Fuel Cost Saving Programs

With several trips planned this year, including Sault Ste. Marie, Door County, our favorite Minnesota destinations, and Fort Myers, Florida, we’ll be putting plenty of miles on Casa Roll.

That also means buying a lot of diesel fuel.

With fuel prices continuing to fluctuate, finding ways to save money at the pump has become an important part of our travel planning.

For the past few years we’ve been using two fleet fuel discount programs: Mudflap and Open Roads.

Both have saved us a significant amount of money.

Last year alone, Mudflap saved us nearly $400 during our regional trips and our Yellowstone adventure. We’re already off to a good start again this year.

The biggest advantage of Mudflap is its simplicity.

The app shows participating truck stops, the discounted price, and activates your purchase. The only drawback we’ve found is that on some routes you need to plan your fuel stops a little more carefully because not every truck stop participates.

That’s where Open Roads has an advantage.

Open Roads has a larger network of participating stations, making it easier to find discounted fuel during long distance trips. Many truck stops accept both programs, giving you the opportunity to compare prices before fueling.

Both companies offer excellent mobile apps that help you locate participating stations and manage your account.

Today we’re staying home while a Minnesota blizzard passes through. Since we weren’t going anywhere, I spent some time planning this year’s trips and comparing fuel prices using both programs.

I wanted to answer one simple question.

Which one actually saves the most money?

Understanding the Fees

Each program has a different pricing structure.

Mudflap

• No annual membership fee.
• No transaction fee.
• Credit card purchases include a small processing fee.

Open Roads

• Annual membership fee.
• Uses a physical fuel card.
• Transaction fees apply to each purchase.
• Open Roads also retains a percentage of the negotiated discount.
• Credit card purchases include an additional processing fee.

Because of those fees, the lowest advertised fuel price isn’t always the lowest final cost.

That’s why I built the fuel savings calculator on this website.

What I Found

We normally fill when the truck reaches about half a tank, which usually means purchasing between twenty and twenty five gallons.

Using prices from several truck stops that accepted both programs, I compared the final cost after all fees were applied.

My conclusion was simple.

If Open Roads is at least eight cents per gallon cheaper than Mudflap, it generally becomes the better buy.

If the difference is smaller than that, Mudflap usually comes out ahead.

Interestingly, about half the stations I checked fell right around that break even point.

Why We Carry Both

Rather than choosing one program over the other, we’ve decided to carry both.

That gives us the flexibility to compare prices while traveling and use whichever program offers the better deal that day. Especially when one station uses Mudflap and the one across the street accepts Open Roads and they have different prices. We built a Fuel Cost Comparison Calculator that allows us to enter the numbers and find out who has the best offer.

Sometimes that’s Mudflap.

Sometimes it’s Open Roads.

Having both also gives us access to more fueling locations, which can be very helpful on longer trips.

Don’t Be Afraid of the Truck Lanes

Both programs require you to fuel in the commercial truck lanes.

Some RV owners are hesitant the first time they pull into those lanes, but we’ve never had a problem.

Just remember the unwritten rule.

Fuel your truck, then pull forward so the next truck can reach the pump.

If you’re going inside for food, coffee, or a break, move your vehicle to a regular parking space first.

The professional drivers appreciate it, and it’s simply good courtesy.

One Last Tip

If you haven’t joined a diesel discount program yet, you’re probably spending more on fuel than you need to.

Take a look at both Mudflap and Open Roads.

Then use the fuel savings calculator on this website.

Simply enter the posted pump price along with the Mudflap and Open Roads prices. The calculator factors in the applicable fees and shows which option gives you the best overall value.

For us, carrying both programs has proven to be the best solution.

A few minutes of planning before each fuel stop can save hundreds of dollars over the course of a travel season.

Safe travels.