Pilot vs Love's vs TA Petro: Truck-Stop Diesel Price Comparison (2026)
EIA survey week of August 31, 2026. US average diesel: $5.60/gal, the only EIA figure on this page. Chain cash prices below are indicative national estimates that track the EIA on-highway average (the survey covers the retail truck-stop market as a whole, not individual chains); the small chain-to-chain spread is editorial and location-level prices vary far more. Comdata discounts are its advertised rates (comdata.com) for fleets of 20 or fewer trucks; WEX and EFS discounts are negotiated by contract, not published flat rates.
$5.60/gal is the EIA US average. A fleet card typically takes 10 to 40 cents off, so $5.20 to $5.50/gal.
Where you fuel matters less than how you pay. The right fleet card saves $0.10-$0.40/gal at every fill-up.
| Feature | Pilot Flying J | Love's Travel Stops | TA Petro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Price (typical) | $5.60/gal | $5.57/gal | $5.62/gal |
| Fleet Card Discount | Pilot Pro: loyalty points (~2-5c equiv); Comdata: up to 10c (Total Advantage), 20c (Comdata Max); WEX/EFS: negotiated (not published) | Love's Express: ~8-10c (account terms); Comdata: 8c (advertised); WEX/EFS: negotiated (not published) | Comdata: up to 40c (Total Advantage), 50c (Comdata Max); WEX: negotiated (not published); UltraONE loyalty points |
| Locations (US) | ~750 | ~640 | ~280 |
| Diesel Lanes | 12-20 diesel lanes per major site | 8-16 diesel lanes per major site | 12-20 diesel lanes per major site |
| Driver Showers | Yes, professional driver showers | Yes, professional driver showers | Yes - TA is known for premium shower suites |
| Truck Parking | Yes, professional truck parking | Yes, professional truck parking | Yes, extended-stay parking at many locations |
| Cards Accepted | Pilot Pro, Comdata, EFS, WEX, FleetOne | Love's Express, Comdata, EFS, WEX | Comdata, WEX, EFS, FleetOne, UltraONE loyalty |
| Best for | High-volume I-80 / I-40 corridor drivers; Pilot Pro Card holders; drivers wanting the largest network. | I-40 / I-30 corridor drivers; Love's Express Card holders; drivers who value grocery/quick-shop selection. | Comdata card holders (40c/gal discount = biggest savings); drivers on I-40 / I-80 East; UltraONE loyalty members. |
Pilot Flying J
Pilot Flying J FuelFinder app shows live site-level diesel prices.
Full details ->
Love's Travel Stops
Love's publishes current diesel price at each location via the Love's Connect app.
Full details ->
TA Petro
TA Petro's UltraONE loyalty program offers points toward showers, parking, and merchandise.
Full details ->
Which Chain to Pick (By Situation)
TA Petro
if you carry Comdata - 40 cents/gal off at TA Petro is the best per-gallon discount of any major chain + card combination. If you fuel 150 gal/stop, you save $60 vs cash per fill.
Pilot Flying J
if you run the I-80 / I-40 East corridor or have a Pilot Pro Card. Largest network means you're rarely out of range, and Pro Card loyalty points add up over time. Comdata saves 10 cents/gal here.
Love's Travel Stops
if you run I-40 / I-30 west of Dallas or carry a Love's Express Card. Love's has the best quick-shop / grocery selection and consistent pricing. Cash prices are often slightly lower than Pilot in the Southwest.
Independent / Regional
if you are cash-paying or on a route where an AmBest, Bosselman, or Sapp Brothers is nearby. Cash prices often run $0.05-$0.15/gal below major chains. Use GasBuddy to compare local prices in real time.
FAQ
Which truck stop has the cheapest diesel? +
At cash/retail prices, the difference between major chains is usually less than 5 cents/gal, and varies by region and week. The more important variable is your fleet card: Comdata advertises up to 40 cents/gal off at TA Petro vs up to 10 cents at Pilot (rates for fleets of 20 or fewer trucks; larger fleets negotiate custom pricing), so a Comdata holder should prefer TA Petro even if TA's posted cash price is a couple of cents higher. Love's often posts slightly lower cash prices than Pilot in regions where both operate, but the difference is typically under 5 cents.
Do I need a fleet card to save at truck stops? +
You can save without a fleet card by shopping the posted prices between nearby locations, timing your fueling around EIA weekly releases (some chains adjust prices on Tuesday when EIA data drops), and using regular credit card rewards (though these are capped at 1-3% back, vs 8-40 cents/gal with fleet cards). If you fuel 3,000+ gallons/month, the math on a fleet card is overwhelming - even saving 10 cents/gal on 3,000 gallons is $300/month or $3,600/year.
Are independent truck stops cheaper than major chains? +
Often yes on cash price. Independent and regional chains (Roady's, AmBest, Bosselman, Sapp Brothers) frequently run $0.05-$0.15/gal below Pilot, Love's, or TA Petro cash prices to compete. The trade-off: national fleet cards (Comdata, WEX) may not be accepted or may have smaller discounts at independent locations. For cash-paying drivers, independents are worth checking. For fleet-card holders, stick to the chains that give your card the biggest discount.
Does the pilot Pro Card give discounts at other chains? +
Pilot Pro Card is primarily for Pilot Flying J locations. However, WEX, Comdata, and EFS are accepted at all three major chains - so if you have a WEX-backed fleet card, you get a discount at Pilot, Love's, and TA Petro. WEX-backed discounts are negotiated by contract and volume rather than published as a flat per-gallon rate, so the exact cents-off depends on your account. Comdata's advertised rate is published and highest at TA (up to 40 cents/gal for fleets of 20 or fewer trucks).