Stepping Out With My Own Numbers

I can tell you TA,Petro, pilot, flying j. All jack their prices up .30 cents to make the discount look better. For example, right now I can buy fuel at a local station for 2.11. Pilot and Loves are 2.22 - 2.25 after my .31 cent discount. I have been buying from the local guy, I would rather give him the business anyway. It doesn't always work out that way, there are times I come out ahead using the discount at the large chains.

 

NASTC fuel program is like .06 over cost when used in network. (TA, Petro, Speedway, ETC.) No Pilot, Flying J, thankfully. So the discount varies. We use it and it does save money, like it very much. Best of luck to the original OP, I had a blow out the first day I went on my own. That week I bought double coin drives, surprisingly they have been great tires, but Chinese and cheap. Since then I've bought more trailers and another truck and now buy good tires and cap them with Unicircle caps from goodyear when the time is right. Saves $, and they are just as good as new virgins.

 

This is what I do too, 75% of my fuel locations are not sexy at all, but compared to big chains they are 30-50 c a gallon lower at times.

 

Yes, this thread could be interesting, hopefully it'll be kept up long enough. I also wish best of luck to the OP.
I wanted to start with a reefer too, but I wanted a brand new, as only a brand new one instills my confidence enough, but the insurance quotes made it beyond economical sense for me. At least for now. Another thing, I can't see doing things profitable and legal with reefer, especially not violating 14 hours limit, with all these loading/unloading cooler hours. I don't give a rat ### about staying legal with HOS, but if the ELDs are to come, then not much you can do. The market will adjust the rates accordingly though, the reefers will be needed, and maybe they will eventually pay real detention for sitting at a dock with a equipment worth over 200K.

 

I like to fuel at the non big boys too, but it makes it interesting when trying to find a shower unless you're willing to kick out 12 bucks every time.

 

While I'm not suggesting a guy go a week without a shower, you can get clean with under a half gallon of water. 2 gallons of water, a bar of soap, a wash cloth and a tupperware type container should be in every ones truck.
If it's good enough for our military personnel to be stuck out in the field for weeks at a time without access to shower facilities then its good enough for the rest of society.
Sure i prefer a hot shower everyday, but im prepared to be able to get clean without one.

 

No worries. I do agree with you that the NASTC discount at the TA Petro on tires and non fuel stuff is pitiful. The only big discount benefit with them is the if you need a road call, they don't charge a crazy fee just for showing up.