truck stops for convenience. 5-10c a gallon doesn't put in poverty and it saves me in stress.

5 to 10 cents wouldn't bother me either but right now Springdale, AR has diesel at $2.29/Phillips 66 to 2.47/Harps grocery. Pilot in the same town is $2.96 per gallon. This a $.49 a gallon difference. I have the Flying J/ Pilot credit card (deducts straight from my bank account) and even with my discounts it still doesn't come close to how much more they are charging. I was just in MO a few days ago and seen the same thing.

Using even the $2.47 to the 2.96 price if you pump 30 gallons that equates to almost $15.00 more for one fill up. I don't know about you but after a little over 4 fill ups at Pilot I can get my 5th for free at the other stations that is a big difference.

I'm retired and don't get any increase in my pension or very little in SS so I have to make all of mine count in order to travel the way I like. Been officially retired for over 15 years, retired at 53. We are still able to travel the way we like and at this time don't see any reason that we won't be able to continue. If Pilot/Flying J is the only place handy then so be it I will fill up there and keep on trucking.

This is IMO.

I've found the same thing cross multi states, Gas Buddy's my friend traveling. So in another post it said $15 a tank saving x how many tanks a year? Just by driving a couple extra miles.
https://www.gasbuddy.com/

[minnow]

bpounds wrote:
I avoid the truck lanes. The lines are always long, which overrides any easier access they may or may not have. I can always get through the RV/Auto lanes faster than the truck lane at any give station.

I tend to avoid the FJ or TA type as well, if there is a regular station with diesel available. The "truck stops" are always too busy, the lanes are messy, the clientele questionable, and 99 percent of what they offer I don't need.

You must be my long lost twin brother. I has the exact same thought.

[Cummins12V98]

Just completed a trip from SoCal to DFW, TX and back. Used Loves all but one time as they seem to be nice stores and the wife likes to browse while I get fuel. This trip I was able to use the regular pumps at all but one Loves in the regular lanes. One was just too small so I used the truck lanes that time. As you look at the store I used the far outside right hand pumps without any issues with maneuvering, our rig is 41' plus the quad cab dually.

[Cummins12V98]

one_strange_texan wrote:
I use truck stops or fuel stations with separate diesel truck pumps when possible. I just find that to be easier and a way to avoid unexpected problems. I plan my fuel stops ahead and usually look at a Google satellite overhead and ground level picture to get a mental idea of the approach and egress.

I have found most truck stops require you to go in and run your credit card. No pay at the pump. You usually have to pre-designate a dollar amount, so you have to do a little quick math based on you tank capacity, fuel gauge reading and the fuel price. You guess a little over, they run the card, then apply a credit when the actual transaction occurs. You may have a hold on your card for the full amount for a day or two, but I have never had a problem getting the credit (and I usually guess pretty accurately).

In some cases the smaller, non-truck stop stations that have the diesel for trucks under the same major brand (Exxon, Shell, etc.) will allow using the oil company card at the pump, but often these too are even sold by a different distributor and don't have pay at the pump, even when the automobile lanes under the major brand have pay at the pump at the same location.

I do use Flying J/Pilot's RV plus card for pay at the pump convenience. You use it by putting in a PIN at the pump, either in the RV aisles or at the big rig diesel pumps. Payment is by draft monthly from your bank account that you initiate & authorize using an on line account. I actually prefer the trucker pumps to the RV aisle at Flying J.

Much to my chagrin, T/A and Love's do not have a RV program, so obviously they are not courting our business. Therefore I preferentially use Flying J or Pilot when I have a choice to direct my business to them.

I agree about how to pay at lets say Loves. When using your fly J card what discount are you getting since it sounds like it comes out of your bank account. I assume you can't use a Costco/Visa for example and get a nice discount also?

[laknox]

Veebyes wrote:
Using a busy truck stop does not guarantee good fuel. Filled up, both tanks, in Amarillo, TX. at a very busy truck stop.

(snipped)

Was someone here who posted about their experience at a Shell station in FL, right off a freeway. Pulled in, filled up, and made it about 1/4 mile down the frontage road when their truck died. No warning and no idiot lights. Said they noticed another truck and FW a bit further down the road a ways, but paid no attention to it. Truck and FW get towed to a local CG and the truck goes to the closest Ford dealership. Long to short, there were a couple =gallons= of water in the fuel tank, which necessitated a full fuel system replacement, except the tank. All lines, filters, sensors and injectors. $12,000 worth of damage, IIRC! Went back to Shell on it and it turns out that the people working at the station were not screwing on the filler caps for the storage tanks, which are all in below-grade vaults, after sticking the tanks. Well, it rains a lot in FL, so water was getting into the underground tanks, which their customers were pumping out. After threatening legal action, Shell ended up paying for the damages and, the writer here, apparently found out through legal discovery, that the =other= truck he saw, had the same thing happen. Moral of the story, even a busy station with, supposedly "fresh" fuel, may still sell you cr@p.

Lyle

[one_strange_tex]

I use truck stops or fuel stations with separate diesel truck pumps when possible. I just find that to be easier and a way to avoid unexpected problems. I plan my fuel stops ahead and usually look at a Google satellite overhead and ground level picture to get a mental idea of the approach and egress.

I have found most truck stops require you to go in and run your credit card. No pay at the pump. You usually have to pre-designate a dollar amount, so you have to do a little quick math based on you tank capacity, fuel gauge reading and the fuel price. You guess a little over, they run the card, then apply a credit when the actual transaction occurs. You may have a hold on your card for the full amount for a day or two, but I have never had a problem getting the credit (and I usually guess pretty accurately).

In some cases the smaller, non-truck stop stations that have the diesel for trucks under the same major brand (Exxon, Shell, etc.) will allow using the oil company card at the pump, but often these too are even sold by a different distributor and don't have pay at the pump, even when the automobile lanes under the major brand have pay at the pump at the same location.

I do use Flying J/Pilot's RV plus card for pay at the pump convenience. You use it by putting in a PIN at the pump, either in the RV aisles or at the big rig diesel pumps. Payment is by draft monthly from your bank account that you initiate & authorize using an on line account. I actually prefer the trucker pumps to the RV aisle at Flying J.

Much to my chagrin, T/A and Love's do not have a RV program, so obviously they are not courting our business. Therefore I preferentially use Flying J or Pilot when I have a choice to direct my business to them.

[buc1980]

All the time buy from a good brand gas station,don't buy from small gas station.

[Veebyes]

Using a busy truck stop does not guarantee good fuel. Filled up, both tanks, in Amarillo, TX. at a very busy truck stop.

1.5hrs later on 287 in the TX panhandle the truck died. Got flat towed to next town, lucky it was only a few miles north. Guy plugs in analizer box pushes a few buttons, truck starts. Off we go. 1.5 hrs later truck dies again. This time in the middle of the OK panhandle. Another tow. This time to the local big truck garage. Old school mechanic pokes around, checks fuel filters. Does not find any significant dirt or water. Gets truck started & I go top off tank we have been running on then continue to Seibert, CO. without issue.

Nobody has figured out what the problem is.

Next morning I switch tanks, onto the 100% Amarillo fuel tank, & head off for Denver. 1.5hrs later, you can guess, it died again, right on the acceleration lane of the very busy I25. I was like Capt Sullenburger who landed in the Hudson. No power & needing somewhere to stop quick.

No tow this time. I am no trained mechanic but have 25 years of marine diesel ownership behind me doing most of the routine service. Diesels are basically simple beasts. Short of catastrophic part failure not much stops them besides a problem with the fuel or the air.

I switched tanks back to the now Amarillo/OK mixed tank & after some coaxing got the engine started & running smoothly again. Figured out what the magic computer thinghy & 2 mechanics could not.

Bad fuel. You can get it anywhere. I did not need one but it is always a good idea to carry a spare fuel filter & know how to change it.

[buc1980]

I don't use them for diesel they more expensive and most of them you need to go inside to pay first.The DEF is ok because the price is cheaper than the store buying by the container.