I saved $139.61 on my last RV fuel fill-up!

I saved over a hundred and thirty-nine dollars at my last RV fuel stop. Here is how I did it and how you can do it just like me. This week, we purchased ninety-six gallons of diesel from Travel Associates fuel center when our tank read just above 1/4 of a tank. We rarely go below the fuel gauge’s 1/4 tank mark. I knew from experience that we would buy about 100 gallons of diesel.

Our RV holds 150 gallons of diesel fuel and gets about 7.5 miles per gallon, giving us a little more than 1,100 miles range. We never go that far, but this allows me to choose where to buy fuel for the best price. It won’t work this time, but sometimes, I enter California with a full fuel tank and exit later without getting fuel.

Members of a buying club

If you want to purchase low-price RV fuel, you need to be a club member to get such a discount, and I don’t mean Costco. We typically buy our gasoline at Costco. We always purchase our RV fuel at truck stops. We always go through the truck lanes at truck stops. We always buy fuel via the Open Roads RV fuel purchase program. I wrote about this fuel discount program in October 2020. We have used this company for the last five years to buy fuel. It is the same company I wrote about in 2020 with a new name. Here is a link with my program description; another link will be at the bottom. TSD Logistics Fuel Discount Program

Open Roads RV fuel program

Open Roads is the new name for the same fuel program we joined in 2020 when we purchased our diesel RV. The Open Roads program only applies to RV Fuel from the diesel pumps at truck stops. It does not apply to gasoline, only diesel. Open Roads

When you first open the Open Roads App, this is the map you see. Sometimes, you have to slew the map to your current location. This is the first step to purchasing RV fuel using the Open Roads Fuel discount program.

The Open Roads program includes RV Fuel based on purchasing commercial truck fuel and is open to diesel-powered RVs. We benefit from our participation in the program. We buy diesel at the same price as commercial trucks for fuel with the Open Roads program.

Truck Stops

We buy our RV fuel from truck stops by going through the truck lanes and pay the same price as other commercial truck owners who are members of the Open Roads purchasing program. Most (but not all) truck stops participate in the program. We pick the truck stops with the lowest prices along our route.

Before crossing into Canada (northbound), we purchased fuel ten miles south of the border. We also purchased more RV fuel at the same truck stop as we entered Canada while going southbound. We didn’t buy more fuel when southbound in Washington because we looked ahead along our route and found that the Travel Associates truck stop south of Portland had the lowest prices. We had the range to make it that far with lots of fuel to spare.

I never pay retail prices for RV fuel (except in Canada and Alaska.) We always use our Open Roads program when purchasing RV fuel. We always refuel at truck stops using the truck lanes and pay using our Open Roads discount card.

Fuel in Oregon

Fuel in Oregon is more expensive than in most states. Had we waited until we arrived in California, our RV fuel cost would have been at least a dollar per gallon more.

The contract price

The contract price that Open Roads paid for the fuel on the contract before my purchase is on the following statement. As you can see, the pump price exceeded the contract price by $0.46. The number on my statement does not match the price on the app as the pump price, nor does it match my statement. Two days later, I received a comprehensive statement from Open Roads showing how much they had taken out of my bank account for my fuel purchase.

Notice on my statement that Open Roads extracts some fees from my purchase. Both of these fees total $11.23. This fee is extra to my fuel purchase and equals ten percent of my savings. In essence, we are sharing the savings.

Usually, we save $0.35 per gallon of diesel fuel. Saving $1.40 a gallon isn’t typical; it is incredible. We always save compared to the pump price, but our savings were fantastic this time.

How you can get into the club

When we first joined the RV fuel savings program, it was called TSD Logistics. In the last five years, they changed the name to Open Roads. Joining the program is simple. I have a couple of extra steps that you might want to do first to protect yourself. We don’t earn any money if you join; you will participate at your own risk.

Open a separate bank account.

We opened a separate bank account for our fuel purchases. The Open Roads program is like a debit card that withdraws money from your bank account after your purchase. Since Open Roads connects to your bank account, and like opening a bank account, you will need this bank account number and your social security number to join the program. Since it is a debit card, not a credit card, you want to limit your exposure only to the fuel you have purchased. If you lose your card, you don’t want someone stealing your money directly from your bank account. Only keep enough money in this bank account to purchase fuel.

Apply for the Open Roads Program

With your new bank account number, open the Open Roads website and complete the application (Open Roads RV ). Then, you must wait for your Open Roads card to arrive in the mail.

Download the Open Roads App

You could do this before getting your Open Roads card, but I waited. You must link your Open Roads App to your card to access the participating fuel locations. You will get details about current prices when you select a location along your route. I downloaded the application on my tablet computer, which I use for navigation. Screen captures in this post are from my phone.

If you want to know more about how the program is constructed, my 2020 article will outline it. TSD Logistics Fuel Discount Program

Referral Program

Open Roads has a referral program that would give me an RV fuel credit associated with your joining the program. I used a friend’s name when I joined the program. I have no idea if he ever got the credit. Now, he no longer has an RV. You can discuss the referral program with me if you want to use it. I am not writing this to get a referral credit, nor does Open Roads know I am writing this article.

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About our links

As you know, our blog income is zero, which allows us to be independent and tell the truth. We do not get income or commissions. No, we don’t make paid endorsements. We don’t make recommendations; instead, we will tell you what we like (or dislike). The links are only provided as a quick reference to help our readers.

Links

Open Roads RV 

TSD Logistics Fuel Discount Program FoxRVTravel 2020 article on this fuel discount program.

Travel Associates Petro Travel Centers of America (Truck Stops)

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