Fuel Semi Lanes

[emugel]

No, my credit cards don't work in those pumps, so our "solution to the problem" is that when we pull up to the lane, DW gets out of the truck and goes inside "armed with the pump number" and gets in line with her credit card. . . . . . .

You can do that but you won't get the discount that TDS offers.
For example - on our trip last year, in Farmington, Maine, pulled into an Irving truck stop.
Pump price was $4.299 per gallon. Price I paid, after TDS fees, was $3.560 per gallon. I saved almost $11 on that one fill-up. If I had used my non-TDS debit/credit card I would have had to paid the pump price.

Everyone needs to go with what they feel comfortable with. I feel okay with TDS. I don't give out the number willy-nilly but so many have my SSN already anyway - - - - several doctors, the dentist, my mortgage company, most all the utility companies, several banks, Charles Schwab, several insurance companies, a couple of hospitals, one credit card company - - - the list goes on and on. Any of them can be hacked.

 

[vampress]

Well, apparently TSD has been listening to people like me. Now I may have to consider it.

 

[Gearhead]

I’ve been using Good Sam debit card at Pilot and Flying J just to save the walk into the cashier.
But TDS is sounding more interesting.

 

[emugel]

I’ve been using Good Sam debit card at Pilot and Flying J just to save the walk into the cashier.
But TDS is sounding more interesting.

Unfortunately, neither Pilot or Flying J have an agreement with TDS Open Roads. Can't use the card there. Also, not all stations of a particular chain accept the card, either. Each station decides for itself whether or not to accept the program and how much discount to give. I have pulled into several Petro's and Irving's without checking the app, only to find that particular station refused the card. My fault. The app is very good at showing the stations that are signatory with them. The app finds your location and shows all stations (that accept the card) in a radius (that you set) from that location along with the discount price at those stations.

 

[bipolarcoder]

I did notice that TDS no longer requires SSA information as stated above. Honestly, I just wasn't sure how it all worked and IF it worked but seeing that more people use it here I will have to give it a try.

So #1 it just links to your regular bank account or do you have to keep that account funded as well
#2 I will have to pay and have it shipped to me quickly

 

[vampress]

I did notice that TDS no longer requires SSA information as stated above. Honestly, I just wasn't sure how it all worked and IF it worked but seeing that more people use it here I will have to give it a try.

So #1 it just links to your regular bank account or do you have to keep that account funded as well
#2 I will have to pay and have it shipped to me quickly

#1 - You can link it to your main bank account, but I wouldn’t recommend it. If someone ever hacked in, they could take all your money out of the account. Instead, I would (and do to use PayPal), set up a separate checking account at your bank. Use that one to link TSD or PayPal, etc to. The account TSD is linked to, does have to have money in it for you to use because the TSD card is used like a debit card when linked to your account. Another option is to link it to a credit card, but then TSD said they will charge you the 3% credit card fees also. So, you don’t get as much in savings as if it’s linked to a bank account.

Another thing to consider is, they did away with the SSN portion, but you now have to go through a third party independent verification company to verify who you are. They want all your info plus a photo of your drivers license. So, to me, they didn’t improve a darn thing. It isn’t like they went though ID.me like the federal govt uses, this one is just some random company collecting all your info. Kind of disappointing. Honestly, I don’t understand why they want more information than a credit card company when you apply for one of those.

 

[Photomonjax]

I have been using TSD for about 5 years and never had a problem. Pull up to the pump, fill and you are on your way. Billing Info sent a day or two latter with the new system. I do recommend that you keep a record of you fills to match your statements to

 

[JackieHWard]

I believe someone asked about this before but, is it possible to get fuel in the diesel lanes that semi trucks go through? I have been through them before and had to go inside to pay because I didn't have a corporate card or something like that.

I hate even trying to THINK about getting fuel in the front of the station.

Thanks ahead of time

Yes, you can use fuel lanes. I use an App called Mudflap which is attached to my Credit card. You go inside with a code from your App and that particular station. The price you get on your receipt is not what you pay. The App shows you what stations are in the Mudflap program. Not all truck stops are. Saved me money for more fuel. Check it out.

 

[jvg]

I believe someone asked about this before but, is it possible to get fuel in the diesel lanes that semi trucks go through? I have been through them before and had to go inside to pay because I didn't have a corporate card or something like that.

I hate even trying to THINK about getting fuel in the front of the station.

Thanks ahead of time

No one has ever questioned my fifth wheel in the truck lanes. Almost everyone takes the goodsam card. Also, I use the Mudflap App. The same discount as the commercial truckers. It's free. You register with the app. Click on the app and there's a map for nearest station. Click on directions and when you arrive click on get authorization, give that number to desk. They tend to be in smaller truck stops. But I kinda like that.

 

[chunker]

I don't live in fear that someone bad will get my SSN or a part of it. It's already out there in a million places anyway, but I'm also not sloppy with it either. That said I got the TSD Open Roads card 3 years ago and it has saved a ton of $$$ and 3 tons of aggravation trying to find a place I could fit into. For banking, I bank at a CU and opened a separate account that only gets used for TSD fuel purchases. TSD price discount varies greatly with as much as $1.00 differences in stations in close proximity. Loves seems in my travels to have the LEAST discount. It pays to look around.

You can also charge the cost of DEF for the same fuel transaction but no discount for DEF. Pump DEF typically a lot less expensive than jug or box versions.

It used to be the card had to be used every 3 months of it was suspended or put on hold. That has been increased to 12 months. IF the card isn't used, just call the number on the card to reactivate. Has to be used fairly quickly so don't call a month before.

 

[Mikelff]

I don't have a TDS card. I just can't justify giving an internet company my SSAN, my bank account number and an "open ended withdrawal consent". Other's may have enough "trust and faith" in the internet to protect their interests, but I just don't...

We do, however, occasionally use a truck stop "semi lane" to refuel. No, my credit cards don't work in those pumps, so our "solution to the problem" is that when we pull up to the lane, DW gets out of the truck and goes inside "armed with the pump number" and gets in line with her credit card. I pull up to the pump, reset the pump and wait for the cashier to turn the pump on when DW gets to the register. Once the pump is reset, I refuel and DW is standing at the register watching what the cashier does with her credit card. Once the truck is full, I shut down the pump which "signals the cashier to finalize the sale". DW confirms that the gallons is "roughly what I told her I'd need" and if it's close, she signs the receipt.

Once she's back in the truck cab, we confirm gallons, price, MPG calculations and enter all that into the truck's log book and we're then "on our way"....

Yes, it takes two people, but we don't have the "hassle" of me parking at a pump, going inside to "guess how much it will cost" and then going back outside, fill the truck, go back inside, stand in line again and then get my receipt (while hoping the cashier didn't ring up several charges on the card while I was outside and he/she had "free access to the card"....

I just don't trust "internet commercial sites" with any more data than I have to give them, and I don't voluntarily offer all the data TSD wants which could, if someone in Pakistan or Nigeria "hacks their site" put me in financial ruin with access to my banking accounts..... Old fashioned? Maybe, but also "proactive in my personal security"... YMMV

We use the TDS card. We opened a SEPARATE checking account to use for these kinds of credit/debit cards. No fees on this account. I keep enough in the account to cover our fuel bills as we go. If I am running low, I will transfer some funds to cover our bills on the road. If someone were to be able to get into it they wouldn’t get much, plus the bank would reimburse me. I have strong pass codes and protections against hackers. I have withdrawal limits set on the account as well. Never had a problem. I understand your concerns but there are ways to protect your personal information without having to go through the gyrations you are going through. There have been enough hacks out there on large banks and companies that your personal information is probably out in the dark web anyway.

 

[Ex-Hornet Builder]

So it is possible to get a fuel card? If so do you know of a corporation/company that I can order through. I am an idiot and can't find much about it.

TSD Logistics Texas. Open Roads Fuel app, by far the best one out there.

 

[JABURKHOLDER]

I have always used the truck lanes while towing. Mostly Pilot/Flying J.
A couple things I learned…when I first started, I would just swipe my Visa card at the pump. I soon discovered the station put a $1500 hold on my card and it wouldn’t drop off for almost a week. Really screwed my card usage. I later learned that prepaying inside was the way to go. The only hold on the card was what I told them. Also, good Sam members save 8 cents a gallon on diesel.

 

[Mikelff]

Yes! TSD Logistics in Texas. The app. Is called Open Roads. Google it and I’m sure you will find it. Contact them to apply for the card. If you travel much, it will save you some good $$$. You fuel up using the truck lanes. These pumps are high volume pumps so wear rubber gloves and be careful. If you don’t use the card for a while they may deactivate your card. They DO NOT cancel it. Contact them before you leave on your trip and make sure it is active. They link to your bank account and draw funds from your account, much like a debit card. They send you email receipts after you make a fuel stop. Many people, like me, open a separate checking account for this card (no fees) and transfer funds on line from the road as needed. This keeps things separate from my regular checking and savings. Once you are done fueling pull up so those behind you can fuel up. Go find a parking spot if you need to go inside. I have been using this card for a few years with no real issues. Highly recommend you get one.

 

[MaconTrax]

I believe someone asked about this before but, is it possible to get fuel in the diesel lanes that semi trucks go through? I have been through them before and had to go inside to pay because I didn't have a corporate card or something like that.

I hate even trying to THINK about getting fuel in the front of the station.

Thanks ahead of time

I have both Open Roads and Mudflap fuel cards. I probably use Open Roads 90% of the time. Just be courteous to the working truckers and clear the lane when you’re done fueling.

 

[Alibaddy]

I gave TSD Open Roads four digits to use, and they are totally my choice. They never asked for my Canadian social insurance number, which is like the US social security number.