Which fuel network gives you best discounts?

Man you guys are making me rethink my fuel program, we are small, only ten trucks, the most CONVENIENT program that we have come across (because we run everywhere, including all the nooks and cranny's) is the Pilot/J small fleet program.

We have never had a problem with it, there fuel stops match up with our routes well, and most of the drivers seem to prefer them, HOWEVER, I am getting no where near what you guys are talking about, all told I am probably consistently 10 cents under cash price.

Is there anyone else out there with a small fleet getting these big discounts?

Thanks Stan

 

Amen on that. After seeing some of the examples posted, I'm thinking like you: somewhat less enamored with my own program, but also realizing it isn't that bad.

Seems like the deeper the discount, the more strings attached (locations, volume). I know England has a fuel card program for carriers that I recall hearing good things about. I just never followed through to find out more. At the time, it really didn't fit my needs enough to explore further.

Lately I've benefitted from the advice of not taking my fuel program for granted. Example, the discounted price of two of the stops I would normally use was 5¢ higher than the cash price at a QT I would normally pass by. Fueling there with no discount has been a better deal. On the other hand, if I go west the discounted price drops around 15¢, so only fuel enough at the QT to get there if needed.

 

I figured Bill would comment. I know what he'll say about Fleetone they are a major PIA to deal with customer service wise, his words were the worst cust service anything I've ever dealt with. Loading up the fuel card was the big one their hours of operation are not so good. They might load your card the next day following when you ask them to. I never did find their website to see prices. I typically only fueled at one location when we had their card and sometimes I got a discount there and other days I just got cash price. Seems to be working for some of these guys though, not so great for a small fleet. You really have to stay on top of daily price to get the discount, you plan on doing that for 10 trucks every day have fun with that one. Or you expect them to load $5k on the card and maybe they wait til Monday to do it.. he negotiated a consistent discount with pilot/j as much as I hate pilot it's much simpler and easier

 

Yeah RC, in the past we had tried TCH, Fleetone and at one time Wright's but there coverage was limited. Like I said, the Pilot/J is the most "convenient" in fact for us they did a credit summary and we now fuel first, pay later, (I don't know if they do that for everyone or not) I think they draw on my account three times a week.

One hell of a lot better than waiting for a wire to go thru, while a guy is needing fuel. It works well, I just wish I could be in the discount range these guys are talking about. Since we are up from six trucks maybe I'll give them a call and see if I can fudge another couple cents out of them.

At 200,000 plus gal. a year, a couple of cents could go a long way!!!

Stan

 

My FleetOne is a one-week card with a $3000 limit. Debits my bank account once a week for the amount charged in the past seven days. If you can qualify, you could set it up to charge every few days. That is, if they extend you the credit for it.

For NASTC, you don't need to do daily individual truck stop checks. Just state-to-state checks and know in which areas of each state the best prices usually are (they tend to be consistent).

For instance, Pennsylvania is cheapest in the Harrisburg/Carlisle/Greencastle area. Then I-80 from around Clearfield equally west and east (Scranton is the highest). I-90 in Erie is the most expensive. Even though the prices fluctuate individually, the general theme of the state is consistent. But then you compare that to Ohio. Northwest OH is best, then southwest, then central, east, I-80 east, northeast. Usually. But, if you know Youngstown will be 10 cents cheaper than the cheapest I-80 Pennsylvania price. You could tell drivers to fill up in Ohio before crossing. Or just get enough to make it out of PA, etc.



NASTC's one point about their program is to not micromanage it. Just tell your drivers where they can fuel, and let them fuel where they want. Your average will be less than a solo owner-op who can plan out each stop well in advance, but you'll still get good discounts in areas where you flat rate discount just won't cut it.

 

semi are malone prices an immediat discount? our at mercer are right then, the fuel ticket wont show the discount, but only the discount price is deducted off the card

example you get five hundred dollar advance on the load get fuel which shows 250 dollars on the receipt and the discount for the number of gallons was 20.00 270.00 would be left on card. no waiting til later settlements for the discount.

of course mercer pays all fuel tax so we can fuel where we like without fuel tax concerns

 

Also with NASTC you need to know (by looking in the book) who the preferred stops are as opposed to authorized stops. I quit looking and just started using TA and petro because along my preferred route between Houston and Mobile I always do well with them normally .20 -.30 under cash price. And my card is always loaded with showers. Plenty of stops on both ends and along the route for stopping with oversize loads so I have not had to pay cash for a shower since starting this program 18 mos ago.

 

I was using a prefered stop from NASTC book. Preferred are in bold print. Use this same fuel stop almost every time for months. Sometimes 10 cents sometimes 15 sometimes cash price read that no discount. This would vary from day to day. Found it a little limiting if not impossible to find network on some of my lanes. Had to "plan" fuel stops for the first time in years with it. I know where all the Pilots are, pretty much everywhere and don't even have to think about fuel stops anymore. Except to find the best price online which is simple. One thing I did like about NASTC were the text alerts. Not knocking them if they work for you good. They weren't everything I was lead to believe they were at one time Iand don't work well for me. As far as Mercer goes,that is good how they cover fuel tax ,no-one else does that. It's why I never stressed much if I had to pay some tax in a quarter, it's not a lot of money. Multiplied by 2,000 trucks it likely is,especially when guys fuel up cheap in states like IN but I guess Mercer just offers it as a nice perk.