D Is For Diesel

While the majority of our trucks use this wonderful energy producing liquid cmv's are not the only users.

Pick ups, straight trucks, dump trucks etc all use diesel.

Another kink is that not all gas stations have diesel. This creates a need to advertise when there is diesel offered at an exit.

Diesel being offered at an exit does not mean that exit is suitable for class 8 trucks.

Part of trip planning is knowing where you can take breaks along your route. If you know you need to stop every 150 miles then check what your options are before you start your day.

Hoping this will help some of the new drivers because it has been a struggle point on my truck lately.

Excellent point Big T. I'm assuming you have a trainee on board, hopefully he/she will catch on. In your experience do most places that are not the major truck stop chains have signs stating "truck diesel" on the interstate? I've seen it a few times but don't need to fuel on the road so honestly I dont pay attention to it. I've seen it a few times where someone will pass the 3 truck stops on 35/80 to get where diesel is cheaper and end up unhooking their trailer and leaving it on a busy road (very unsafe!) To bobtail in to fuel up because they're on fumes.

About the only additional wording I can remember seeing on the signs is--

"24 Hours"

"E-85"

"CNG"

Never saw a sign that stated "Class 7/8 vehicles."

Saw one today at the Kum and Go east of Springfield on 1-44

" Truck Diesel/ DEF"

I just got done delivering up in the northeast and I have seen it posted that there was truck diesel/ truckstops at an exit.

The bigger point is if you're trip planning correctly then you don't have to play the guessing game. As big as we are guessing should not be part of the game.

If I am in a new area I usually look for a place where they have the tall gas and diesel price signs you can see from a distance. I also wish they had a truck parking available or no truck parking signs at the exit.

Although it's only as accurate as the users make it, I rely on trucker's path for knowing if there are spots open. However this morning I ended up stopping at a small marathon truck stop that wasn't on TP or in my truckstop guide. Thankfully I was reading the signs and it said truck plaza under the marathon logo.

If I am in a new area I usually look for a place where they have the tall gas and diesel price signs you can see from a distance. I also wish they had a truck parking available or no truck parking signs at the exit.

The company I drove for always had my fuel stops pre-planned. Maybe all companies don't do this. Only a couple of times did I have to find an alternative place to fuel.