At Panther we get 55% of the load (not including FSC and assessorials) at POD. There is no percentage "hit" we have to pay in order to get this 55%. It's simpy a matter of getting 55% at POD, or leaving it all to be paid out two weeks later at settlement. I used to just leave it on the Comdata card and then at Settlement time I'd just transfer it all over to the bank, all the while running on my bank's debit card for everything. But with some of the (diesel) fuel discounts we get when using the Comdata card, it would be absolutely foolish to ignore the POD advances for fuel.
These discounts don't work for gas vans, as it's only for diesel. For gas vans the Flying J Frequent Fueler Card is still the best overall deal, as you'll get 1/2 a shower credit each time you buy 20 gallons of gas (or diesel) at the J. The credits are good for a week, so you can accumulate them to get free showers. Essentially, every time you accumulate one free shower, you get an instant $10 discount off the fuel you bought, as you get a free shower and a free cold drink. $2.25 a gallon at 40 gallons is $90, but that $10 discount makes it $80, making the same 40 gallons cost only $2.00 a gallon.
The same goes for gas purchases. If gas is $1.75 a gallon, 40 gallons is $70. Less $10 for the free shower and free cold drink, and it's $60, making gas only $1.50 a gallon.
And that's at the J using a debit card or a credit card. At the TA, for example, with Panther (and I think FedEx has the same discounts), and when using a Comdata card, the discounts are often equally significant. At the TA in Lodi, for example, pump price is $2.389. If you use a Comdata card (or T-Chek at FedEx) , it's $2.052. Not sure about T-Chek, but with Comdata it's $1.50 a pop every time you use it, so that has to be figured in, as well. If you get 20 gallons, it adds 7.5 cents per gallon. At 25 gallons it adds 6 cents. (not much of an issue with big and straight trucks, obviously, but us cargo vans with our puny tanks, it's an issue). But even at 20 gallons and an extra 7.5 cents, that makes the Lodi TA price today at $2.127, a 26 cent discount off the pump price. At some locations the discounts are less, but at some they are significantly more. I've gotten 50 and 60 cents off the pump price recently. Though not as significant as the TA, we also get discounts beyond the mere "cash discount" at other truck stops, like Pilot, Loves, Petro, etc.
Plus, all of these places give you points per gallon or $1 spent (usually one point per) that can add up, including purchases at the sit down and fast food restaurants at most locations, and be redeemed for food, WiFi access, whatever. Big and traight trucks can accumulate serious points in short order. Cargo vans, not so much. I think I've got a whopping 650 points on my Pilot Card. That's $6.50, I think. At the TA I've got like 1150 points (199 points gets you a day of WiFi, 500 gets you a week). I'll get $10 or $12 worth of coupons from the J each month. Not gonna break the bank in a cargo van, but it's free money, and it adds up.
So if your carrier has worked out a fuel discount program (for diesel), you might not want to be too quick to dismiss fuel advances and the use of a fuel card for those who can take advantage of it. For others, a Frequent Fueler Card at the J should be obtained, as it works for both gas and diesel.
