Cheaper is not always less Expensive

These fuel prices and IFTA amounts were obtained on January 30, 2015

IFTA Tax Matrix

Buying fuel for the cheapest price is not as easy as reading the fuel price on the marque. Knowing how much tax is being collected on each gallon of fuel dictates where Bob and I buy our fuel.

When I randomly picked states and fuel stops all of my examples show that the higher fuel price was in reality the cheapest place to buy fuel after taxes. Oregon is an interesting example as there are times when it is actually cheaper to buy fuel in Oregon then in the adjoining states.

In past years I have printed out the IFTA fuel chart and taped this to the front page of our map. Now I have a spreadsheet where I keep track of the taxes as well as miles run in each of the states.

Here are a few examples comparing adjoining states using TA/Petro Prices:

	Missouri	Illinois
Foristell, MO Pump Fuel Price	$2.12
Mount Vernon, IL Pump Fuel Price		$2.35
Less IFTA Tax	$0.17	$0.43
Total fuel only	$1.95	$1.92

	Arizona	California
Tonopah, AZ Pump Fuel Price	$2.35
Coachella, CA Pump Fuel Price		$2.37
Less IFTA Tax	$0.26	$0.45
Total Fuel Only	$2.09	$1.93

	California	Oregon
Redding, CA Pump Fuel Price	$2.37
Phoenix, OR Pump Fuel Price		$2.04
Less IFTA Tax	$0.45		Oregon does not have a fuel tax
Total Fuel Only	$1.92	$2.04

	Georgia	Florida
Kingsland, GA	$2.45
Jacksonville, FL		$2.46
Less IFTA Tax	$0.18	$0.33
Total Fuel Only	$2.28	$2.13

Linda Caffee

Bob and Linda started their driver careers after their children left home for college in 2000. Bob started as a driver for a large motor carrier with Linda as a rider. They decided to enter the Expedite industry as team drivers in 2005 and purchased their first Freightliner. Both, Bob and Linda have had their Class A licenses since the early 80's starting out driving in the oil field and hauling grain as fill in drivers where Bob worked as a diesel mechanic. Linda worked at the local country courthouse in data processing.