• Home
  • Resources

The Financial Benefits of Buying Wholesale Fuel vs. Retail Fuel

When you hear the word wholesale, you generally think of lower prices, albeit for products purchased in vast quantities. For a product such as fuel, lower costs by any means are a significant advantage. It can also be advantageous to buy fuel in large amounts if you run a facility or fleet, as fuel would be one of your major overhead expenses.

Shipley Energy

What Is Wholesale Fuel?

Wholesale fuel is any fuel you buy from a wholesale fuel supplier as opposed to a retail station. The wholesale price for fuel is considerably lower than what you would pay for retail fuel. As with anything wholesale, fuel supplied by wholesalers is generally sold to retailers who, in turn, sell the fuel to consumers for its final use. However, some wholesale fuel suppliers also make fuel available at wholesale prices to organizations in the industrial and government sectors.

Wholesale Fuel vs. Retail Fuel

The difference between wholesale and retail fuel boils down to pricing and accessibility. When you purchase fuel from a retail service station, you pay the marked-up retail price plus applicable taxes. For wholesale fuel, you pay just a portion of the retail price-per-gallon.

Access is another one of the main advantages of bulk fuel because the supply is in your onsite storage tank for anytime access. You can also contact a wholesale fuel supplier whenever you need refills. Here are five advantages of wholesale over resale fuel.

1. Increased Efficiency

With wholesale fuel, the supplier comes to your site approximately once each month to fill your fuel storage tank. This way, you have a fuel supply onsite at all times. Anytime a fleet vehicle or machine runs low on fuel, you simply activate the fueling process from the storage tank. With this bulk supply of fuel at your disposal, operations become a lot more efficient because you don’t have to send vehicles out to service stations.

Retail fuel, by contrast, can be a time-consuming task, as vehicles have to take time to drop by service stations.

2. Decreased Downtime

Wholesale fuel lowers the frequency of downtime because you are always stocked with an ample supply of fuel for your vehicles and factory equipment. If something runs low on fuel, you simply connect the machine or vehicle to your storage tank and fuel away. You never have to halt productions or move deliveries down the schedule due to a fueling issue because all vehicles and machines have instant access to fuel.

With retail fuel, you run the risk of downtime because fleet vehicles must pull aside at stations when they need fuel. In some cases, the station might not have the right fuel, and the vehicle will either need to reach another service station or pull aside for assistance. Either way, instances of downtime are costly and can severely impact your company.

3. Improved Productivity

With wholesale fuel on site at all times, your facility and fleet become more productive. When fueling issues do arise, they are solved on the spot with no timeouts or halts in deliveries and productions. This way, deliveries can always be carried out on schedule. On the more efficient days, you can even exceed expectations.

Regarding productivity, wholesale bulk storage fuel could give your fleet the advantage over competitors that rely on retail fuel. While they send vehicles out to get refueled, you can be sending your fleets out to delivery destinations. Wholesale fuel will also allow your factory machines to run more efficiently with fewer instances of failure, whether you operate on a daily, nightly or 24/7 schedule.

Best of all, wholesale fuel can be accessed at any time, even on weekends and holidays. Shipley Energy provides wholesale fuel to manufacturers, fleets, and government agencies in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and beyond, around the clock, 365 days a year.

4. Higher Fulfillment Rates

With a constant supply of wholesale fuel on hand, you can dispatch your fleet to more delivery destinations in a given day or week. Anytime a fleet truck needs more fuel, you simply hook it up to your onsite storage tank, and the vehicle is good to go on its delivery route within minutes. Between your fleet lot and the delivery destination, vehicles will rarely require stops along the way for most nearby and intrastate deliveries.

Fleets that rely on retail fuel, by contrast, are often slowed by stops at fuel stations at various points along delivery routes. Even on routes that cross just a few county lines, a truck might have to stop and pay for the more expensive retail fuel. Even worse, vehicles will often have to wade through traffic congestion and stop lights to get to these fuel stops.

When you have your own onsite bulk fuel supply, fleet trucks can simply fuel up before they depart and stick to the fastest, most efficient routes of delivery without interruption.

5. Less Costly

When you buy fuel from a wholesale supplier, you cut out the middleman and therefore get your fuel for less. With a wholesale bulk fuel supplier at your service, the amount of money it would take to fuel a single truck or factory machine is significantly reduced in the span of a week. If you take consider that same amount of savings and multiply it across your entire fleet or factory arsenal, the savings are tremendous, especially when you multiply that number for a whole year.

With retail fuel, you would instead have to pay whatever price the service stations charge in a given area. At the end of each fiscal year, the amount you would pay for retail fuel would ultimately claim a larger share of your profit margin. Overall, wholesale fuel could save you tens of thousands per year in fuel costs.

The Financial Benefits of Purchasing Wholesale Fuel

The financial advantages of wholesale fuel add up on numerous fronts. Regarding fuel costs, you save money you’d otherwise spend on the retail markup price. When it comes to bills and accounting, the cost of wholesale fuel is easy to determine, predict and calculate. The wholesale fuel option takes a lot of stress and headache out of budgeting for a fuel-reliant organization. The benefits of wholesale fuel cover the following 10 areas.

1. Money Saved

With wholesale fuel, your fleet could reap tremendous savings over competing fleets that rely on retail fuel. Each time you have your onsite storage tank refilled, the price you pay for that fuel is only a portion of what that same amount of fuel would cost if you purchased it at the markup retail price.

You also save money because the trucks in your fleet can stick to their delivery routes without having to exit freeways and wade through traffic to make time-wasting and money-consuming stops at retail fuel stations.

2. Competitive Pricing

Wholesale fuel is offered to factories, fleets and government facilities at competitive prices. Moreover, you can pay for the fuel with plans that work best for the purchasing entity. Depending on your cash flow cycles and budget, you could negotiate a service payment plan that works best for your business.

Shipley Energy allows customers to choose between plans where the rate is locked-in at the start of the contract, regardless of prices in the fuel market during any given month for the duration of the contract. This allows you to save even more money if fuel prices spike in the weeks that follow the start of your fuel plan.

3. More Affordable

Wholesale fuel is the more affordable option for fleets, factories and government facilities because the fuel is sold at just a portion of its retail value. For any organization that uses fuel in bulk quantities, wholesale fuel is the wisest choice from a fiscal standpoint. Even if you have to pay more upfront to have your tank filled than you might pay over the course of several stops at retail fuel stations, the savings kicks in overtime thanks to the overall lack of any need for service stations.

4. Accurate and Timely Billing

When you enlist the services of a wholesale bulk fuel supplier, you can rely on accurate and timely billing each payment cycle. This is one of the significant advantages over retail fuel, as service stations often charge different rates and taxes apply in certain jurisdictions. When you sign a service contract with a wholesale company, you know what you will be getting regarding bills and pricing.

As long as you read the fine print, you can also tell whether any hidden fees or taxes will apply to the fuel. Shipley Energy sells fuel to customers with no hidden fees or taxes. The money you expect to pay when you sign on for service is the amount you will be billed, and you’ll get that bill at the exact time you plan to receive it.

5. Predictable Costs

One of the most significant benefits of wholesale fuel is the predictable costs and pricing structures. Unlike with retail fuel, the costs of which can be hard to predict and a headache to calculate, the prices of wholesale fuel are consistent in each billing cycle.

When you buy your fuel from a wholesale bulk supplier, you can predetermine the amount that you will pay on each bill. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about fuel costs fluctuating due to a volatile market or unforeseen circumstances regarding fuel availability on a given route.

6. Better Data for Business Financial Planning

For organizations that rely on fuel, the wholesale option makes things easier on the business end. Thanks to the predictable costs and consistent billing, you can accurately earmark a portion of your budget for fuel expenses for each fiscal year.

If you relied instead on retail fuel, you would need to earmark more money due to the unpredictable nature of the costs involved. Consequently, you would eat into your profit margins. By comparison, the wholesale fuel option helps you run a more profitable business.

7. Faster Budgeting

If you secure a contract with a wholesale fuel provider with locked in rates, budgeting is a relatively easy task. All you need to do is take the monthly amount you will pay for fuel and multiply that figure by the number of months in the upcoming fiscal year.

If you relied on retail fuel, budgeting would involve far more guesswork, and you would have to overestimate the costs to cover any unforeseen fuel-related expenses that might arise. With wholesale fuel, the task of budgeting is a cut and dry process.

8. Streamlined Purchasing

The more predictable prices and expedient budgeting that come with the wholesale fuel option also makes things easier for accountants. Your accounting team will no longer have to track many different fuel costs from various stations because fueling occurs onsite.

The costs associated with fuel are simple to calculate for record keeping and easy to forecast for upcoming budgets because the billing is consistent and the prices are as stated on a given contract. Shipley Energy works with customers to make sure you always understand how the price structure will work on the plan of your choice.

9. Fewer Budgetary Oversights

As you calculate expenses for any given time frame, your accountants are less likely to make mistakes due to lengthy lists of fuel receipts. The numbers calculated for each reporting period are almost always accurate when you use wholesale fuel because the price and payment-frequency of your most critical expense are streamlined. This allows your company to accurately assess budgetary needs on a year-by-year basis and allocate monies according to spending trends, all without fear of inaccurate reporting figures.

10. Fewer Unplanned or Emergency Expenses

With wholesale fuel in your bulk storage tank, the solution to most emergencies that could occur is already at your site. If a truck within your fleet lacks enough fuel to embark on a delivery route, you simply fuel up the vehicle right then and there.

If your factory machinery runs out of fuel, you simply fuel back up with no time lost. If weather conditions render the fuel stations in your area inaccessible, it won’t matter because you won’t need their services. Wholesale fuel takes one of the significant causes of fleet and factory emergencies right off the table.

 

Want to learn more?

Fill out the form below!

Advantages of Partnering With Shipley Energy for Wholesale Fuels

Shipley Energy is the leading fuel supplier for factories and fleets in Pennsylvania and Maryland. When you partner with us, you get the following six benefits.

Shipley Energy Shipley Energy
Shipley Energy
Shipley Energy
Shipley Energy
Shipley Energy
Shipley Energy
Shipley Energy

Contact Shipley Energy to Learn More About Wholesale Fuel Solutions

Shipley Energy has provided fuel to organizations around the mid-Atlantic for the past nine decades. In doing so, we have helped fleets boost their fulfillment rates and reduce downtime. If you run a fleet or industrial facility, it is essential to have access to wholesale fuel on a nonstop basis. Our fuel service can save you from the hassles and financial blows of downtime. Contact Shipley Energy today to learn more about how our wholesale fuel solutions can help improve your business.

Contact Us Today

Customer Testimonials

Mike Weaver

The reps at Shipley Energy (Energy Objective) have helped me save more than a half-million dollars on my electric supply since the start of 2010. They have also helped me procure Demand Response payments from PJM of more than $77,000 over a six-year period. The service I have received from Shipley (...

Read more

The reps at Shipley Energy (Energy Objective) have helped me save more than a half-million dollars on my electric supply since the start of 2010. They have also helped me procure Demand Response payments from PJM of more than $77,000 over a six-year period. The service I have received from Shipley (Energy Objective) has been personal and professional, and I feel like they have the best interests of my company in mind. It is for this reason that I have signed with them for electricity through 2023.

Read less
Mike Weaver
Glen Rexroth

My favorite thing about Shipley Energy (Energy Objective) is working with a local, well-respected company. They look out for us by contacting us about renewal rates when the market is low, rather than waiting until my contract has ended and I’m out of time.

Glen Rexroth
Kalpesh Vakil

I have been a Shipley Energy (Energy Objective) customer since 2008. A few years back, Tim Booth took over our commercial accounts. I am very happy that Tim is on our side all the time. I have never met anyone who can provide customer service the way he does. We are in the hospitality business ownin...

Read more

I have been a Shipley Energy (Energy Objective) customer since 2008. A few years back, Tim Booth took over our commercial accounts. I am very happy that Tim is on our side all the time. I have never met anyone who can provide customer service the way he does. We are in the hospitality business owning several hotels and a sports complex so we know what customer service means. Tim is not just finding us the best deal but also audits our invoices to make sure the rates are correct, helps us in understanding the market, and works through the complex contracts for us. He is always a supportive and very knowledgeable fellow. We have saved money in the six figures so far. We will always stick to our favorite company and especially our great friend Tim. I truly thank Tim Booth for the best help we can get for all energy needs.   No one else can give the best rates and services like Shipley (Energy Objective). Crowne Plaza Harrisburg, Lancaster Host Resort and The Coliseum wish you the best.

Read less
Kalpesh Vakil
Brent Halpin

I’ve been working with Shipley (EnergyObjective) since 2010 to procure my electricity supply in two utilities. Over four Met-Ed contracts, every price has been lower than the last. My rep audits my bills after each new contract, alerts me when the market is low, and makes the contracting process p...

Read more

I’ve been working with Shipley (EnergyObjective) since 2010 to procure my electricity supply in two utilities. Over four Met-Ed contracts, every price has been lower than the last. My rep audits my bills after each new contract, alerts me when the market is low, and makes the contracting process painless. He’s also available for any utility question I have, whether or not it’s about my supply contract. If you’re looking for a professional, courteous, hard-working energy partner, you can go pretty far with EnergyObjective.

Read less
Brent Halpin
Amber Lipkowski

I wanted to let you know that Shipley did fantastic this season. As we wrap up our season THIS weekend (yay!!) I can’t explain to you how nice it was not to worry about propane. So much time was saved on my part not having to check tanks prior to a weekend, and Saturday night to make sure we’d m...

Read more

I wanted to let you know that Shipley did fantastic this season. As we wrap up our season THIS weekend (yay!!) I can’t explain to you how nice it was not to worry about propane. So much time was saved on my part not having to check tanks prior to a weekend, and Saturday night to make sure we’d make it through Sunday. What a relief. Thanks again!

Read less
Amber Lipkowski
TJ Leedy

Reliable propane supply is essential for us to be able to provide a comfortable and healthy environment for our turkeys.  With Shipley prompt delivery and service is always just a call away with the ability to talk to a real person and not just a answering service. ...

Read more

Reliable propane supply is essential for us to be able to provide a comfortable and healthy environment for our turkeys.  With Shipley prompt delivery and service is always just a call away with the ability to talk to a real person and not just a answering service.  The remote tank monitoring with automatic delivery is a easy way to ensure you never run out of propane.  Shipley is the only propane supplier that I recommend to my turkey growers.

Read less
TJ Leedy
Austin Hogue

Shipley is a very important part of making Dottie’s a success. They provide us with Non Ethanol 87,90,93 grade fuel which is a huge draw for our loyal non ethanol customers. Shipley also provides us with Kerosene, Off Road, and On Road Diesel at competitive prices a...

Read more

Shipley is a very important part of making Dottie’s a success. They provide us with Non Ethanol 87,90,93 grade fuel which is a huge draw for our loyal non ethanol customers. Shipley also provides us with Kerosene, Off Road, and On Road Diesel at competitive prices and a timely manner. Shipley helps us most by managing our delivery, watching the market, and deciding when the best time to purchase a load would be to capture the most savings. This is particularly important in these volatile times in which we are working.

Read less
Austin Hogue
Craig E. Abel

“We decided to go with Shipley Energy 10 years ago because of the need to hand this task off to a reputable company that specialized in the field. Our staff is very busy with projects in house and we needed someone (local) whom we could rely on to manage both electric and Natural gas for the long-...

Read more

“We decided to go with Shipley Energy 10 years ago because of the need to hand this task off to a reputable company that specialized in the field. Our staff is very busy with projects in house and we needed someone (local) whom we could rely on to manage both electric and Natural gas for the long- term future. What stands out the most with our relationship / partnership with Shipley is the open communication between the companies. Shipley is constantly monitoring our usages to protect us from unanticipated surprises in the extreme heat or cold temperatures of our seasons. Shipley has well documented usages for our facility and shares that information as we move throughout the seasons and contract process. Shipley strives to uncomplicate the process and is open for conversations as required. I would suspect that If you are looking for a new supplier or are unhappy with your current supplier you owe it to yourself to visit with their sales staff.”

Read less
Craig E. Abel
Matthew Scarpato

“Partnering with Shipley Energy has wonderful experience. We decided to switch to Shipley when our previous energy company viewed us as just another ‘number.’ Cole and his team have taken the time to personally understand our needs and provide us the best products for our operation. Whether we...

Read more

“Partnering with Shipley Energy has wonderful experience. We decided to switch to Shipley when our previous energy company viewed us as just another ‘number.’ Cole and his team have taken the time to personally understand our needs and provide us the best products for our operation. Whether we call Shipley to purchase energy or for HVAC service, we know that we will be taken care of.”

Read less
Matthew Scarpato
Justin Shelton

“Springwood Hospitality began our partnership with Shipley Energy in 2013 and at that time, we were managing four hotels. By the end of 2019, our portfolio will have 13 hotels, with more opening close behind. Shipley Energy has successfully helped us manage our portfolio’s energy costs during th...

Read more

“Springwood Hospitality began our partnership with Shipley Energy in 2013 and at that time, we were managing four hotels. By the end of 2019, our portfolio will have 13 hotels, with more opening close behind. Shipley Energy has successfully helped us manage our portfolio’s energy costs during this period of growth. They conduct regular check-ins with our team and monitor industry trends to give us the information we need to make educated decisions about our energy agreements. We have a dedicated account manager that we can go to for any questions or concerns that we have throughout the year and during our renewal they are responsive and easy to work with. I would definitely recommend that other hotel management companies’ partner with Shipley Energy if they would like a peace of mind surrounding their energy costs.”

Read less
Justin Shelton
Carol Jo Bevans

"TecPort Partners elected to do its most recent electric supply shopping through EnergyObjective, utilizing their impressive reverse auction platform. The company was able to exceed our expectations and lock in our PPL supply at a pleasantly low 18-month price. We saw wide supplier participation, a ...

Read more

"TecPort Partners elected to do its most recent electric supply shopping through EnergyObjective, utilizing their impressive reverse auction platform. The company was able to exceed our expectations and lock in our PPL supply at a pleasantly low 18-month price. We saw wide supplier participation, a competitive back-and-forth bidding process, and complete transparency from start to finish. The contracting process was smooth and there were no surprises. The guidance provided by the reps at EnergyObjective regarding the auction process, market timing, contract lengths, and general electricity knowledge was helpful and appreciated. We at TecPort Partners would recommend the EnergyObjective reverse auction for any electricity user looking for straight talk, competitive pricing, and overall ease in the process."

Read less
Carol Jo Bevans
test
Share this post
Related Posts