Tech Tip
Savings On Diesel Fuel
As we roll down the highways, we continually seek ways to save a few dollars. We recently started using a card from TSD Logistics that offers significant savings on diesel fuel. The company enlisted many different diesel fuel vendors to extend discounts to big truck fleets, and it recently started offering the same savings to RVers. TSD Logistics issues you an EFS (Electronic Funds Source) card, which is used to monitor your fueling history. You also can download the EFS Card Control app on your smartphone.
The fuel card works for diesel fuel and sometimes saves me over a hundred dollars on a single fill-up. The first time I used it was in Texas, and I saved $127 on approximately 90 gallons of diesel. When you are fueling, you must use the big truck lanes, which at times can be busy.
Before we arrived at the Love’s station in Texas, my wife, Glenda, downloaded the EFS app, and when we pulled up to the pump, the app pinpointed our location. Glenda went into the station and received the My Love’s Reward Card, which allowed us to receive bonus points when we fueled. She then downloaded the Love’s app, and we were able to start the pump. I swiped my TSD Logistics EFS card, and the fueling began.
The discounts apply to many different stations and locations: Love’s, Petro, and TravelCenters of America (TA) are among the better-known companies. TSD continues to add vendors that accept the EFS card.
The EFS card drafts funds from your bank account via an Automated Clearing House network (ACH) transaction within two to five business days, and you receive an email showing the details of the transaction and the TSD Logistics fees. Its fee is 10 percent of the savings per gallon and up to 15 percent for commercial. So, if the retail cost is $3.00 per gallon and the TSD Logistics cost is $2.50 per gallon, the fee is 5 cents a per gallon. In cases where the card does not offer a savings, no fees are collected.
So, how do you get started? Visit www.tsdlogistics.com/services/fuel-program/ and look for the link to fill out an application via the company’s secure online portal. A card will be mailed to you along with instructions. Register the EFS card and then download the EFS app on your smartphone. You can allow the app to seek out your current location, or you can identify your route and it will show all stations that recognize your card, as well as the price you will pay (versus the pump price). After fueling, you can review your fuel cost on the app. It will show the number of gallons, the charge per gallon, the total billed, and the discount received.
FMCA members shared information with us about this wonderful program, and I wanted to pass it along to others.
— Gary Milner, F409834, National Vice President, Midwest Area