The Best Truck Stop Driver Rewards, By The Numbers
by PD McCloud
This is the final segment in the series of 5 in our quest for the best Truck Stop Driver Rewards program. Over the past week, or so, we have looked at the basics of 4 major truck stop chain reward programs.
Each provides a value to truck drivers across the country, and have become the reason some truckers get their fuel at a specific location most, if not all, of the time. So, which of these can be considered the best truck stop, with the best driver rewards?
It's agreed that purchasing a minimum amount of fuel, depending on what truck stop you are at, will gain you a free shower credit. Since this is a standard benefit, this will not be calculated as part of the qualifications for the best truck stop awards program.
For the purpose of building this comparison, we are only going to use points awarded for fuel purchases due to the fact that only one truck stop currently has more than one points reward level. Though reward points have no actual cash value, they can be used as a form of payment for items purchased at that truck stop. Generally speaking, points have a purchasing value of 1¢ each.
As a generality, a solo driver will purchase a minimum of 1500 gallons of fuel per month, some more, some less. But if you're a solo driver and working, you'll buy at least 1500 gallons. If you're a team driver, you fuel purchases will exceed this monthly. For the purpose of this study, we'll go with 1500 gallons purchased.
Gallons Purch
Points Awarded
Monthly Total Points Awarded
Points Awarded x's $.01 ea.
Ambest
1500
1
1500
$15.00
TA/Petro*
1500
1
1500
$15.00
Pilot/Flying J
1500
1
1500
$15.00
Love's**
1500
4
6000
$60.00
* TA/Petro has two basic levels, UltraOne and Platinum. UltraOne requires you swipe your Member card at least once every 3 months. There are a few extra benefits offered as a Platinum member but to obtain that level you must accumulate 20,000 points in a years time after which you'll be afforded Platinum status.
** Love's awards points for purchases made during the following month. Four levels of awards can be earned: Basic 0-499 gallons, Gold 500-999 gallons, Platinum 1000-1499 and Diamond 1500 and above. Example: You'll start this month as Basic but next month, and every month after that you're awarded points based on your previous months purchases,
There was a time, not to many years ago, that there was a real contest going on to have the best showers on the highway. T/A and Petro were the winners of that contest but that has changed. There is no clear winner in this category any more. TA/Petro still has nice showers but Loves is vastly improving the shower experience with their newer locations.
Other amenities are available at the various truck stops, but in the Driver Rewards category, we are declaring Love's Travel Stops and Country Stores the winner based on the numbers noted above. Whatever truck stop chain you choose to use for your fuel purchasing is clearly a personal choice, likely based on your own personal experience.
Read the full article
by PD McCloud
This is the final segment in the series of 5 in our quest for the best Truck Stop Driver Rewards program. Over the past week, or so, we have looked at the basics of 4 major truck stop chain reward programs.
AMBEST TA/Petro Pilot/Flying J Love’s
Each provides a value to truck drivers across the country, and have become the reason some truckers get their fuel at a specific location most, if not all, of the time. So, which of these can be considered the best truck stop, with the best driver rewards?
It's agreed that purchasing a minimum amount of fuel, depending on what truck stop you are at, will gain you a free shower credit. Since this is a standard benefit, this will not be calculated as part of the qualifications for the best truck stop awards program.
For the purpose of building this comparison, we are only going to use points awarded for fuel purchases due to the fact that only one truck stop currently has more than one points reward level. Though reward points have no actual cash value, they can be used as a form of payment for items purchased at that truck stop. Generally speaking, points have a purchasing value of 1¢ each.
As a generality, a solo driver will purchase a minimum of 1500 gallons of fuel per month, some more, some less. But if you're a solo driver and working, you'll buy at least 1500 gallons. If you're a team driver, you fuel purchases will exceed this monthly. For the purpose of this study, we'll go with 1500 gallons purchased.
Gallons Purch
Points Awarded
Monthly Total Points Awarded
Points Awarded x's $.01 ea.
Ambest
1500
1
1500
$15.00
TA/Petro*
1500
1
1500
$15.00
Pilot/Flying J
1500
1
1500
$15.00
Love's**
1500
4
6000
$60.00
* TA/Petro has two basic levels, UltraOne and Platinum. UltraOne requires you swipe your Member card at least once every 3 months. There are a few extra benefits offered as a Platinum member but to obtain that level you must accumulate 20,000 points in a years time after which you'll be afforded Platinum status.
** Love's awards points for purchases made during the following month. Four levels of awards can be earned: Basic 0-499 gallons, Gold 500-999 gallons, Platinum 1000-1499 and Diamond 1500 and above. Example: You'll start this month as Basic but next month, and every month after that you're awarded points based on your previous months purchases,
There was a time, not to many years ago, that there was a real contest going on to have the best showers on the highway. T/A and Petro were the winners of that contest but that has changed. There is no clear winner in this category any more. TA/Petro still has nice showers but Loves is vastly improving the shower experience with their newer locations.
Other amenities are available at the various truck stops, but in the Driver Rewards category, we are declaring Love's Travel Stops and Country Stores the winner based on the numbers noted above. Whatever truck stop chain you choose to use for your fuel purchasing is clearly a personal choice, likely based on your own personal experience.
Read the full article
