Tip Etiquette at Truck Stop Diesel Pumps

[Joe Hogan]

Having not used Truck Stop diesel pumps in the past I have been looking for tips on using Truck Stop Diesel pumps. Trying very hard not to look like a Noob and piss people off.
Here is an entertaining video that provides some basics at the Truck Stop pump.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Don’t stress too much about it. Just be friendly and ready to learn.
There are times I have to practice patience with some of the rare truckers who have no respect for anyone.

 

[Rich W.]

One thing that is clear is that prices are higher at the big name truck stops - Pilot, T/A, Loves etc. Smaller truck stops like Maverick and Sinclair and the independents are usually .40 - .75 cheaper. I used to feel like the big outfits were gouging, but they offer more services, have more amenities, bigger fuel islands, and thus have more overhead. So I’ve decided that if I don’t need those services and can find a simple fuel station cheaper that is easy enough to get in and out of I’ll do that.

I also don’t use pump DEF, which is helpful because the location of the DEF tank fill is no where near the fuel fill, so filling up on DEF when fueling would require repositioning to coach, and would be more time consuming, which in some cases would probably not go over well in a crowded truck stop with people trying to make a living in line for fuel. Also with box DEF you can add it at your leisure, you have a better idea of the condition of the product, and at around 300 miles to the gallon, there is really no reason to be in need of DEF while you are fueling. Getting in and out quickly and efficiently, especially in a busy truck stop, will go a long way to preventing animosity.

 

[sheridany]

@Joe Hogan The first to do if you haven’t already is get a commercial fuel card at Open Roads. They discount at the pump significantly at participating stores like loves ta petro etc. the savings are significant. Part of the reason I say this you don’t have to go inside to pay. The pumps only take fuel cards. There are many opinions about def and buying at the pump vs box. I’ll leave that up to you. Many people use the open roads program.

Open Roads

Open Roads is a fuel discount program open to anyone who purchases diesel fuel, whether it be a diesel pickup truck, RV, or a semi-truck.

myopenroads.com

The pumps can difficult to navigate but you are buying “tractor” fuel and not reefer fuel. You have the option to buy def as well. Put in your fuel card enter your pin and a few other prompts like cash back ( a feature I suggest have turned off) printed receipt etc.

My experience is only at the truck stops like Loves TA. You pull in hopefully to an empty island. Here’s a tip. Buy disposable shoe covers. Put them on before stepping outside. Get some fueling gloves or good latex gloves. Get your fuel and def if you choose. When you are done and there are trucks waiting. Pull your coach up to the white line so a waiting truck can start fueling. The truck drivers will extend you the same courtesy. Once you are back near the coach throw away gloves and shoe covers. Off you go.

My only words of wisdom is only go the named truck stops because I know I can fit under the overhang and there’s always a reasonable exit. If you go to smaller locations be sure to see the height of the overhang. If they don’t label it on the overhang I’d probably not go there. That’s just me. I probably went overboard but I remember the first time getting fuel and not being able to get fuel at a truck stop in Oregon and looking like an idiot the entire time. I am sure the drivers were well entertained. You will figure your own favorites especially getting fuel.

 

[Neal]

Don't worry and don't rush. Truckers are very nice, early on I asked for assistance figuring out the pump and mainly the DEF. Sometimes it's a maze to figure out how to get out and be sure to look carefully for signs that take you to the truck entrance, when they have them as sometimes the auto entrance is different from the truck entrance. I prefer the bigger places like T/A, Love's, etc. for maneuvering your big rig. As to the higher prices, yes, I believe it's due to highway taxes vs. in city pumps.

The typical flow at the pump display is swipe your card (preferably TSD) and then it may ask for some club number such as for perks, hit skip. Then it should ask for tractor reefer etc. and as @sheridany stated you want tractor (diesel). The next screen should be for DEF and it's typically on the lower left, select that if you also want DEF otherwise skip. You may get asked if you want money back (as the TSD is really a debit card) and hit skip. Eventually you'll be asked for a control number (if using TSD) which is the last four of your SSN. Then you'll hopefully get to the authorizing and lift handle and pump. When done pull forward as needed for DEF, if getting DEF, and lift that contraption and add DEF. Again, please take your time, no one is there to rush you and they are all willing to help if you ask. Some may even ask about your rig as even with them being on the road to some it's also their dream to do the RV thing.

 

[DennisT]

Above is all correct.

Don’t stress about it too much, all of the ones we have used everyone has been nice.

Some of our stops the truckers have stuck up conversations asking about the rig etc.

Even had one tell the wife about carrying a little bottle of dawn so she could put it in the windshield cleaner. Takes the bugs off better than just the cleaning stuff in the bucket.

Another for the TSD card. Saved us a couple hundred $ so far.

We also have the Mudflap app and used it near the mothership since no TSD stations were close. Saved us some money as well.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Sheridany and Neal gave great input.
Other confusing option you will see on the screen (IIRC at TA) is “Other products”.
If you take this option your transaction is not immediately closed out but remains open so you can go inside (after you pull up to the line like Sheridany mentioned) and take other items to the cashier to add to your transaction.

If you use TA and/or Love’s I would also recommend using their specific apps (along with the Open Roads/TSD fleet discount card).
The apps simplify the transactions IMO.

If you want to use smaller truck stops or have another discount card I would also recommend the MudFlap app. Like others said, just need to check ingress/egress and canopy heights more carefully. Downside to mudflap, in most locations, is you have to go inside. I have seen an exception at a Maverick station somewhere out west, where I could use the Mudflap discount at the pump.

 

[Rich W.]

This may or may not effect you, but when using the big diesel nozzles, if I let the pump run until the nozzle clicks off when full, it overflows about a quart of fuel down the side of my rig as the nozzle clicks off. Not a big deal but its a mess and should be cleaned off immediately. To prevent this I listen closely as its getting close to full and when I hear the fuel starting up the fill pipe, I stop filling.

 

[Trav_lr]

No different than using a gas pump for your car. Swipe your card, answer a few prompts, enter your PIN, pump. If you want to go inside to purchase something, clear the pump lane by moving forward.

The difference between tractor and reefer diesel is accounting! The bean counters need to allocate the expense to different categories for taxes.

 

[Rich W.]

No different than using a gas pump for your car. Swipe your card, answer a few prompts, enter your PIN, pump. If you want to go inside to purchase something, clear the pump lane by moving forward.

The difference between tractor and reefer diesel is accounting! The bean counters need to allocate the expense to different categories.

It is for accounting but for tax purposes, tractor fuel being subject to road taxes, refer fuel being like ag fuel or any other fuel not used for on-road purposes. Rather than have two products, one dyed red, the other not, they just have the end user identify the purpose of the fuel.

Where I get fuel at home, I have a different card for “off road” diesel (for equipment) and it generates a different receipt that allows for a tax refund at the end of the year (form 4136). The price at the pump is the same and the product is the same.

 

[Trav_lr]

It is for accounting but for tax purposes, tractor fuel being subject to road taxes, refer fuel being like ag fuel or any other fuel not used for on-road purposes.

Exactly! ..... Sorry, I guess I should have provided a little more detail......

 

[Tom in PA]

Flying J/Pilot offers significant discounts to RV'ers using their "RV Card."
The best tip is after fueling, pull up to the yellow line before going inside to get a receipt or buying anything.

 

[osuallen]

Flying J/Pilot offers significant discounts to RV'ers using their "RV Card."
The best tip is after fueling, pull up to the yellow line before going inside to get a receipt or buying anything.

The P/FJ RV card is 8 cents off the cash price. There are times when that is the best deal, but most of the time Open Roads or mudflap offers much greater discounts.

 

[DKRITTER]

The P/FJ RV card is 8 cents off the cash price. There are times when that is the best deal, but most of the time Open Roads or mudflap offers much greater discounts.

It has been years since we fueled up at a Pilot, we have always received a better price from TSD 90% or Mudflap 10%.

 

[FL-JOE]

I agree with most of what has been suggested. I'll just toss out another possibility on getting DEF. When we were full time I started having issues buying DEF in containers. The seals wouldn't look right or appear to have been opened. Of course like many Newmar DP owners I didn't want to reposition my coach in busy diesel lanes to add DEF. I started carrying a DEF container so I could still get my safer bulk DEF in the diesel lanes but add it later while in a CG.

 

[CaptainGizmo]

Having not used Truck Stop diesel pumps in the past I have been looking for tips on using Truck Stop Diesel pumps. Trying very hard not to look like a Noob and piss people off.

Hi Joe,

I know it's been a couple months and maybe you're a "Truck Stop Expert" by now, but you asked for tips, so I'd love to give mine to you. I've been using truck stops, exclusively, for 5 years...and would consider myself having enough experience to share the small amount of advice to make you look like a Pro.

1. Figure out the correct entrance AND exit paths BEFORE arriving. Seems stupid, but let me tell you...they're NOT always straight forward and, if you're trying to figure it out on the fly, it will just make you more stressed and irritate the truckers as you clog things up. My Garmin 1095 is awesome for this, because every stop will download a BIRDSEYE view and will even show ROUTING THROUGH the truck stop, RV park, etc!! The LAST thing you wanna do is have to detach because you went the wrong way and can't turn around.

2. As you approach the pumps' entrance, assess where you need to be...AND BE PREPARED TO BE CUT-OFF by some other jerk that is in a hurry. This happened TWICE just a couple days ago. Makes us mad, but I keep telling myself, "hey, it's THEM who are wasting time/money while sitting here waiting for others".

3. KNOW how your TSD Fuel Card works BEFOREHAND...don't try to figure it out after you pull to the pump! It's NOT hard at all and I've helped numerous folks learn how to do it ahead of time. It's literally a SWIPE, PUNCH PUNCH PUNCH, Enter Code, NO NO, and done procedure.

4. NEVER LEAVE YOUR RIG when it's at the pump...even if you need to go inside to pay. ALWAYS ALWAYS pull forward and MAKE SURE YOU CHECK YOUR TOAD so that the truck behind you can pull up far enough. Unfortunately, this doesn't work the other way; we CONSTANTLY get burned by truckers who pull up a little bit, then SPLIT for a half hour to do who knows what. In the meantime, since my tanks are at the rear, we're screwed and can't pull up far enough. So, sometimes, I'll try to get behind a shorter truck, bobtail, etc. just to hedge my bet.


That's really all there is too it. I've never had a single bad experience...aside from maybe getting a bit of "attitude face" as we pull forward a lot more than a normal truck. I guess the grumpy ol' dudes somehow get upset that they have to walk two extra steps to go around us just get to their cheeseburger. LOL

 

[Underboss]

Yes, I always route plan and google earth pre stop. Its amazing how after you pull through the pumps and are leaving, its sometimes not clear which way to go.
I got stuck behind a semi that literally was pulled forward and gone from the truck before I pulled in. I filled up, ready to go and the truck was still there and he was nowhere to be found. He did not come out for another 30 minutes then sat in his truck for 3 minutes before even starting it to leave.

 

[sheridany]

The best time to pull into a truck stop for fueling is late morning or mid-day. You can always almost pull into a fueling lane pretty quickly. After 4 pm, it gets busy as the drivers typically come in to stay at the end of their time allowance.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Hi Joe,

I know it's been a couple months and maybe you're a "Truck Stop Expert" by now, but you asked for tips, so I'd love to give mine to you. I've been using truck stops, exclusively, for 5 years...and would consider myself having enough experience to share the small amount of advice to make you look like a Pro.

1. Figure out the correct entrance AND exit paths BEFORE arriving. Seems stupid, but let me tell you...they're NOT always straight forward. My Garmin 1095 is awesome for this, because every stop will download a BIRDSEYE view and will even show ROUTING THROUGH the truck stop, RV park, etc!! The LAST thing you wanna do is have to detach because you went the wrong way and can't turn around.

2. As you approach the pumps' entrance, assess where you need to be...AND BE PREPARED TO BE CUT-OFF by some other jerk that is in a hurry. This happened TWICE just a couple days ago. Makes us mad, but I keep telling myself, "hey, it's THEM who are wasting time/money while sitting here waiting for others".

3. KNOW how your TSD Fuel Card works BEFOREHAND...don't try to figure it out after you pull to the pump! It's NOT hard at all and I've helped numerous folks learn how to do it ahead of time. It's literally a SWIPE, PUNCH PUNCH PUNCH, Enter Code, NO NO, and done procedure.

4. NEVER LEAVE your rig when it's at the pump...even if you need to go inside to pay. ALWAYS ALWAYS pull forward and MAKE SURE YOU CHECK YOUR TOAD so that the truck behind you can pull up far enough. Unfortunately, this doesn't work the other way; we CONSTANTLY get burned by truckers who pull up a little bit, then SPLIT for a half hour to do who knows what. In the meantime, since my tanks are at the rear, we're screwed and can't pull up far enough. So, sometimes, I'll try to get behind a shorter truck, bobtail, etc. just to hedge my bet.


That's really all there is too it. I've never had a single bad experience...aside from maybe getting a bit of "attitude face" as we pull forward a lot more than a normal truck. I guess the grumpy ol' dudes somehow get upset that they have to walk two extra steps to go around us just get to their cheeseburger. LOL

Great summary
One additional thought to make the TSD/Open Roads card easier - If you are frequenting TA or Loves stops, you can use the TA or Loves app on a phone and the TSD card info is stored in the app.
For TA app, when you pull up to the pump and the app gives you a six digit code you enter on the pump.
For Loves app, when you pull up to the pump, open the app, tell the app what services you want, enter the pump number, confirm you are at the pump, then start pumping.

 

[Wemustrv]

Get the Mudflap App on your phone and enjoy pretty good discounts at the truck lanes.