Don't Linger At Fuel Pumps!

[FL-JOE]

When we are traveling we always utilize the commercial truck lanes at truck stops. As everyone knows who frequents these fuel lanes, commercial driver's and RVers, you fuel and then pull up to the line so the next person can pull up and start to fuel. Generally speaking over the years I have had very little issues fueling at all the major truck stops. Commercial truckers are never a problem.

This week when coming across the gulf coast I pulled into a busy TA. I pulled behind a Tiffin Red thinking he was done fueling but just hadn't pulled up yet. He was standing behind his toad messing around with some straps on bicycles hanging on the back of his toad. Since the fuel nozzle wasn't sticking in his coach I assumed he was finished and just waiting for the customer in front of him to pull off.

After several minutes I got out to stretch. To my shock there wasn't any vehicle in front of him. He kept messing with the bicycles for another few minutes. I walked up to him and asked if he was about finished. He said he hadn't started fueling yet and went back to playing around with the bicycle straps.

I probably shouldn't post what I wanted to say to this jerk. I simply got back in my truck thinking how lucky I was now that I can actually back up. I was able to move back about 30 feet and go to another pump. Needless to say when I was pulling out after fueling this nut job was still fueling. This was one of the worse cases of a rude RVer I had probably ever witnessed. I suspect if he continues doing that in commercial diesel lanes some trucker will point out the error of his ways.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

When we are traveling we always utilize the commercial truck lanes at truck stops. As everyone knows who frequents these fuel lanes, commercial driver's and RVers, you fuel and then pull up to the line so the next person can pull up and start to fuel. Generally speaking over the years I have had very little issues fueling at all the major truck stops. Commercial truckers are never a problem.

This week when coming across the gulf coast I pulled into a busy TA. I pulled behind a Tiffin Red thinking he was done fueling but just hadn't pulled up yet. He was standing behind his toad messing around with some straps on bicycles hanging on the back of his toad. Since the fuel nozzle wasn't sticking in his coach I assumed he was finished and just waiting for the customer in front of him to pull off.

After several minutes I got out to stretch. To my shock there wasn't any vehicle in front of him. He kept messing with the bicycles for another few minutes. I walked up to him and asked if he was about finished. He said he hadn't started fueling yet and went back to playing around with the bicycle straps.

I probably shouldn't post what I wanted to say to this jerk. I simply got back in my truck thinking how lucky I was now that I can actually back up. I was able to move back about 30 feet and go to another pump. Needless to say when I was pulling out after fueling this nut job was still fueling. This was one of the worse cases of a rude RVer I had probably ever witnessed. I suspect if he continues doing that in commercial diesel lanes some trucker will point out the error of his ways.

Some people just seem to live in a world of their own! Common courtesy should tell you that fuel lanes are for fueling. Who knew? I am afraid I would have suggested that he clear the fuel lane until he was ready to actually fuel his RV. And, I suspect my approach would have been quite a bit more polite than that of a commercial trucker waiting to fuel his rig. That’s what air horns are for!

TJ

 

[Jim]

I've had this happen to me before, not in my RV but at a busy convenience store. The guy had finished getting his fuel and then walked in to pay. At least that's what I thought he was doing. He was in there forever and when he came out he had a handful of lottery tickets. He sat in his car and started scratching. I couldn't believe this guy but then he got out of the car and started to walk back to the store.

I was livid and I yelled "Hey, how about moving your d**n car so the rest of us can use the pump?" And he did, but it was clear that he didn't get it and thought I was the one that was out of line. I don't know what's happened to people anymore, they just don't think about anyone but themselves.

 

[FL-JOE]

TJ, there were probably several things I could have said to him. He certainly needed a tongue lashing on some level.

I had a situation like yours Jim a couple years ago at a Shell Station down in Ft Myers. I pulled in to gas up my motorcycle and had to wait for a free pump. When I finally got to one I noticed a white work van was just sitting empty blocking a pump. Finally when I was almost done the driver came out with a drink and sandwich, got behind the wheel and began eating his lunch. It took me another couple of minutes to get ready to go and I couldn't believe the jerk just sat there eating while several cars were waiting! I leaned past the pump and asked him if he was broke down. He just looked at me and shook his head no. A rather large individual pumping gas on the pump in front of me had been watching the whole thing. He stopped pumping and walked over to the guys window and basically yelled at him that if he didn't move immediately he would need transport to the nearest medical facility. The lunch eater tossed his sandwich in the seat and took off.

It ended up being fun to watch.

 

[DKRITTER]

We pulled up to the RV lane at a Pilot several years ago. The guy getting fuel in front of us was driving a large commercial pickup. When he finished he went inside and didn't come out.

Finally I went in and found a manager, we looked around for him, he was in the restaurant having lunch. The manager asked him to go outside and move his truck, he was completely oblivious that he was blocking a pump.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Can't say anything here!!! I can already feel my blood pressure rising.

 

[Neemer]

We pulled up to the RV lane at a Pilot several years ago

I had so many bad experiences in those RV lanes in the beginning I swore them off. Pro tip: Don’t go anywhere near the dump station when someone in an obvious rental RV is getting ready to pull the trigger.

 

[MapNerd]

so all this time that we’ve been pulling into fuel pumps and using it as an impromptu rest stop where we fuel up, make a nice lunch and take a power nap - that was not okay?

 

[Gronk]

Kinda like when I pull in to get fuel at a C-store and they only have diesel at the end pumps and the cars seem to prefer those to the other open gas only pumps...........

 

[Neal]

Folks, I think we all miss what would really work in this situation. He/She may be a new RVer as we all once were. I remember to this day pulling into my first truck stop (TA) at night. It was unnerving with all the noise and hustle. Go up to them and be educational and explain the etiquette of truck stop fueling. Explain how it is our goal as RVers to not tie up the pump lanes any longer than needed. Explain that you should fuel up first and move forward to the yellow line or even better, go park in the larger parking area to tidy up as needed. A friendly conversation can go a long way and help people understand what we're all expecting and how trucker's need to get in and out of there as they have limited duty days. We are all quick to hate and short to educate and be kind. And don't forget to tell them about RVForums.com

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Go up to them and be educational and explain the etiquette of truck stop fueling. Explain how it is our goal as RVers to not tie up the pump lanes any longer than needed. Explain that you should fuel up first and move forward to the yellow line or even better, go park in the larger parking area to tidy up as needed. A friendly conversation can go a long way and help people understand what we're all expecting and how trucker's need to get in and out of their as they have limited duty days.

Your point is well made, @Neal, but we’ve become a bit circumspect about trying to “educate” people that appear to lack societal awareness and common sense. Their reaction is sometimes pretty unpredictable and we’d prefer to just find another pump and let the next big-rig driver “educate” them. It will probably be a more effective “teaching moment” than this ol’ dinosaur could muster.

It doesn’t take a genius to understand that fueling lanes are for...well, you know...fueling. Anyone who fails to grasp that simple fact is probably not a candidate for a PhD in truck-stop etiquette anyway.

YMMV

TJ

 

[Neal]

Many of us learn through online communities and social networking. Many also do not participate in any of the above and get an RV and don't have the opportunity to learn from others as we do. Yes, it would be a very fine line to attempt to talk to someone. If not receptive, back away immediately. It all depends on how you approach them. Compliment their RV, be friendly, then follow with "hey, you moron...did you know..."

 

[Scooterfan]

One of the reasons I like Costco (gas) is although it is self serve, they have an attendant. The attendant's job is to make sure everyone stays on point ? You pay upfront (card) and there's not a nearby restaurant to tarry in. I've not encountered the situations above. If I did, I would concur that Neal's approach would be best...IF I could only pull it off!

 

[CaptainGizmo]

I’m one of those who can’t seem to stop “trying” to help by opening my mouth. Doesn’t always pay off, for sure, and I have my wife as a constant reminder to just “let it go!”

But, I haven’t seen anyone use the comments I would use, in this case...which would be:

“Excuse me, Sir, I’d suggest you get your rig fueled ASAP and save the work for somewhere else. The next person you hold up will probably be a Trucker who’s not earning money while he waits behind you. I have a feeling, that’s not gonna be as nice of a conversation, as well as making another enemy for the rest of us RV-ers to deal with.”

Of course, these days, this is a crap shoot...but hey...I’m stubborn.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

I’m one of those who can’t seem to stop “trying” to help by opening my mouth. Doesn’t always pay off, for sure, and I have my wife as a constant reminder to just “let it go!”

But, I haven’t seen anyone use the comments I would use, in this case...which would be:

“Excuse me, Sir, I’d suggest you get your rig fueled ASAP and save the work for somewhere else. The next person you hold up will probably be a Trucker who’s not earning money while he waits behind you. I have a feeling, that’s not gonna be as nice of a conversation, as well as making another enemy for the rest of us RV-ers to deal with.”

Of course, these days, this is a crap shoot...but hey...I’m stubborn.

Or, “Hi...nice coach. Are you aware that you are blocking the fueling lane? Oh, never mind, here comes ‘Bubba the Trucker’ and he’s packing a tire thumper. See ya’ down the road”

TJ

 

[CaptainGizmo]

Or, “Hi...nice coach. Are you aware that you are blocking the fueling lane? Oh, never mind, here comes ‘Bubba the Trucker’ and he’s packing a tire thumper. See ya’ down the road”

TJ

EXACTLY! And as I walked by the trucker, I’d say...”I tried to tell him, but he said ‘screw the truckers!’”
Then break out the popcorn. ?

 

[AbdRahim]

Neal does have a point. I have to remember, I have been around truckstops since my teen years. However, some truckers now, are just as bad. I was in a very busy truckstop. We were lined up on the road waiting to enter. It to 10-15 minutes to make my way around the back of the small Pilot to the scale. The trucker ahead of me pulled forward, but not enough for me to get by. So I waited, and waited. Then he comes out with his hands full of bags. He had been shopping.

Ok, I only know what I saw. It is possible that another truck could have been ahead of him, before I pulled up. Some of the truck stops now have a regular announcement, over the PA, asking drivers to pull up after fueling. This is the progressive degradation of human society.

But it is true. People are not even taught to be considerate of others anymore.

Thank God for my wife. She frequently reminds me that the world does not revolve around me. What a disappointing thought.?

What really gets me is pulling into a truck stop with loads of empty car parking spaces, to find tiny cars and pickup trucks parked in the Bus and RV lane and I have to park illegally.

I finally, did take Neal's approach with a professional logistics van guy. He acknoleged that he never thought about larger vehicles. However, he did not move. ARRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!! Humans!! What are we going to do with them?

 

[Neal]

I'd certainly try to be nice to a fellow RVer but per the above, I've been held up quite a few times by trucks pulled forward at the yellow line and have gone in for shopping or whatever. I've sat there plenty of times waiting on them to get out of the way but me putting in on average of 50 gals is probably not the typical truck fill up that's behind them. It goes both ways. All we can do is do OUR best. I'll take time to do my windshield too when needed, I know that's a little more delay, but at times it has to be done. I've never run into a trucker or anyone behind me getting antsy, I do respect the situation and move out as fast as I can. I typically have to get the dog out to do her business, I typically don't pull forward to the yellow line for that but go find a parking place.

I admit I had a screw up coming out west this year. I was at a pretty busy and tight truck stop, a Love's I think. Parking was slim and I pulled into a reserved spot to get Elli a quick walk. Elli has developed a situation where she won't go in public places it seems so it takes forever to get her to do her business, if she will even do it. She's also hypersensitive to all the noises and distractions which doesn't help. Sure enough they were looking for me and when I returned I thought I was still good to go so I was going to make a quick lunch when a knock at my door occurred. Nice gentleman educated me I was in a reserved slot and a truck was waiting, need to pay for these spaces, etc. I apologized. He told me on the other side was a place for RV's and a dog run. I just left, it wasn't a good day, so be it. So be cognizant of the reserved spaces too when you intend to park for a little longer than a quick stop such as a dog walk or lunch break. This was not the typical truck stop, it was grand central station and a cluster mess.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Neal does have a point. I have to remember, I have been around truckstops since my teen years. However, some truckers now, are just as bad. I was in a very busy truckstop. We were lined up on the road waiting to enter. It to 10-15 minutes to make my way around the back of the small Pilot to the scale. The trucker ahead of me pulled forward, but not enough for me to get by. So I waited, and waited. Then he comes out with his hands full of bags. He had been shopping.

Ok, I only know what I saw. It is possible that another truck could have been ahead of him, before I pulled up. Some of the truck stops now have a regular announcement, over the PA, asking drivers to pull up after fueling. This is the progressive degradation of human society.

But it is true. People are not even taught to be considerate of others anymore.

Thank God for my wife. She frequently reminds me that the world does not revolve around me. What a disappointing thought.?

What really gets me is pulling into a truck stop with loads of empty car parking spaces, to find tiny cars and pickup trucks parked in the Bus and RV lane and I have to park illegally.

I finally, did take Neal's approach with a professional logistics van guy. He acknoleged that he never thought about larger vehicles. However, he did not move. ARRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!! Humans!! What are we going to do with them?

Brings to mind the old saying, “people are no darned good!”

TJ

 

[Neal]

Attitude is everything