Yeah, the first few times I used the big rig lanes I was freaking out! LOL. I didn't have the TSD card so I had to go in and get them to turn the pump on, then pump, pull up and go back in to settle. Figuring out which buttons to press, and how to get the DEF going after pumping the diesel was confusing to me as well... But, that was with the rental. I grabbed a TSD/Open Roads card about the time my truck was delivered and have used it a number of times now. I definitely feel much better about pulling into the big rig lanes now, but yea, those first couple of times I had no idea what was going on! LOL

 

Well, I've been around 18 wheelers and truck stops pretty much all my life, dad was a owner-operator truck driver since before I was born.
My feelings at truck stops aren't any of intimidation, mostly disgust and aggravation with the sorry idiots who drive 18 wheelers these days.
They pull up to the fuel lanes and park their trucks and walk off, not even there to buy fuel, not caring about anyone else who is there to buy fuel or DEF.
I drove a 18 wheeler for 15 years, and I learned the trade from my dad, a true professional, who treated everyone on the road and at the truck stops with respect and courtesy. He would have a fit if he caught me doing things like the current crop of drivers do. He's long retired, but that is one of our things, me telling him about my experiences on the road these days.
I used to love driving over the road, loved even more riding along with my dad when I was a kid.
It isn't that way anymore though, I could walk away from driving all over the country tomorrow and not miss it.

Okay, rant over...

 

Truckers probably smile when diesel pickups are in their lanes because they only have one small tank to fill.

 

My truck has two tanks, original 48 gallon and 60 gallon aux tank, they frown at me I guess.

 

Way cheaper than buying in the jug...I buy from truck stops from the pump

 

To be clear, the cost of DEF in the jug vs at the pump adds the equivalent of about 8 cents per gallon of diesel. I see variation at truck stop pumps way more than 8 cents per gallon right next to each other. Most people won't drive across the street to save more than that. I'm happy you buy bulk DEF at the truck stop and you do save 8 cents per gallon equivalent of fuel. However, if that breaks the bank when we buy $85K trucks then.... To each their own but we should be clear on the how much it really matters. To some that may be a big deal, which I fully understand. Hopefully you understand the other side. Cheers.

 

50 gallon and a 50 gallon transfer tank. Can only fill one at a time because the passenger side hose never reaches.

Last time I filled up, the pump was broken. It took my card and everything, but would not turn on. Turned out the DEF pump had a broken shutoff lever, and put the pump in error. They had a cone in front of the lane but some moron had moved it! What a waste of time. Had to drive all the way around the lot to get back in line. $30 saved is $30 saved.

 

You should also understand that I buy hundreds of gallons of DEF a year, put 70K to 90K miles a year on my truck.
I don't know if your 8 cents a gallon analogy is close to accurate or not, but whatever it is, I'd rather keep that money in my pocket than throw it away unnecessarily.

 

The math is simple and I fully understand and appreciate your situation. Cheers.

 

I've only ever filled my truck at the pump. I don't really want to bother with the boxes and the waste. That being said, I did buy 4 boxes to keep on hand should the forecasts of a shortage pan out. I'll eventually add them before they expire.

 

That’s not even remotely accurate as to the cost differential. I posted this above and I’ll add it here again to make sure others are aware of actual costs comps:
Even now it's still cheaper at the pump. The last box of def I bought at TSC was $16 for 2.5 gallons. After tax that's almost $7/gallon. Last tank of def at the pumps was $4/gallon. Pretty easy math for me. Plus never have to worry about freshness of the boxes of def on the shelf or storing/hauling them around.

 

The 2.5 gallon jugs come in handy when changing the engine oil.

 

TSD/Open roads here as well. I'm new to modern diesels but have only bought DEF at the pump so far in ~4,000 miles on my 2022. DEF is nasty **** lol

I haven't had any DEF nozzles that I had to bang on the ground but they are all nasty.

 

DEF in the pump is the only way to go. I hate the extra mess and waste created by the boxes and plastic jugs, and often wonder if the use of DEF really changes any of the "pollutants" generated by trucks. When you consider the extra steps necessary to manufacture the stuff, makes boxes,and plastic jugs, ship all of and more, are we really doing anything other than exchanging one form of pollution over another? Consider all the diesel required to harvest trees for the cardboard, just one part of the whole cycle of stupid we're now a part of.

 

Sorry but the math is correct. Def in a container is actually about $8+ a gallon. However, the calculation on usage is absolutely correct as stated. Not sure why any opinion other than "get it at the pump" is "wrong". The OP simply asked which is better. I think the question has been answered. If you tow all the time where DEF usage increases, put lots of miles on your truck, and ALWAYS fill up at the cheapest station, DEF at the pump makes perfect sense. However, if you drive fewer miles and your use pattern uses less DEF, then packaged DEF makes sense. Not complicated. An yes, the actual cost per mile of packaged DEF increases the cost marginally...that is a fact. Now I think I'll hook up the boat and go fishing where I pay $8.50 a gallon for non ethanol gas, which is another issue for another day.