nightcreacher
Veteran Expediter
comdata same as cash,visa you get charged extra for fuel,about .05 /gal more
how upset would you get and what would you do
- Thread starter Dynamite 1
- Start date
There is a lot more to it than just cash or card or Comdata. It also depends on where you fuel and who you run for. Some of the J's are Conoco branded. At those, if you have a Conoco Mastercard, you get a 3% rebate on your purchase. Cash gets a 5 cent discount. If fuel is $1.679 the 3% rebate is 5 cents a gallon. If fuel is $2.679 the rebate is 8 cents a gallon. It isn't a lot but with fuel over $2 a gallon everywhere you keep more in your pocket by charging to a Conoco Mastercard at full price and getting the rebate than you do by taking the cash discount. Trucking is a business of pennies. Reducing expenses by even a penny or two a mile or earning a penny or two more per loaded mile equals a pretty nice chunk of money added up for a year.
Another factor is who you run for and what fuel buying programs they have in place. Some are very simple like 4 cents a gallon off the cash price when you buy at Pilot with the Comdata card. Others are more complicated and offer more potential savings. With Panther, at T/A, you get a discounted price at some of their locations. The discount varies depending on location. Some are only a couple of cents below the posted price. Some are significantly better. It changes daily and you get the current numbers for every T/A in the country off the website. I haven't gotten the latest numbers because my tanks are full but recently some of the discounts were 16.9 cents in Bloomington, IL, 19.2 cents in Clayton, IN, 10.3 cents in Dexter, MI, 18.5 cents in Candler, NC, 15.3 cents in North Canton, OH, and 40.6 cents in Troutdale, OR among many other excellent discounts. This would tie into the thread about fuel taxes and optimizing fuel purchases. You have to look at your route and figure out where to buy based on taxes, discounts etc. and using the Comdata card for fuel, even with a $1.50 fee attached, can sometimes be a big cost saver.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
Another factor is who you run for and what fuel buying programs they have in place. Some are very simple like 4 cents a gallon off the cash price when you buy at Pilot with the Comdata card. Others are more complicated and offer more potential savings. With Panther, at T/A, you get a discounted price at some of their locations. The discount varies depending on location. Some are only a couple of cents below the posted price. Some are significantly better. It changes daily and you get the current numbers for every T/A in the country off the website. I haven't gotten the latest numbers because my tanks are full but recently some of the discounts were 16.9 cents in Bloomington, IL, 19.2 cents in Clayton, IN, 10.3 cents in Dexter, MI, 18.5 cents in Candler, NC, 15.3 cents in North Canton, OH, and 40.6 cents in Troutdale, OR among many other excellent discounts. This would tie into the thread about fuel taxes and optimizing fuel purchases. You have to look at your route and figure out where to buy based on taxes, discounts etc. and using the Comdata card for fuel, even with a $1.50 fee attached, can sometimes be a big cost saver.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
thanks all for the responses, lots of good ones on ways to get around it or help offset the cost. what i really wanted was to see how upset this would get everyone if their carrier started doing this, seeing this is a industry standard almost every carrier gives advances on every load. how would this emotionally effect you. i dont mean get all po'd and rant and rave. just how would it change your opinion of your carrier. once again thanks .
Broompilot
Veteran Expediter
Nightcreature, I agree with 100% you have to be cheap. But than why did you post about how great it is do be in debt? Please explaine to us why its OK not to give $ away to Comdata, but its completely OK to Finance 100% of a truck as you posted a month ago? Just cause you get a tax deduction as if that somehow that makes you $ or adds to the bottom line?
I once (use to) fall victim to the FLEESE vehicles until I discovered the whole truth on borrowing others $. Its a scam a total scam anyone who offers that you can come ahead by using borrowing $ to get a tax deduction obviously does not understand the value of what it is to pay for the same item. The Value is just this, very simple more money for yourself to keep insteading of paying for all those high rise bank buildings in the Center of every Major City.
I once (use to) fall victim to the FLEESE vehicles until I discovered the whole truth on borrowing others $. Its a scam a total scam anyone who offers that you can come ahead by using borrowing $ to get a tax deduction obviously does not understand the value of what it is to pay for the same item. The Value is just this, very simple more money for yourself to keep insteading of paying for all those high rise bank buildings in the Center of every Major City.
For a single operator, buying a new truck because one needs a
tax deduction would not likely be recommended. If someone is a fleet owner, there are certain circumstances that borrowed money might make sense. Alot of financial information would have to come into play for the latter to be a good idea.
As for the 5 percent fee for using comdata, the carrier should obtain a better source for handling these transactions if they are saying that is what they are paying. If I was a driver and liked Tri-State, I would just stop using the card and get my own.
Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator
tax deduction would not likely be recommended. If someone is a fleet owner, there are certain circumstances that borrowed money might make sense. Alot of financial information would have to come into play for the latter to be a good idea.
As for the 5 percent fee for using comdata, the carrier should obtain a better source for handling these transactions if they are saying that is what they are paying. If I was a driver and liked Tri-State, I would just stop using the card and get my own.
Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator
Tennesseahawk
Veteran Expediter
When the system crashed last night, it took the Tri-state thread with it.
"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas
"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas
bernieh48
Veteran Expediter
Well it was asked in the other thread in this about this 5% fee being a breach of contract. I have since found out that it will no be becuase they are making the owners sign admendoms to thier contracts for this or be terminated if they don't. Sounds like it's a do or don't situation. A lot of drivers are leaving and a lot of owners will be losing drivers because of this. When our owner asked the upper ups about this they said they didn't care how the drivers or owners felt about this they were doing it anyway. Nice to know huh?
Tennesseahawk
Veteran Expediter
The little guy is only taking it if he counts on that advance to survive. It doesn't take long to save up enough money to pay for fuel and eat until your paycheck comes.
I suppose the ones who use it as a convenience are getting screwed too... but at least they're in a better shape to find something else that'll work.
"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas
I suppose the ones who use it as a convenience are getting screwed too... but at least they're in a better shape to find something else that'll work.
"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas
Can someone with 3S confirm or correct this? Your options for money are to take this "advance" when you pick up the load or wait until payday? There is no money at POD? How long between making the run and getting paid through payroll?
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
panther_art
Expert Expediter
When a panther driver gets to the consignee someone has to sign our pro bill to verify that our load was delivered and it was all there.
Then we put that persons name on the qc when we are done and ready for a new load, then those that get the 45% advance that panther gives after each load that panther gives to keep us running.
Panther Art
Then we put that persons name on the qc when we are done and ready for a new load, then those that get the 45% advance that panther gives after each load that panther gives to keep us running.
Panther Art
panther_art
Expert Expediter
Thats what we call it at panther but at 3s it could mean p***ed off driver.
And if all this is true about 3s that is what they are going to have.
Panther Art
And if all this is true about 3s that is what they are going to have.
Panther Art
>Can someone with 3S confirm or correct this? Your options
>for money are to take this "advance" when you pick up the
>load or wait until payday? There is no money at POD? How
>long between making the run and getting paid through
>payroll?
>
>Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
>Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
>Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
>EO Forum Moderator
>----------
>Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you
>like.
i drive for 3S and we do not receive money at delivery. it is either commdata or wait until your settlement
i understand why 3S is doing this but i dont understand why they aint trying to do damage control on the negative feedback
>for money are to take this "advance" when you pick up the
>load or wait until payday? There is no money at POD? How
>long between making the run and getting paid through
>payroll?
>
>Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
>Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
>Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
>EO Forum Moderator
>----------
>Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you
>like.
i drive for 3S and we do not receive money at delivery. it is either commdata or wait until your settlement
i understand why 3S is doing this but i dont understand why they aint trying to do damage control on the negative feedback
Yes, as already mentioned it's proof of delivery. I'm trying to find out from someone at 3S when monies are made available before commenting further on this.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
Leo, from what i understand they can take up to 50% of their settlement as an advance as soon as they make their pick up and call in their load info, then it's 10 to 14 days depending on when they turn in there paperwork. payday is friday and it can either be put on your comdata, not as an advance, but as a settlement, or direct deposited to your bank account...so sayeth my cousin who drives a D unit at tristate.
