Diesel Prices at truck stops

Dakota · May 1, 2009

I'm fairly new to expediting, but have noticed that the truck stops like Pilot, TA etc, the price of diesel seems higher than at some of the regular gas stations. I thought the diesel was tax exempt, but the prices are sometimes higher then the regular taxed diesel.
Is this my imagination or do I have something here?
I drive a straight truck, so I can fill up anywhere really. Is it more to my advantage to avoid the truck stop diesel?

DougTravels · May 1, 2009

Just look for the lowest price thats what I do. TA inflates their price so they can give big discounts to some of the big carriers, such a crock of sheeeeet.

piper1 · May 1, 2009

Keep an eye on as many prices as you can. If prices are on the way up, usually the truck stops will go up first as they have to re-fill their tanks more often so they get exposed to price swings faster. The Texaco on the corner may have a tank of fuel that is a month old that he bought at a lower price.

Same holds true when prices are on the way down, truckstop first, then the little guy.

Doug's point about prices being inflated at some brands so a "discount" will look better is also very valid (although a lot of TA's the discount is based on cost not retail...still can suck tho).

Dunno if you ever read the thread "who's $20 is that" about real fuel costs but if your in a straight truck it is worth a read!!

As far as avoiding the truck stops...with diesel, fresher is usually better and worth it!

Dakota · May 1, 2009

Looked for that thread who's $20 is that could not find it

OntarioVanMan · May 2, 2009

I noticed the QT chain in Mo is more then a dime LOWER then even the J.....

greg334 · May 2, 2009

I don't know about the T/A thing, I bought fuel for my pickup yesterday at T/A and it was a bit cheaper than my local BP station where I get a discount.

Dakota · May 2, 2009

Okay, I found that other thread. I don't think the road taxes apply to me since I am under 26000.
So basically, I just need to shop around for the lowest price.

OntarioVanMan · May 2, 2009

Dakota said:
Okay, I found that other thread. I don't think the road taxes apply to me since I am under 26000.
So basically, I just need to shop around for the lowest price.

I love Indiana...wish there were about 4 more states like they do it....I fill up at the tax exempt price...hehehe...like a bandit!!

Dakota · May 2, 2009

OntarioVanMan said:
I love Indiana...wish there were about 4 more states like they do it....I fill up at the tax exempt price...hehehe...like a bandit!!

Me too!!! Most places don't even ask for ICC or DOT #'s

DougTravels · May 2, 2009

It seems like Indiana is not the bargain it used to be. Missouri is good the QT someone mentioned, I paid 1.89 earlier this week there.

OntarioVanMan · May 2, 2009

DougTravels said:
It seems like Indiana is not the bargain it used to be. Missouri is good the QT someone mentioned, I paid 1.89 earlier this week there.

Gas went up .07 cents on Friday at Pontoon Beach becasue the NHRA is at Gateway down the road abit this weekend! Rip job!!

Still $1.89 at QT yesterday!!

OntarioVanMan · May 2, 2009

DougTravels said:
It seems like Indiana is not the bargain it used to be. Missouri is good the QT someone mentioned, I paid 1.89 earlier this week there.

neither is Kentucky...have gotten it cheaper at times in Ohio,,,unreal!!

miker · May 2, 2009

I noticed the same thing as Dakota, while in FL this past week,but also wondered the same thing that Piper said, could the regular filling stations diesel be sitting for a while in the tanks possibly causing some injector or injector pump problems? but the savings are hard to resist because in some cases they were as much as .10 cents and even at .05 cents with 2-65 gallon fill ups per week at 52 weeks is like 700.00 per year savings, and these days we need all the savings we can get, I'd like to hear from some veterans on the question of , is the regular filling station diesel prone to causing problems verses truck stop diesel?

OntarioVanMan · May 2, 2009

miker said:
I noticed the same thing as Dakota, while in FL this past week,but also wondered the same thing that Piper said, could the regular filling stations diesel be sitting for a while in the tanks possibly causing some injector or injector pump problems? but the savings are hard to resist because in some cases they were as much as .10 cents and even at .05 cents with 2-65 gallon fill ups per week at 52 weeks is like 700.00 per year savings, and these days we need all the savings we can get, I'd like to hear from some veterans on the question of , is the regular filling station diesel prone to causing problems verses truck stop diesel?

just take your best guess...a quick scan of the place....does it "look" busy? are the pumps from the 1930's? it's a feel....there are some I go by just on the feel....

BillChaffey · May 2, 2009

In this part of Missouri, Gasoline is $1.76 a gallon. Over the road Diesel has stayed at $2.00 for about a month. Farm Diesel which is Dyed pink is tax exempt. The State inspectors at weight stations, will on occasion dip into big rigs tanks to see what there using,.

OntarioVanMan · May 2, 2009

bearcat44 said:
In this part of Missouri, Gasoline is $1.76 a gallon. Over the road Diesel has stayed at $2.00 for about a month. Farm Diesel which is Dyed pink is tax exempt. The State inspectors at weight stations, will on occasion dip into big rigs tanks to see what there using,.

I seen the QT's all at 1.89 this week in St louis and KC...? The truck stops are at 2 bucks though...

piper1 · May 2, 2009

QT's are awesome, I had more than one trip across Illinois with the low fuel light on praying I'd make it to the first QT in MO and get good cheap fuel! If they only had better coffee....

OntarioVanMan · May 2, 2009

piper1 said:
QT's are awesome, I had more than one trip across Illinois with the low fuel light on praying I'd make it to the first QT in MO and get good cheap fuel! If they only had better coffee....

I carry my own cream and it still didn't help...its the coffee they use or brewing method..