Fueling etiquette

[Irie]

Originally Posted by Podivin

It's the same as the etiquette SHOULD be any time when filling up anything, car, RV, truck, motorcycle - whatever.

Fill the tank and then move out of the way so that the person behind you can fill up.

Don't leave the RV parked by the pumps while you go shopping, or have lunch, or to use the potty - or whatever else it is that people do when they 'abandon' their vehicle at the pumps. If you have other things you want/need to do by all means do them, but only after you've moved to a parking spot somewhere.
Follow that simple process (even when others don't) and the other drivers, truckers or otherwise, won't be sitting there thinking unkind thoughts about you.

I HATE when people block the pumps!

[docj]

Originally Posted by Irie

I HATE when people block the pumps!

Unfortunately, in our 9 years of full-timing we've seen RVers do that more than once. Because of this I won't get behind another RV in a fueling lane if I have a choice.

[Jim A]

Truckers do it too. A few times I have fueled up, gone inside to pay, and the truck that pulled out in front of me is still blocking the exit lane. And no room to go around him. I have waited over 15 minutes after I have finished fueling up and paid before I was able to pull out due to a lack of courtesy.

[docj]

Originally Posted by Jim A

Truckers do it too. A few times I have fueled up, gone inside to pay, and the truck that pulled out in front of me is still blocking the exit lane. And no room to go around him. I have waited over 15 minutes after I have finished fueling up and paid before I was able to pull out due to a lack of courtesy.

Only once in 9 years of full-timing have we had this happen to the point where I had to go to the counter to ask that a driver be paged to move his truck.

[will stevens]

Truckers must abide by the driving regulations and in order to get over 8 hour days in (11 hours total in their day of driving) they must take a 30 minute break. If they stop and fuel they may not want to move the truck until the 30 minutes are up, as the electronic logs will start the 30 minute clock again.

The hours-of-service regulations require that if more than 8 consecutive hours have passed since
the last off-duty (or sleeper-berth) period of at least half an hour, a driver must take an off-duty
break of at least 30 minutes before driving

I have had this happen more than once.

[powerboatr]

generally we avoid truck stop over the road truck lanes, as the ground is usually covered in spilled fuel.





then i see bucc eess is getting these spills to so it may be rvers as well


i do my best no matter what lane i use, to not dribble fuel on ground.

i hate getting in on my shoes and then smell it all day while driving.

[wolfe10]

I have an older pair of shoes that are only used when fueling. In a plastic tub the rest of the time. Also use disposable gloves.


No big deal.

[DrDaveMA]

I have been using the truck lanes since I got my first diesel pusher in 2006 and I have never gotten a hassle about an RV in the truck lanes. I usually get questions about MPG or what we have in the coach, but not if I should use the lane or not. As soon as you have completed fueling pull forward so the next guy can get in. Watch what the truckers do and if you do that you won’t have any problems.

[BillJinOR]

Like anything consideration is important. You don’t need to rush , but be deliberate don’t waste time with someone behind you . Finish and pull forward to go in for a receipt or even a quick restroom stop, but not a 15 minute throne visit park in the lot if you need more than that
The pumps may not activate like the car pumps out front so you may need to go in to prepay, depends on the station and what type card you have. Many truck stops won’t take “visa” at the pump.
Like rvers, some truckers are not considerate and block pumps etc. I was a trucker , and I certainly think they are no more so than the rest of the public. There’s always “that guy. Most of them want to know about the rig “what year is that?” , the cat engine , or the lifestyle.
Once you figure out how to pay your set. You can pump from the drivers side and the satellite pump on the other side at the same time or independently , once the drivers side pump is off it’s hook. Be aware they can pump up to 60 gallons per minute .
You’ll be asked tractor or refer fuel ? , it doesn’t matter as the price and fuel is the same it just separates it on the receipt for your “office” to account for the tax refund on the refer. Just chose tractor . I never ran refrigeration but that’s what I was told by the office
It will also ask for a Tractor number. Again just accounting .. make up one or leave blank if it will let you,
Receipt at the pump is harder to come by so you go in to get it or settle up. With the good Sam card or the trucking company ACH card that everyone is getting ( TSD) , I don’t need a receipt .. it’s in my phone. I do take a photo of the pump with my phone when I’m done if I’m concerned. Happy fueling!

[Hayduke]

Originally Posted by Irie

Forgive my ignorance but this is our first diesel coach.

Do most of you use the truck lanes when filling up, and is it an accepted practice? I know some truck drivers aren’t fans of RVs.

What is the proper etiquette for using their lanes?

Thanks

BillJ is right about the TSD card.

We are new to this too. Get the TSD card. Here is why....
Almost any other card you use will not allow you to "fill" your tank.
I have a 76/Conoco card that gives me a discount, but I can only purchase a limited number of gallons per transaction. I've had to initiate 3 transactions once when I let the tank get rather low. Using my debit card can be worse.

Then there is the discount. Buy gas at Love's since that's the largest discounts, ie 40-60 cents.
I love the card, and just wish we had gotten it before we drove from WA to AZ.

On a related note....
Are we liable for the 'heavy vehicle' taxes in out Apline?
There is a gas station in Quartzsite that sells diesel on both sides of the store. One side clearly indicates it charges the extra tax. What is to stop me from filling on the other side?

[Alpine36]

Originally Posted by Hayduke

BillJ is right about the TSD card.

We are new to this too. Get the TSD card. Here is why....
Almost any other card you use will not allow you to "fill" your tank.
I have a 76/Conoco card that gives me a discount, but I can only purchase a limited number of gallons per transaction. I've had to initiate 3 transactions once when I let the tank get rather low. Using my debit card can be worse.

Then there is the discount. Buy gas at Love's since that's the largest discounts, ie 40-60 cents.
I love the card, and just wish we had gotten it before we drove from WA to AZ.

On a related note....
Are we liable for the 'heavy vehicle' taxes in out Apline?
There is a gas station in Quartzsite that sells diesel on both sides of the store. One side clearly indicates it charges the extra tax. What is to stop me from filling on the other side?

I believe the HVUT (heavy vehicle use tax) only applies to vehicles >55,000 gvwr.
Just applied for our TSD fuel card last week. Can't wait to start using it soon. We're heading south mid March after Maui and a stop at Coach Glass for two new windshields Mar17. All services complete, so ready to go! We're approaching 40" of assorted precipitation YTD on the OP.

[BobGed]

Originally Posted by Hayduke

BillJ is right about the TSD card.

We are new to this too. Get the TSD card. Here is why....
Almost any other card you use will not allow you to "fill" your tank.
I have a 76/Conoco card that gives me a discount, but I can only purchase a limited number of gallons per transaction. I've had to initiate 3 transactions once when I let the tank get rather low. Using my debit card can be worse.

Then there is the discount. Buy gas at Love's since that's the largest discounts, ie 40-60 cents.
I love the card, and just wish we had gotten it before we drove from WA to AZ.

On a related note....
Are we liable for the 'heavy vehicle' taxes in out Apline?
There is a gas station in Quartzsite that sells diesel on both sides of the store. One side clearly indicates it charges the extra tax. What is to stop me from filling on the other side?

AZ regular tax is 18¢ per gallon. Commercial vehicles pay an additional 8¢ per gallon which is included on the truck pumps. Non-commercial vehicles, such as a motor home, are not required to pay the additional 8¢, and can go inside to the fuel desk and get a refund.

[Hayduke]

Originally Posted by BobGed

AZ regular tax is 18¢ per gallon. Commercial vehicles pay an additional 8¢ per gallon which is included on the truck pumps. Non-commercial vehicles, such as a motor home, are not required to pay the additional 8¢, and can go inside to the fuel desk and get a refund.

hmmmmm

makes me wonder if I'm over paying by using my TSD card in the truck lanes?

[BobGed]

Originally Posted by Hayduke

hmmmmm

makes me wonder if I'm over paying by using my TSD card in the truck lanes?

I was only speaking of AZ, and of course you can get a refund of the 8¢. I usually only get about 50 gallons at a time, so $4.00 is just not worth my time to go inside.

The TSD card can only be used in the truck lanes, and will definitely save you money even, most of the time, when comparing pricing on Gas Buddy.