Diesel Fuel Stations-easy way to pay?

[Larry Dedrick]

We just bought our first coach and have yet to take our first trip. While heading to PA this week in our diesel truck we stopped to fill up at a truck stop and found that we would have to go in and pay then pump and go back in again.  Is there an easier way to pay at these truck stops?  We realize we will not need to stop as often with the coach but still there must be an easier way...any suggestions would be much appreciated!

[Steve Huber]

Larry,
Not clear why you had to go in first. If CC slots are on pump (e.g.Flying J / Pilot) you can use them but are limited by the CC policy, usually =<$150. Most times you can run the card a 2nd time  to double the amount. If no CC acceptor or you don't want the hassle of running the card twice, you got to go in. I've run into a couple of places in the NE where you've got to go in due to the added weight based tax they want to charge you.
Steve

[William Brosam]

iv had to go in on all the big truck stop as the card machines wont accept a non gas credit card. if you try to use a visa/mc at the pump on the 18 wheeler side it doesn't work you have to go in set the limit you want they charge your card and then go back in and have them issue a refund for any un used portion.

[Marty and Suzie Schenck]

Go into a Pilot/Flying J and set up an RV acount. You will then slide your rewards card at the pump and it will let you pump fuel. You then move forward and go in to use your Master or Visa card. Or, set up a Pacific Pride acount.
Marty

[LEAH DRAPER]

If you get a flying J/Pilot credit card you never have to go inside before or after and they send you a bill or better yet deduct it from your banking account.
I TRY NEVER to fillip except at flyingJ/Pilot, but sometimes thats not always possible.
Leah

[Joel Ashley]

As a member of FMCA, you should have received a Pilot/Flying J discount card as part of FMCA's benefits.  I don't even know what I might have done with ours, because I try to avoid Flying J's chaotic facilities, as I've written about previously on this forum.  As Good Sam Life members since long before joining FMCA, we were recently sent an upgraded Good Sam card which supposedly has a Pilot/Flying J discount built into it.  With either card, I'm told I follow the procedure Marty outlined which is similar to what truckers do - scan, pump, pay inside.  Leah's idea is one step simpler if you don't mind having one more credit card account.

Pioneer Fuel is by far and away my preferred provider, as I've promoted numerous times before here.  Easy in, pick a pump from usually wide-open lanes with no maneuvering problems whatsoever on large lots, locate the card machine, scan card, punch in PIN number, punch in pump number, pump fuel, easy out.  At the end of the month they deduct from your checking acct.  90% of the time you are nearly the only one in the station;  no cars or pedestrians to deal with, no waiting in line.  But they don't have outlets in several sections of the country, so it depends on where you tend to travel.  They used to have quite a number of contracted providers in Pennsylvania and I assume still do.  http://pacificpride.us/

If you contact Pioneer Fuel for info or to sign up, tell C.J. that Joel sent you.  Their customer service is great.

Joel

[Joel Weiss]

Larry,
Not clear why you had to go in first. If CC slots are on pump (e.g.Flying J / Pilot) you can use them but are limited by the CC policy, usually =<$150.

Not true in the truck lanes. At Pilot/F-J truck lanes at some locations have CC readers but they are VISA only.  The limit is $395.  This is not the case in the RV lanes, but we never use those.

[Joel Weiss]

As a member of FMCA, you should have received a Pilot/Flying J discount card as part of FMCA's benefits.  

My understanding of the new Pilot/F-J policy as announced a couple of months ago is that no new discount cards will be issued although the existing ones remain valid.  The Good Sam/F-J credit card continues to exist and new Good Sam cards will have a discount capability.

[LEAH DRAPER]

WHY anyone would go to the RV lane is beyond me. They are slow fill, much less room for movement and non-RV'ers don't understand RV limitations nor do they give a damn.  

[David T. Richelderfer]

I have a RV Plus card from Pilot/Flying J.  When available I go to these stations on the truck side because getting around on the truck sides is usually MUCH easier.  Many of these stations have two RV lanes on their truck sides.  With the RV Plus card you can save up to 12c per gallon on diesel.  First, the RV Plus card does not charge the 5c credit versus cash difference.  Second, the RV Plus card gives several more cents of discount.  At the end of the month the RV Plus card system sends an email and all that needs to be done is authorize a bank payment for the whole month's charges.  Ohh, and the RV Plus card works on gasoline and propane too... with similar discounts.

I also have a CFN card.  Since I live in Oregon - one of two states without self-serve gasoline filling - I can duck into a CFN truck fill and avoid the hassle of all the cars usually driven by poor drivers in a hurry.  The CFN card doesn't offer much in discounts;  convenience is the selling point at CFN.

[Jerald Cate]

I ran into a situation last summer in Evansville, Indiana at a Love's truck stop.  I pulled into the truck lanes to fill-up but they wouldn't allow me to fill-up there because the truck lanes were for tax exempt only.  I had to pull out of the truck lanes and pull around to the pumps in front.  I wasn't real happy about the situation because the maneuvering room was very limited.  Does anyone know if this is something unique to Indiana or do other states have this restriction?

[John Jahr]

Just a note to those that get the Rv Plus charge card from Pilot Flying J. Make sure your card is activated when you use it the first time, you should get your discount price at the pump. I didn't and had to call customer service to get it activated to get  the discount.

John

[David T. Richelderfer]

It sounds like either the computer programmers at Love's, or the folks at the cash registers, are not highly competent.  Frankly, I don't understand why states have different tax rates between trucks versus cars.  Just tax at one rate for all and make it easy.  Oregon has a PUC and through it charges different rates for vehicles licensed under the PUC versus not licensed.  It makes little sense to me to make things complex... unless what they really want is to enhance employment to handle the self-made complexities.

Sooooo... what do you think is going to happen as more electric cars get on the roads?  Certainly, when powered by electricity they are NOT paying fuel taxes, and thus are NOT paying their fair share of road maintenance costs.  Something is going to change.  Oregon has been looking at changing the fuel-tax-charging system to modify it to a mileage-tax-charging system.  I can only guess that would mean charging the bi-annual auto licensing fee to include a mileage report, and the license fee would be charged accordingly.  I don't know... but one thing I do know is governments at all levels want more money to spend.  Like they need even more money??

I feel better now.

[neil omalley]

Dave: I'm glad you feel better . It's always good to start your day with a good rant ! I'm assuming you do know that truckers are already taxed based on their mileage and rvs are not. Hence the differences in the tax rates. I'm sure the gummn't needs the monies more than you (or me) and you gotta remember they are only here to help!!!

[Larry Dedrick]

Thanks for all the info. We just signed up for the upgraded good Sams card.  We were told we can scan it then our credit carc so will see.