By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Everybody loves to save money – and folks who burn diesel are surely among them. A few months back we told you about a discount program, TSD Fuel Card, that is a genuine money saver. It’s not uncommon for users to report getting HUGE discounts – 50 cents or better per gallon – by using the TSD card at participating truck stops. Learn more about the program here.
TSD has been working the crowd, as it were, to get bigger discounts and more participating fuel stops. We’re told that one of the program’s regulars, TA/Petro, has discount rates that may make them the lowest-priced fuel stop in the network. TSD has also been working on signing up new retailers to provide a broader choice of stops, and now Kwik Trip and Kwik Star have joined the fleet. This really “pumps up” the number of discount locations for users when cruising through Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Here’s a list of participating fuel discounters in the TSD network:
TA/Petro
Loves
Road Ranger
SAAP Brothers
Ambest
Kwik Trip/Kwik Star
In addition to looking for new fuel card users, TSD also asks for help from current users. It seems some card users, when having questions about use of the fuel card or have gripes – instead of just picking up the phone and calling TSD for help – have tried to deal with fuel vendors on a direct basis. That’s created an issue for some of these sellers, and for TSD.
Remember, TSD is your direct contact for problem resolution – not the fuel retailer. The company warns if they get wind that an individual card user has skipped their help and gone directly to a retailer, they will cancel that card member’s card. Bye-bye discount!
Really, contacting TSD by phone is going to be a whole lot easier than trying to deal with a fuel desk clerk who may not have the vaguest idea about the program. Save time and frustration, just call TSD at 800-275-5089.
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This is a great program with great discounts. We’ve saved over $1 per gallon at our last two fill ups at Loves in Arizona. You get good discounts that make even truck stop inflated retail prices very good, you get to use the high speed diesel pumps. It’s easy, it’s fast, and you get an app that tells you what price you will get along your route so you can plan best prices along the way. Discounts vary by vendor and area but you can always pick the best and confirm that you will (or won’t) be getting the best price in any area. We love it.
We absolutely love the TSD card. We have always saved tons of money on diesel fuel. Looking forward to TSD adding even more truck stops. We have never had a need to file a complaint with anyone.
Please please please, if you do have a problem, contact TSD directly. Do not screw this up for us.
We received a discount card when we bought our RV. Problem is the places you list have inflated prices to begin with and using the card only brings the price down to what you could normally get at another place, without a discount. In fact, I have found Loves, TA/Petro have prices that average 30 to 50 cents per gallon higher than another station just down the street (Racetrak, Raceway, Walmart). That being said, with the discount, you still pay more than at other fuel stops. Let the buyer beware, discounts aren’t always what they seem to be. Shop around, we have saved significantly by doing so.
You are SO CORRECT. I have found TA/Petro to have = .88 discount, as compared to Loves .22 and AM/PM (obviously without card) .42, Chevron….zero savings, in my area. I think I’ll downl ‘GasBuddy’
I find this only a bit accurate and mostly misleading in my experience. Certainly Loves and the other “big truck stops” have higher prices which they discount to trucking companies. So if I pull in and fill up without a discount I’m paying more for the convenience of using the truck pumps. Before getting the TSD card we would fuel up at cheaper priced places but we’d have to hunt for them, they would be more difficult to get in and out of, and they were slow speed automotive pumps rather than the fast truck pumps. I got the TSD card to get the price of the convenient places down to the area of the least expensive places. But I’ve found it so much better than anticipated. Our last two stops at Loves in Arizona each saved us over $1 per gallon. That was over $100 savings per fill up. We look for Loves because the discount is bigger there. And it does vary by area but it’s a great money savings tool and the app tells you what price you will pay at locations along your route.
The problem with the card is that you can get a better price just down the street
I was under the impression that a MAJOR player opted out for RVers? Now back in ? I don’t recall the company that said no to RVers but got the information here!
The company was a Pilot/FlyingJ. TSD had to drop them from the program due to a long standing agreement with Good Sam.
Jeff, I believe that was Pilot/ Flying J. I used to use their RV card program but they are overpriced to start with so even with their own program fuel was higher than a lot of other places.
Pilot / Flying J. Use one of the others instead.
You are thinking of Pilot/Flying J
I think that player was Pilot/Flying J, and to my knowledge they are no longer part of the network.
Pilot had to drop it because of their contract with Good Sam.
Not to hijack, but where is everybody going to get roadside assistance if they are leaving Good Sams?
Escapees roadside service
coachnet
FMCA
You can have a TSD EFS card to use for diesel and a Good Sam card for other things such as camping, roadside assistance and purchases at Camping World.
I use COACH – NET great
FMCA has a roadside assistance plan every bit as good as Sam’s but at only about 2/3 the price!
Thanks for asking that question! I am really disappointed with Good Sams’ new rules.
I looked into that MCA but am really leery of the BBB comments I see. Also, it’s $20 a month.
Could u mean FMCA? And if so what is BBB?
Better Business Bureau? —Diane at RVtravel.com
I used Good Sam’s while at Disney’s Fort Wilderness. Got ripped off, filed a complaint with Good Sam’s and received !00% refund. Try AAA. Camping World and Good Sam’s days seem to be numbered anyway. I wouldn’t count on them being around much longer.
Coach-Net has been great. I had AAA and, for cars, they are great but when it came to an RV flat they couldn’t find someone for me in the Poconos on a Sunday night or the following Monday morning. They told me to find someone and just send them the receipt for reimbursement. I joined Coach-Net immediately and explained that I had a flat and just joined. I asked them to just find me a service provider and I would pay (I wasn’t expecting Coach Net to pay for a flat that I got before I was a member). They had someone there in an hour. I then AAA reimburse me after the fact. I prefer someone that has a network of providers for the types of vehicles I drive and not have me try to find someone on my own.
We added AAA RV Assistance onto our annual membership for an extra (about) $80 annually …. well worth it in the long run, as we have always had great service with them. We also have Good Sam as a back up or primary choice.
CoachNet. Far better than those clowns at Good Sam.
Coachnet
FMCA. Great road side assistance program and medical assistance is included in membership a must have
Got the fuel card before we left Ft. Myer Fl to Detroit, card worked great, saved average of 1.10 from Loves, got home May 3rd
We have been using TSD since we read about it here. As a travel nurse fuel is a priority for our tow rig….we are always amazed at the fuel cost. We never have had any problem with TSD.👏👏
I’m still having heartburn with giving my banking information AND my social security number???
Then I guess this program is not for you.
I had a problem with this too but the explanation they gave for the SS# was that it takes a couple of days for them to get their money for your charges and they are on the hook for it with the fuel station. They start you off with a $200 credit to use. As far as banking info you can set up a separate bank account to use just for fuel purchases. I’m just going to keep enough money in my the account to cover fuel. It’s so easy to transfer money from savings in a few minutes. Now if l just had somewhere to go so I can use my card.
I won’t be fueling up out back with the big boys. Tried that twice and both times got blocked in. Apparently its big trucker SOP that once they get filled up they pull ahead just far enough to clear the pumps then disappear into the store for a 30 minute shower, a sit down meal or binge watch some show in the lounge. At that point, they make their way back to the truck to move it out of the way.
That only happened once and I must say it was my fault. I failed to realize the time. It was prime time for the OTR downtime. So now we look at the lot and the lines at the fuel islands if it’s full we travel on to the next we never go below 1/4 tank just so we can move on if we have to. Hubby is a retired OTR so he has that second sense built in never a problem since and the discounts are huge so well worth he stop over time.
Your correct about getting blocked in,also fellow truck drivers do not like this practice,not sure why this is allowed? I also agree Carl that a car friendly gas station is easier and quicker to pull in and out of.
Don’t know what truckers you are talking about. Sure there are some jerks. But in our 18 years fueling in the truck lanes, our experience has 98% of the time been positive. Most of the time they comment on our RV and ask questions. Or don’t if notice us. Most smile and say hello. Never felt like we don’t belong. On our part, we do everything to be in and out quickly, as we respect truckers are working.
I completely agree Diane!! I often go to our nearby Love’s in Missoula and fill up my truck without my Outdoors RV. Have had some great talks with truckers!!
Truckers was Indiana Jack,drove for Knights and Traveloko out of Calhoun Georgia,was lamenting fuel island courtesy,let me also say I do respect our truck drivers and the job they do,personally I have made my living on the road for 34 years.
You also lose deeply discounted diesel by using “car friendly” gas stations and not using TSD. Some people have $ to throw away…
TSD does not give discount at car islands. You must use the truck lanes. And the truckers don’t really leave their vehicle as long as you think. All it takes is a call to the desk and they will move the truck or have it moved. Toy are not the only one a truck will block.
Good points John.
Honestly that must have been a fluke. I have never had this kind of issue using the truck fuel islands. I also have never had a trucker be rude to me. I have had many comments about how great my rig looks but never a negative experience. If that guy keeps messing up at the fuel islands the other truckers will straighten his butt out post haste!
Been fueling with the “big boys” in the back since we got our Dutchstar in 2002. 18 years and 200,000 miles, I can count on one hand the number of times we have encountered an issue with having to wait. This was even before the “rest” rules for truckers. There are jerks in every walk of life. A few bad apples aren’t going to top me from convenience (not having to go inside to pay, faster pumps, room to maneuver, etc) or saving money ($500 on trip to FL from CA & back).
Can’t use the TSD program in the front car aisles. You’d rather not save $,40-$1.10 off a gallon??
40 years ago my hubby and I drove semi. At that time there was a limit on how much diesel you could get and we had a deadline to meet. One driver went in for a meal and I was behind him in line. I marched my little butt into the restaurant and found him because of the company hat he was wearing. Told him to go move his truck because I needed fuel and didn’t have time to wait on him. Al said I would not have gotten away with that if I was a guy. One of our favorite stories to tell.
We have been fueling at the big boy truck pumps since 2004. First with a diesel truck pulling a 5th wheel, and now with a motorhome towing a car. We have never had a bad experience, never had to wait long, and the truckers have always been friendly, waved, smiled, or even chatted a bit. We have been all over the U.S., Canada, and Alaska. You must have just gotten behind the two guys that were having themselves a bad day and wanted to pass it along to someone else too.
A great percentage of truckers are fleet drivers. the driver does not pay for fuel so the prices are high st the pump. Drives want a meal, shower and place park. Need a Gas Card to try- Gasbuddy. They show you where the fuel stations are located, price, and IF they are running a special discount on their fuel price. Not only do I find the lowest price but I’ve receive an additional discount of up to $0.12 per gallon.
I’ve never seen or had any problem at all. You fuel up and you pull forward to the line to let the next guy in. They do the same. Truckers have never given us any attitude or problem at all and have been friendly.
This is one great deal! Even if no discount, use it. Do not have to travel with a lot of cash to get a cash discount.
it’s a terrific program….let’s not be messing it up, please!!! Problems?…don’t complain to the truck- stop people, PLEASE. Call TSD. It is just way too good to jeopardize things in any way!!!
Every herd has its special ones…. soooo dumb.
Reminder. No discount of gasoline sales, only diesel. With Loves, the discount is in the truck lanes only, Get your fill up with the trucks. Do not follow the Auto and RV signs, as you will not receive the discount. You will not see the discount immediately on your receipt. Your receipt shows up in your email usually 24-48 hours later. Patiences. Love’s app has worked like a charm and saved us lots. The folks a TSD are great on the phones.
If using the Love’s app, discount shows up on the app, immediately after pumping. Only the 10% fee (on the amount saved) doesn’t appear.
Best fuel discount program ever. Hate to see ANYBODY screw this up!!
I’m usually pretty savvy about doing things on my phone and this is how we tried to use the TSD card and for the life of me, I could not make it work and finally gave up and just pumped the diesel. It was frustrating and at that point time consuming! It appears that others had an ok time using it but, us, not so much!
So sorry. It is really easy. Give it another try. My husband hates stuff like this, but it is easy for him. Also, if you use the Love’s app, you can start the pump from your phone in your RV. Go out and pump. There are some RV forums with info the steps. Just need to answer questions….most are no, except if you need Def. On trip to FL from CA & back we saved almost $500.
It’s really simple but you have to be spot on. Join the TSD Logistics FB. Instructions that were mailed with your card are also in there. Wish I could paste a photo of them here. You set up your pin correctly?
Got any discounts for gasoline like Exxon or Shell?
You can get a 5 cents per gallon discount on gas or diesel at Murphy USA (Walmart) by getting MurphyUSA credit card. I drive a 38’ motorhome plus toad and have only came across one MurphyUSA I couldn’t get into and out. I just use the outside island for my gas. Most Super Walmart’s have sufficient room to maneuver in.
There is a slight discount with Shell if either: you use their credit card with the fuel rewards card, or, if you use the rewards card with a credit or debit. Don’t know about Exxon. There are other discount deals out there offered by local/regionalretailers linking with a neighboring station.
This program is legit! We were traveling on I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix and stopped at a TA. The sign for diesel was $2.78 and with the discount, we got it for $1.37! That is a huge savings.
Holy crap that’s a huge savings!!!
Awesome!! Funny that some rich folk here would rather use the car friendly lanes instead of the truck lanes and not save up to half off per gallon…