Fuel for Thought

Straight to the Points

Are you new to the trucking industry? Do you need or want to know how all those truck stop loyalty programs work? Well, look no further. Read on to find out just what each of the Big 3 truck stop chains (TA/Petro, Love’s, Pilot/Flying J) have to offer by way of their loyalty programs and how to use them to your advantage.
TA/Petro
This loyalty program is called UltraOne. Their app is the TruckSmart app. This program uses what they term as Gear levels. Each subsequent level gives you an additional 1 point per gallon on fuel and DEF purchases. Each Gear level is 750 gallons.
You can earn 1 point per gallon of fuel or DEF purchased in gear one. For every 750 gallons of fuel and DEF purchased in a calendar month, you will increase your Gear level and earn an additional 1 point per gallon, up to Gear 4, for the following month.
Each purchase of 60 gallons or more will earn you 1 Ultra credit to use for a shower. Points earned can be used for food or merchandise in the truck stop. The TruckSmart app allows you to reserve parking, book a shower and make purchases with your points. You can reserve parking in the app with your points. The app also allows you to start the pump for diesel and DEF purchases. You can use Ultra credits, points or a credit card to book a shower. You can also reserve parking with points or a credit card in the app.
Love’s
This program is called My Love Rewards. Their app is Love’s Connect. This program also has levels. These are Base, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. Each level is a 500 gallon increment per calendar month. Fuel and DEF both count toward gallons and levels. Each additional level accrued in a calendar month applies to the NEXT MONTH.
Each purchase of 50 gallons or more of fuel and/or DEF will earn you a shower credit and a drink refill. This app also allows you to start the pump for diesel and DEF purchases. You can also use the app to book a shower if you have credits. This app also allows you to use your points for in store purchases. If you reach Platinum or Diamond level, you will receive a free shower credit and drink refill each day of the month. Shower credits earned for Base level expire in 7 days while Gold level shower credits are good for 10 days.
Pilot/Flying J
This loyalty program is called My Rewards Plus. Like the others, you will earn 1 point per gallon of fuel or DEF per calendar month. While there are no levels with this program, you can earn additional points per gallon by making fuel and DEF purchases. Their current program allows you to activate their tiered points program (why it is not automatic, I do not know). Each month you must activate, in the app, the 4 tiered program. Once activated, for each 75 gallon fuel purchase in a calendar month, you will increase the points you earn by .5 (½ point) until you reach 4 points per gallon for THE CURRENT MONTH. Only one 75 gallon purchase per day will count toward your point increase. The 4 points per gallon will remain until the end of the CURRENT MONTH. Next month you start all over. You will earn 1 shower credit per 50 gallon fuel purchase. Shower credits are good for 10 days. If you purchase 1,000 gallons of fuel in a calendar month, you will be granted Shower Power. This will give you one shower credit per day for the remainder of the month and the entire next month. Showers can be booked in the app, but only with shower credits. You can reserve parking with the app using points or a credit card. You can also use the app to spend your points for purchases in the store and some of the fast food restaurants in the truck stops.
That’s the basic differences between the 3 major truck stops’ loyalty programs. Love’s and Pilot/Flying J apps will also have deals or offers for products or food in their apps. Pilot (again) makes you activate the offers (deals) in their app to receive them. Love’s deals in their app will be a mix of automatic deals and others that you must select to receive it. TA/Petro does not seem to advertise special deals very much in their app, so there is nothing to activate. The Love’s and TA/Petro apps will also let you contact their roadside service for repair work.
Depending on your operation, fuel discount programs and your preferences, each of these will have an advantage over the others. Choose the one(s) that work best for you.
One last note about these loyalty programs, you can easily pick up a loyalty card for Love’s or Pilot/Flying J in any of their truck stops. TA/Petro requires that you create an account on their UltraOne website and a card will be mailed to you.

See you down the road,
Greg
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