Flying J Truckstops Are History

[EricBu12]

Harvey,
got a solution for ya on the credit card. Get a T-check card. Use it almost any truck stop. Use the diesel pumps and start it out at the pump.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Big truck stop

When I was on the road many moons ago I didnt stop at very many of the BIG DOLLAR truck stops. And now that Im kind of a trucker moving my crap to Montana I like to stop at the so called MOM POP stops. I like to meet the folks most are just normal / simple people that can take the time to say more than welcome and come back again. My son and I have been driving to MT a few times in the past few weeks. He asked why we stop where we do. Its because when I first started with my name on the door most of the time I had to make a choice fuel in the tank or food, trucks cant run on my stomach so fuel went in the tank. After a few times in the coffee shop for always free coffee the waitress asked when the last time I ate was. I told them some kind of BS and when I went to the truck a bag with something to eat was on the seat. I asked her how she knew she said you think your the only one to proud to say something. Im sure that Flying J/Pilot/TA would do the same maybe not. As for fuel quality put good filters on and Ive seen in more than 20 years of passing gas the big boy's care even less about quality fuel your fuel problems will be miles down the road and they don't care.

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey,
got a solution for ya on the credit card. Get a T-check card. Use it almost any truck stop. Use the diesel pumps and start it out at the pump.

Eric,

I never heard of a T check card. What is it? Tell me more like where do you get one, what is it's purpose, what can it do for me?

 

[mwilson]

We take T Cheks here as well as several other types of fleet checks but not the T Chek Card. I think it is designed for fleets rather than individuals but it is worth looking at. Eric may be on to something.



Harvey, I found this link to get you started. Has a phone number, worth asking perhaps.

T-Chek Fuel Card - Expense Management Software, Diesel Fuel Cards



There are several cash systems in place for drivers and trucks out on the road for weeks at a time. Comcheck, T-Chek etc. are all ways for companies to control where drivers buy fuel and how much at a time depending on the state they are in. Also used to advance cash to drivers as needed and pay for repairs out on the road.



Not such a hot item now with more credit cards, etc. but back in the day these checks were the only way for a fleet to send money to pay for repairs, get fuel, send out cash advances.



They were a drivers life-line.



I don't why an individual couldn't have one, should simply be based on a line of credit and having a push or pull account for payment as balance diminishes.

 

[GOTSOOT]

would not go in a POS PILOT if I had to push it in there! first class rip off artist!

 

[HBarlow]

Thanks for the information regarding the T card.

I will call and inquire more next week during business hours. If Pilot/FJ will allow turning on the pump and pumping the amount of fuel I want that might be a solution.

 

[FPettijohn]

People

Didn't your momma tell you there is no such thing as a free lunch? All the "big" truck stops charge from $. 05 to $. 10 cents more than a mom and pop 10 miles down the road. Mom also takes credit cards at the same price as cash and she loves you when you spend a couple hundred at her place. I have a 40' trailer and I can get in some pretty tight places, granted the big nozzles put it in faster but I usually have to walk the boys and do the bath room thing so who cares. I won't buy jack from Walmart or Sams and I sure am not going to buy fuel from them so Phillips, Conoco and yea poor ol BP get my business, at least it's not Chinese and its hopefully helping us in the US.

 

[BIGNASTY]

FPettijohn I dont know about BP but out here in 5 states BP is ARCO I wont use ARCO one reason is their additives. The reason they can sell for less is that their additives are the worst in the industry. And if you use your credit card to pay for gas / fuel ARCO dings you 45cents to use you card. If you should go to Chevron they charge nothing so if the price difference is just a little where are you saving. I agree the big stops are easy but someone has to pay for easy they all get their fuel at the same place and from the same pipe. The bottom line is that all the oil companies are a bunch of thieves. They want as much as they can get before we run out of dinosaurs

 

[RJOL]

I've been using ARCO for years, for my car gas and diesel. I used to go to the local Flying J, but their diesel got more expensive than ARCO. As far as the additives, I've never had a problem. As far as the $. 45 charge, you can avoid that by getting an ARCO debit card for free. I pay by debit all the time, so I don't really care that it is an ARCO debit card... JMHO...

 

[Mark31]

Hess (in 16 east coast states) has for as long as I can remember, I think has had a reputation for good clean fuel, clean trucks, and stations that look like somebody cares. Any of you east coasters have an opinion on Hess as an alternative to pilot/fj? Mark

 

[JMetzger]

When traveling in the East coast area I have used Hess & never had any problems with them. Have used the one in Hershey, PA a lot & found their prices as good as FJ was.

 

[BIGNASTY]

I've been using ARCO for years, for my car gas and diesel. I used to go to the local Flying J, but their diesel got more expensive than ARCO. As far as the additives, I've never had a problem. As far as the $. 45 charge, you can avoid that by getting an ARCO debit card for free. I pay by debit all the time, so I don't really care that it is an ARCO debit card... JMHO...

try any other gas youll get better mileage and performance ARCO sucks big time

 

[Gonzo 1066]

One of the real "perks" to FJ was that they catered to the RVers. A seperate lane with a dump and water. NOW THEY CHARGE $10 TO DUMP. I wrote them and said NO WAY am I going to continue to buy fuel from them Sorry to see the change, but I guess that change is the one constant in our lives. :-(

 

[CumminsPower98]

What a bummer! As a former RV transporter I used Flying J almost exclusively for 2. 5 years. With the loyalty card I got free showers and had my one meal a day there whenever possible. I also had their Internet subscription so nearly always had Internet at night on the laptop. Many had nice big RV parking as well so that was a real plus. I live in Utah so it was nice to support a company in my home state.

 

[Diesel Thunder]

Yeah, the Pilot corp. seems to be real shady on business practices.



My wife got a load of diesel mixed with gas at a Memphis Pilot station in her previous Toyota gasoline powered car. She made it a few miles down the road before the poor thing wouldn't run. Had to load it up and haul it with the Cummins to the dealer. Needless to say, with dealer regional representative confirmation of diesel in the tank (with samples)---Pilot still denied fault. Thank goodness for USAA insurance--they covered it all, minus my deductable.



Cost over $1700 in repairs.



USAA said it was cheaper for them to pay it out of pocket than to send their attorneys to prove it in court---even with diesel in the tank and her receipt showing a gasoline purchase!



Rant over, the Haslam's are real shady--now one of them is running for Governor here in TN.



Gotta love billionaire politics... .

 

[Duane Stuart]

I went into Pilot in Mason City ,IA they refused to serve me at truck pump unless I paid cash. I have extra 50 gal tanK. so I usually take on 70 or more gallons. That is last time I'll use Pilot.

 

[JMetzger]

I know I will never use Pilot/FJ as I did not like there attitude when I wrote to them & they ding you for using a a Debt Card & I do not like to carry a lot of cash. There are plenty of other places to buy fuel.

 

[EricBu12]

Harvey

Looks like the T-check card will work for you. I drive for FedEx and i start the pump on the truck pump and pump to full. So it should be the same way for you. Best of all, a lot of other truck stops take the T-check card so now you have a good card to start the pumps and shop for price to use it an almost any T/S

 

[HBarlow]

Eric,

I reviewed the T check card website when you suggested it a couple of weeks ago but wasn't real enthused about opening the account with them.

I"ll look at it again.

 

[JMetzger]

Can anyone use the T-Check Card system or is more for over the road driver's & long haul RV transporters. Can the average Rver use it. Thanks.