What's a better fuel card EFS or NASTC?

It isn't to keep the card active. It is just their version of collecting a fee, in lieu of the other networks method of charging a transaction fee. If you don't use the NASTC Fleetone card in a particular month, then no fee that month

 

No guilt, just playing their dumb game since they don't have the cumulative monthly thing like pfj and loves have

 

It’s strange. When did you first sign up with NASTC? The rules may have changed.

 

I do agree with you, but I was just stating the description of the fee in the fuel reports (“active cards fee”).

 

Oh, gotcha. in their case, "active" means: used that month

 

I think that it may vary with whether you're an independent o/o or leased to a company (that has safety stuff, etc.).

I'm leased to Schneider with just one truck. I signed up with NASTC and their affiliated fuel program four months ago.

The whole thing is this:

$300 to join NASTC. (Current annual renewal fee is $250)

Nothing to sign up for the fuel program. $4.25 per month each month the card is used (no other transaction fee for fueling no matter how many times per month I fuel)

Large discount at all TAs/Petros

Some to large discount at some AMBEST and other independent locations.

Discounts at some turnpike Sunoco and other locations. Usually, if there is a TA or Petro in the area, other places are not included. In areas with no TA or Petro, they usually have someone.

Can't use the card at PFJ at all, but in my case I can use Schneiders EFS card at PFJ if I need to.

Not sure about Loves, but for sure no discount there. I haven't been able to find any fuel card with a good discount at Loves. Recently I read someone post elsewhere that they get 33% better fuel economy with Loves fuel, saving more than a discount would. I find that preposterous.

Regarding what someone said about a limit on the number of times we can pump 60 gallons for a shower credit at TA/Petro - there is no limit imposed by TA/Petro or Fleetone. If there is room for 180 gallons, it is no problem to fuel three times and get three shower credits. I have done it, though I usually get either 60 each morning while running pretrip clock, or if I skipped the prior day I run 2x60 so I get two credits. No one cares if we do this. If someone cannot do it, then whomever administers their fuel card has put a limit on the number of fills per day....Fleetone doesn't choose to do that themselves, and since there is no per use transaction fee, the only restriction we have is the pain in the neck of having to input all the rot into the pump multiple times. Maybe one of these days TA/Petro will add fueling to their dang app like PFJ and Loves do. For now, I will put up with the negatives of the TA/Petro program in order to use their superior showers and restaurants....I don't want to park one place and eat/shower/whatever at another...waste of time.

 

I think you may be right about that. I’m an independent o/o.

I always thought being leased to a mega carrier would give you better discounts.

 

Yeah...Schneider's discount for us at PFJ is currently 50 cents a gallon most states...a few western states it is 60 cents. So that is pretty darn good....but still not as good as the NASTC deal...on top of that, I'd rather go to Petro or second choice TA. Schneider's discount there is only 5 cents.

So...pays to shop around. I save $300 to $500 a month using NASTC vs using the Schneider one, and Schneider still handles the IFTA....we just have to email in the monthly report from Fleetone, so all my IFTA work is done in a few seconds a month.

 

You can use the NASTC fuel card At loves but you don’t get a discount and you pay the out if network transaction fee which is $2. There are no volume commitments from NASTC. I have been running the card for almost 5 years - I now run them for 3 trucks. They ach 3 times a week and I carry a $5k limit. You use the fleetone website to manage the cards - both for activity and authentication set ups. The reporting is very good.

You also have a direct bill card with Pilot Flying J but the discount is only $0.10 per gal off the pump price. This is because I will not make a volume commitment.

I have looked into a direct Loves relationship but they also want a volume commitment.

We are strictly a heavy haul company and fuel where we fit and on our state routes - so having coverage is more important than anything else.

The NASTC card can be used at location that accepts Fleetone cards. And the Pilot Flying J card fills in the other other locations.

If you have to go for the seminar - it is not that big a deal and you might learn something- even if accidentally. Or you might learn how little other o/o or fleet owners know about managing their business.

 

You can get $0.30-0.50+ At Loves and Pilot/Flying J with Fuel+ card. TA/Petro too. But discount is $0.10-0.20 smaller then by NASTC.

Fuel Plus — Reliant-Transportation