Save Big with an EFS Fuel Card for RV Travel

An EFS fuel card for RV travel can save you big every time you fuel up! Here is what we learned about it.

If you travel in your RV as much as we do, you must get a headache every time you see your bill. We spend a lot on fuel.

Over the years, I even had the thought, “As much as we travel, surely there must be a way to get a discount on all this diesel we buy?”

It never felt fair that people who fly a lot get to have a frequent flyer member program. What is there for us RV folks that reward us for our frequent traveling?

Then I heard about the EFS fuel card, what it can do, and what it can’t do. Here is what we learned about it.

What is the EFS Fuel Card?

At its most basic, the EFS Fuel Card is a debit card that is exclusively used for buying and saving on diesel fuel.

Originally created for use by truckers regularly hauling freight from coast to coast, the EFS Fuel Card is actually pretty handy for RVers, too.

The company wants as many customers as possible. This way, they can negotiate the best prices for all their customers, including the bulk-freight truck drivers who use it the most.

Important To Know

The EFS Fuel Card for RV travel only works for diesel fuel, not gasoline. So if your vehicle takes gas, unfortunately, this card isn’t for you.

It operates like a debit card since the company links to your bank account. Each time you pump, it deducts the amount directly from that account.

So you need money already in that account in order to use it. Unlike a credit card, you can’t spend money you don’t have with the promise to pay it back later.

Many find that very convenient. With a debit card, you don’t have to deal with monthly bills to pay on time or incur a fee or get saddled with fluctuating interest rates.

Credit card companies often boast a program where you earn points the more you spend. This card does not have this, but features something even better. Major savings.

The Big Advantage To Having an EFS Fuel Card for RV Travel

The main advantage is the savings you can get on every gallon you pump.

Saving any amount per gallon certainly adds up and helps your overall budget. Some of the larger RVs typically need to pump 75 gallons at a time or more!

So if you use diesel fuel, your savings can be astronomical if you’re fueling up a lot. There is a daily limit of 950 gallons a day, though I can’t imagine that being a problem for anyone I know!

The cool thing is that you’re accessing the same discount that these large freight companies receive. So no matter your vehicle’s size, you’re paying the same discounted rate on diesel as a big rig.

There’s also the convenience factor. You can use the EFS Fuel Card at 16,000 truck stop centers, including big names like Love’s and Petro.

The card even works in Canada, though the discounts are bigger in the US. The card we suggest below though, TSD (now called Open Roads), requires a US Bank Account with US Currency. 

How It Works

The card advertises saving on average 30-40 cents per gallon.

But you can earn an even bigger discount if you use the card’s smartphone app. It’s called EFS Card Control app.

This is how it works. The app shows participating locations on a map along with how much it costs per gallon at that moment.

Looking at the app, it seems really easy to identify which stations have the most affordable rates. The best prices are color-coded, so you can’t miss them. This helps because there can be more than a few options where you’re driving.

Sometimes to get that best discount, you may have to drive a tad out of your way. But it sounds pretty worth that minor inconvenience if you can save $50 on your bill.

Once you choose which station to visit from the app, you pull into a pump in the truck lane.

Don’t go into the passenger lane to pump. You must use your card in the commercial lane, or you won’t receive the discount.

Then, at the pump, insert your card to charge. It will ask you what type of vehicle you’re driving, and you would select “Tractor.” RV isn’t typically a listed option.

This menu even offers cash advances up to $200, much like when you’re at a grocery store and can get cash back when you use your debit card to pay.

You then pump your diesel normally. Keep in mind that the price on the pump is the non-discounted, full rate, but don’t worry.

You will see the amount you actually paid later. Check your app or see the amount deducted from your bank account to see the actual amount you paid with savings.

It’s also worth noting that a way the card company makes money is by charging a 10% fee on your savings. So, if you’re saving 50 cents a gallon, you’re actually saving 45 cents because the company takes that as its fee.

Also, some stations charge a 65-cent flat fee to use the EFS Fuel Card. Since that is a one-time charge on the whole bill of a couple of hundred dollars, that seems pretty negligible to me.

How To Apply for an EFS Fuel Card

If you live life on the open road, this card probably sounds very interesting to you. If you want to apply, here is what you need to know.

There isn’t just one company making an EFS fuel card for RV travel. But the one we hear about the most is the TDS Logistics one that is now called Open Roads. 

It might be worth checking other companies for their features, though, since they may change by the time you look.

For applying, it’s pretty basic and easy. Allow around a month for the company to process your application.

There isn’t a credit check, but they do ask for your social security number. This is only to ensure they can collect the money on the fuel you pump in case you overdraw your bank account.

Do You Use an EFS Fuel Card for RV Travel?

Please share your experience in the comments below if you use an EFS Fuel Card for RV travel? How do you like it? How much money has it saved you? While you are over on the Open Roads website, take a look at their partnership with Innovative Toll Solutions.