West - Driving in the Pacific NW....questions

OK we had a long road trip this weekend (for the Seattle to Portland bike ribe) and noticed a lot of things that I didn't/don't know about.

In Oregon there are two diesel prices...one that is high and the stuff you can't pump yourself. The other is listed as "PCU" and looks to me like its what the truckers use. My guess is that its the same fuel but the truck drivers have some sort of "PCU" permit and can pump their own gas? Is that right?

Also in Oregon during a climb up one of their "mountains" on the side of the road were 55 gallon buckets that said "WATER DO NOT DRINK" on them....at least 5-6 of them spread out over the climb. What the heck are these?


In Oregon,Washington, and Idaho there were odomoter checks setup in 5 mile stretches. Just marked mile 0, 1, 2, 3, 4. Are the regular mile markers not accurate enough?

In Idaho on a few of the signs it said that "Interstate travel permits" were aviable at the next exit. What the heck is an "interstate travel permit"?


Thanks!

In Idaho on a few of the signs it said that "Interstate travel permits" were available at the next exit. What the heck is an "interstate travel permit"?


Idahoans need an exit visa to leave the state--otherwise they'd all be crowding into Washington.

(j/k) :D

(Serious guess: Is this an agricultural thing, like needing a certificate to bring plants out of Hawaii?)

Not sure about the difference in fuel prices but I'll take a crack at the others.

Also in Oregon during a climb up one of their "mountains" on the side of the road were 55 gallon buckets that said "WATER DO NOT DRINK" on them....at least 5-6 of them spread out over the climb. What the heck are these?
Water for overheated radiators.


In Oregon,Washington, and Idaho there were odomoter checks setup in 5 mile stretches. Just marked mile 0, 1, 2, 3, 4. Are the regular mile markers not accurate enough?
While the regular mile markers are generally accurate, the odometer check mileage markers are specifically there to let drivers verify that their vehicle's odometer is functioning properly. Gives you something to do on the boring stretch of highway I guess.

In Idaho on a few of the signs it said that "Interstate travel permits" were aviable at the next exit. What the heck is an "interstate travel permit"?
It is a permit issued by the state to truckers for a fee granting permission to transit the state's highways with their loads.

Since OMNI is, in general, about topics other than miles, points and travel, we'll move this over to our West regional forum.

Please continue the discussion at it's new home.

Thanks.


____________________

Cholula
OMNI Co-Moderator

Thanks for the responses. Crazy how much things differ by region.

Thanks for the responses. Crazy how much things differ by region.

In Oregon there are two diesel prices...one that is high and the stuff you can't pump yourself. The other is listed as "PCU" and looks to me like its what the truckers use. My guess is that its the same fuel but the truck drivers have some sort of "PCU" permit and can pump their own gas? Is that right?

They pay a weight-based road usage charge (hence the weight stations) in lieu of fuel tax.

Last year while driving down the Oregon coast, I specifically remember being able to pump my own gas on numerous occasions.

Last month, while driving down I-5 in Oregon, I pulled into a Costco, moved into position ahead of a car still pumping and popped out to get some gas - and everyone looked at me like I just landed in a spaceship while the attendant raced over to grab the pump before I did.

Why can I pump my own gas in one part of Oregon, but not another? The whole 'mandatory full service' thing just seems silly.

If people in Florida can figure out how to pump their own gas without pouring it all over and setting the block on fire, I'm sure Oregonians can do the same, right?

Last year while driving down the Oregon coast, I specifically remember being able to pump my own gas on numerous occasions.

Last month, while driving down I-5 in Oregon, I pulled into a Costco, moved into position ahead of a car still pumping and popped out to get some gas - and everyone looked at me like I just landed in a spaceship while the attendant raced over to grab the pump before I did.

Why can I pump my own gas in one part of Oregon, but not another? The whole 'mandatory full service' thing just seems silly.

If people in Florida can figure out how to pump their own gas without pouring it all over and setting the block on fire, I'm sure Oregonians can do the same, right?

I thought it was all of Orgeon with the law.

I also think it was intended as a job creator not a safety issue.

I thought it was all of Orgeon with the law.

I also think it was intended as a job creator not a safety issue.

New Jersey doesn't do self serve either, I assume for the same reason.

Last year while driving down the Oregon coast, I specifically remember being able to pump my own gas on numerous occasions.

Last month, while driving down I-5 in Oregon, I pulled into a Costco, moved into position ahead of a car still pumping and popped out to get some gas - and everyone looked at me like I just landed in a spaceship while the attendant raced over to grab the pump before I did.

Why can I pump my own gas in one part of Oregon, but not another? The whole 'mandatory full service' thing just seems silly.

If people in Florida can figure out how to pump their own gas without pouring it all over and setting the block on fire, I'm sure Oregonians can do the same, right?

You got lucky (or not depending on point of view). All of Oregon has the pump rule. If you were on the coast and pumped your own gas then you may have just gotten out and then the attendant said, oh well. But your not even supposed to put gas into your little house gas cans either. The attendants need to do that.

And the Law was a job creator and no politician wants to touch that. Not gonna lie: I love it.

Not gonna lie: I love it.


There was a thread about this in OMNI a while ago and this is way OT but why do you like it? I'm sure you know you pay for this service in $ and in time (time I filled up it was slower then I could have done it myself). Even in those places like WY where this law doesn't exist if you want to pay for full service you can (but only like 1 gas station).

I am not from OR, from NY then AZ, then CA the OR.

So, at first, I was annoyed I have to pump my own gas? Then you realize that your local gas stations are not as busy as one might think. IE: I rarely wait, it's if I get off at a random road trip and it's right off the freeway. So really it's because (IMHO) the convenience of someone pumping it, occasionally washing the windows and just sitting in my car (when it's hot, when it rains, when it snows, etc) is just nice.

I know that especially when the minimum wage goes up store owners cringe since they don't have a choice but to staff for it, but when you look at the prices in Vancouver, WA just over the river, the average price per gallon is really no different. (Likely b/c they are right over the border). No one has ever really done a good job in articulating the difference in labor costs.

So not to stray OT, but that's why.

No one has ever really done a good job in articulating the difference in labor costs.

So not to stray OT, but that's why.

Fair enough. I don't have any data and its too hard to compare state to state but my guess is that it costs more. I know full service in this area (again like 1 station) the prices are .10-.15 higer per gallon.

I only filled up twice in OR and found that I could have easily filled up faster myself. Not a lot faster but enough that I was annoyed.

Will they let you leave the vehicle and go inside? I could see that as a benefit if I needed a snack or something.

The self service gas rule is an OR Fire Marshall regulation. In their opinion you are not properly trained to dispense a hazardous material. The only exceptions I'm aware of are Commercial Fueling stations (CFN, Metrofuel) and on Indian reservations. I have a Metrofuel card but the gasoline actually costs more than the full service stations.:td: To get these cards you have to certify that you have been properly trained.:rolleyes:

You can go inside the store if their is one...just can't pump your own gas. You can even get out and loiter, especially if you have to enter a fleet number or something similar for your card.