I am shocked by those gas prices in Alabama, here in western Louisiana I paid $2.89 last night and thought that was high.
Those gulf states (TX, LA, MS) have the lowest price fuel in the nation. You should be hit with a price jump any time you leave the region.
My work related travel the past week had me all over the southeast, operating mainly in/out of Memphis. The lowest cash prices I seen on diesel were in the Jackson MS area. I think I spotted a couple slightly below $3.50/gal. LA and TX a few cents more, then even more the farther away I went. Gasoline seemed more consistent throughout the region, generally in the $2.75-ish range, give or take 15¢.
Alabama (no sales tax on it there)
I play the fuel pricing game on the regular since I buy a lot of it. The past week was coincidentally busy, with both trucks operating almost every day of the billing cycle. This week's statement just came in at $2,773. My fuel program is one of the better cost+ deals small outfits like me can get, so along with playing the fuel price game, the average per gallon cost came in at $3.46.
Fun fact: (last I checked) there are 5 states that charge sales tax on truck fuel pumps: AL, CA, GA, IL, NY.
You mentioned you bought fuel on a reservation, so that may be why there was no sales tax at the pump. AL could just as well have rolled back that sales tax at the diesel pump in the past several years and I hadn't seen any news about it.
Another thing that usually doesn't make headlines is excise tax on fuel. It's a sneaky way states use to offset budget shortcomings when revenue from the much more publicly visible sales tax and fuel tax rates is not meeting budget.
For example, our governor here in Georgia has magnanimously "suspended fuel tax" to give Georgia consumers relief for a few periods in recent years. What the press release never mentions is that constituted only a fraction of the taxes stacked up on a gallon of fuel. Sales and excise taxes were never suspended. In fact, during one of the longer "fuel tax suspensions" the general assembly passed a record
increase on the excise tax.
I guess the point I'm making is: don't get too far in the weeds when analyzing fuel prices. For any benefit you think you're getting (low or abated taxes) there's always something else (excise tax) clawing that back and then some.
Since most motor homes and tow pickups don't have the capacity on board to shop like I can with a semi, the best bet is stick with the busy national/regional convenience store chains. They move enough volume that their pump prices aren't too affected by days of inventory. Truck stops routinely upcharge 25¢ or more to cover overhead, so avoid those if you can to save a few bucks.
