Prices for fuel change at the rack every day. As volatile as the market has been recently sometimes they change two or three times during the day. Up until a couple of months ago, the prices at the rack (terminal) became effective at midnight the day after posting. Now, some suppliers are changing from a midnight (12 AM) change to a 6 PM effective price change on the day of posting.

So far the suppliers that are changing at 6 PM are Flint Hills Resources (KOCH), ConocoPhillips, ChevronTexaco, Citgo, Fina, Pride, Motiva (Shell), ExxonMobil and Valero (Diamond Shamrock). When these companies post prices they go into effect at 6 PM the same day instead of midnight that night like they used to.

This has made it difficult to quote prices to our customers because we have to know when fuel was loaded at these terminals in order to get the right price. As if the price of gas wasn't hard enough to keep up with, now we have to know when fuel was loaded from these suppliers! Eventually, all suppliers may switch to the 6 PM price change, but that is yet to be seen.

When you call us for a price and your fuel came from any of these suppliers mentioned above, please look at the bill of lading and let us know what time it was loaded.

Sandford Oil Team