Loves and Flying J are not Top Tier

[oilstained]

When traveling, I want to buy least expensive gas but still good quality. One example is going to Vegas from LA. A good mid stopping point would be Barstow CA. I like Loves because there are many of them all over, and I get 10 cents off. I recently found out they are not on the Top Tier list. Neither is Flying J.

If I partially understand, Top Tier is applying, get qualified, and pay for a license. Maybe something Loves don’t want to pay for or not qualify!? Is this something I should be concerned?

 

[ctechbob]

I would rather buy from a non top-tier high volume station than a top tier low volume one.

Quicktrip/Racetrac/Loves/Pilot/Etc. That's just about all I've bought over the last 30 years of driving.

The whole Top Tier thing is proof that marketing still works.

 

[oilstained]

Pilot is on the Top Tier list.

 

[JHZR2]

Truck stops used to have great prices, now they aren’t competitive on gasoline, and I have no clue what they’re smoking with the published diesel prices around here.

I wouldn’t sweat missing top tier now and again. I doubt it will make any real difference in the long run as long as it isn’t a trend, especially if you’re driving long highway cruises.

 

[Chris142]

When traveling, I want to buy least expensive gas but still good quality. One example is going to Vegas from LA. A good mid stopping point would be Barstow CA. I like Loves because there are many of them all over, and I get 10 cents off. I recently found out they are not on the Top Tier list. Neither is Flying J.

If I partially understand, Top Tier is applying, get qualified, and pay for a license. Maybe something Loves don’t want to pay for or not qualify!? Is this something I should be concerned?

If getting gas in Barstow go to food for less. It's usually cheaper than those truckstops.

 

[ripcord]

Their coffee isn't half bad, though.

 

[BHopkins]

You can add Maverik to the list of large chain gas stations that chose to not be Top Tier. I have talked to people that have reached out to Loves and Maverik, and asked them if their fuel meets TT, and if they intend to get TT certification. Both provide very similar responses. In essence, they say that they sell not only meets federal regulations, but also their high corporate standards, and that you can buy fuel from them with confidence that you are getting a quality product.

I can't speak for Flying J, but I imagine that they would probably give a similar response.

Everyone has to decide. If price is your primary decision on selecting gas, then you most likely aren't going to get fuel that would meet TT, except at perhaps Costco. If quality fuel is important to you, then quit worrying about saving a few pennies, and just buy your gas from a TT station. You can make up the price difference by skipping getting a coffee or soft drink each week.

For me, I buy almost all of my gas from either Costco or Chevron, both TT stations. I never buy gas from Loves, almost never from Maverik, and can't think of the last time I've pulled up to a Flying J pump.

 

[Chris142]

Oh btw do not get gas at the pilot in Hesperia. There are card skimmers put on those pumps faster than they can take them off .

 

[oilstained]

If getting gas in Barstow go to food for less. It's usually cheaper than those truckstops.

Food for Less is on the list.

 

[oilstained]

Some of these larger stations provide pricing online. Not all. That’s what helps me plan my trip. I don’t want to get the app for all stations.

 

[ctechbob]

My personal opinion is I just don't worry about it.

We're going on a 3500 mile trip this summer towing the travel trailer. 3500 miles towing a 6000# trailer with a high strung Turbo I4 and I've already planned all the gas stops and not once did I look up whether they were TT or not. I just hope most of them have 91/93. I don't like towing in the summer with lower octanes even though Ford says its ok. I prefer that bit of safety.

 

[BobsArmory]

Truck stops used to have great prices, now they aren’t competitive on gasoline, and I have no clue what they’re smoking with the published diesel prices around here.

In my area for big high volume stores Diesel:
Loves $3.98
Flying J $3.95
Shell $3.28
Meijer $3.28

Gas at the same stations
Loves $3.05
Flying J $3.05
Shell $2.89 Top Tier
Meijer $2.89 Top Tier

I noticed similar price spreads on my last road trip Michigan to Florida and back. I don't understand how these truck stops keep the non trucker business.

 

[Boomer]

Around here, people line up to buy Sheetz gasoline, non-TOP TIER. Mechanics at my VW dealer always say when a car comes in with clogged or bad injectors, they ask what gas is being used. Invariably Sheetz. They meet the Federal rags but those were published many years ago before DI. How much did you pay for your car? Is it worth trying to save a buck by buying cheap gas? Just askin'.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I almost always buy my gas from Costco and it's TT. If I go on a trip I really do not have a problem buying from a Love's gas station or any other large outfit.

 

[rszappa1]

I have used both of them along with Murphys and never has any fuel related issues....

 

[DuckRyder]

I don't understand how these truck stops keep the non trucker business.

Easy on and off, near express way sometimes one stop food/gas and generally satisfactory restrooms.

 

[JHZR2]

In my area for big high volume stores Diesel:
Loves $3.98
Flying J $3.95
Shell $3.28
Meijer $3.28

Gas at the same stations
Loves $3.05
Flying J $3.05
Shell $2.89 Top Tier
Meijer $2.89 Top Tier

I noticed similar price spreads on my last road trip Michigan to Florida and back. I don't understand how these truck stops keep the non trucker business.

When I lived in DE, my go to gas and diesel was the Flying J in Carney’s Point, NJ.

They always had superior pricing.

This morning they’re asking $4.059 for diesel! $2.939 for RUG.

The high volume station near my home is asking $3.399 for diesel, and the Costco near me is $2.739 for RUG. Higher priced places around me, like Wawa stations (whose prices also tend to not be competitive) are far lower than truck stops.

I guess they’re baking the free showers and trucking lounge into the per gallon cost of fuel?

Around here, people line up to buy Sheetz gasoline, non-TOP TIER. Mechanics at my VW dealer always say when a car comes in with clogged or bad injectors, they ask what gas is being used. Invariably Sheetz. They meet the Federal rags but those were published many years ago before DI. How much did you pay for your car? Is it worth trying to save a buck by buying cheap gas? Just askin'.

I used to always tank up at the Sheetz in King George, VA on the US 301. Texes are lower there on fuel so the prices were good, sometimes even marginally cheaper than NJ. I always wondered why. I guess they really don’t do much with their fuel… their business profit approach must be different from, say, Wawa, who is not competitive on fuel price.

 

[Tdbo]

Pilot is on the Top Tier list.

In invisible print?

https://www.toptiergas.com/gasoline-brands/

 

[oilstained]

Around here, people line up to buy Sheetz gasoline, non-TOP TIER. Mechanics at my VW dealer always say when a car comes in with clogged or bad injectors, they ask what gas is being used. Invariably Sheetz. They meet the Federal rags but those were published many years ago before DI. How much did you pay for your car? Is it worth trying to save a buck by buying cheap gas? Just askin'.

Because it’s the Sh**tz!

 

[oilstained]

In invisible print?

https://www.toptiergas.com/gasoline-brands/

I used Google yesterday and this is the result.

I searched this today, changed “fuel” to “gas”, I stand corrected.