Favorite Fuel Stops and Avoiding Biodiesel

I am local to the state of Iowa and sometimes Wisconsin, so for me it’s Kwik Star 100%. Good fuel, clean facilities, good food and good coffee, reasonable prices, and always a friendly staff. The sparky’s stops are pretty decent too I guess, there’s a few of those scattered about Iowa.

 

I used to like the coffee cup stops in WY and the Dakotas but I think they've been bought out by the chains.
Like the fact that kwik trips show the date and freeze point of the winter blend too.

 

Company drivers, most drivers, have little ability to avoid certain fuel stops. It's my impression that the number of drivers/owner-operators avoiding biodiesel maxed out early in the years once biodiesel began being sold to the public. It's so common now in many places, only an O-O could attempt to avoid it. I would guess far more drivers favor or avoid certain fuel stops/truck stops based on amenities, cleanliness, available parking than fuel. Trucking companies generally pick at least the national chain of truck stops a company driver can use. The driver may have more choice in picking which location among that chain's locations will be used.

 

As an OTR O/O i basically gave up trying to find fuel stops that dont stock biodiesel. Most of the time there arent any anywhere near where i am going or they cost more then the national chains do with my card discount and far more thethe average little ma and pas. I typically found just going to the cheapest stop regardless of what kind of diesel it was even factoring in a new fuel filter every 10k miles saved me a couole hundred bucks a month over going way out of route to get the pure dino go go juice.

As for favorite stops it varies based on where i am but typically loves is the nicest. Petro usually has the best selection of food if eating at a fast food place rather then your stores. And ma and pas are usually more worn but better food and amenities overall.

 

By fuel stops I will assume you mean location location location, or is it both location & particular Gas station refueling company? I must admit I am biased because the company issued us with what was back then Flying J fuel cards, now Pilot of course, the only other brand I liked as far as truck rest stops was Petro, the one in Sparks/ Reno NV on the I - 80 was my favorite, most of the Flying J's I stopped at used to be packed out, the worst being Flying J Phoenix AZ on I - 10 , and Flying J Aurora CO on I - 70, the best Flying J was one of the newer ones at the time in Corning CA on the I - 5.

 

Some of the locations have franchised as a TA Express, similar to what Town Pump did with Pilot in Montana.

 

Quality of fuel varies each time it's loaded.

My last otr company was loves.
You never got the same mileage on the same route. It could vary as much as .75 mpg

 

I pretty much only stop at 3 truck stops. All ONVO here in northeast pa and ny. Never any big lines and they're always clean

 

If you don't want Bio, avoid MN... State law mandates a minimum of B20 at every pump.