Love's Goes Cardless at the Pump

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Love's Travel Stops completed the first successful live customer transaction using its new radio frequency identification (RFID) fueling technology and Comdata's financial processing software. The milestone took place yesterday at its Pauls Valley, Okla., location.

Following successful customer tests with Comdata and DFConnect, Love's will roll out the RFID software at all of its travel stop locations. More than 100 Love's locations will have the cardless fueling technology available for professional drivers by the end of August, and the entire Love's network of travel stops will have it available in September, the retailer reported.

"We are excited about what we consider the 'next generation' of fuel transaction processing through RFID technology," said Jon Archard, director of fuel marketing at Love's.

In addition to completing a live customer transaction using Comdata, Love's has successfully used DFConnect for cardless fueling transactions with its fuel tanker fleet for the past year. "Our fleet has been very satisfied with the ease and automation of using cardless fueling technology at Love's locations for the past year," Archard noted. "Love's strives to provide our customers with the most efficient and most cost-effective method of doing business with us."

With the advantages provided through cardless transactions, including improved fuel theft control and a more efficient transaction process at the fuel island, he said this is a significant step in providing customers yet another reason to choose Love's Travel Stops.

RFID technology automates the fueling process with the use of low-cost RFID tags in professional drivers' vehicles. The software and RFID equipment are designed to detect a truck's RFID tags in the fueling lane and turn on dispensers wirelessly, with little or no driver data input. RFID technology saves time for professional drivers and offers a secure financial transaction. Pumps are automatically turned off by the RFID software after a truck leaves the fueling bay, which can reduce fuel theft incidents, according to Love's.

The Oklahoma City-based chain is currently working with Comdata, a processor of financial transactions, and QuikQ, the company that developed the Fuel Island Manager software. Love's also successfully completed transactions using DFConnect processing and anticipates integrating additional billing card processors into the program.

The chain operates more than 290 locations and 140 truck tire care centers in 39 states.