The Great Florida Turnpike Gas Station Feud That Broke My Brain

I drove through Orlando last Tuesday and stopped at a Chevron on the Turnpike where two guys were arguing over pump etiquette, specifically who had the right to use the single diesel nozzle. One guy had a pickup truck with a trailer, the other had a minivan, and the van driver insisted his claim was older by about 45 seconds. They stood there for six minutes yelling about spray patterns and hose length while I waited behind them with an empty tank. The manager finally came out and just put a cone over the diesel pump, which somehow made both men leave in a huff. My take is that gas stations should have a fight club rule, first punch thrown wins the pump, no arguing allowed. Has anyone else seen a fuel dispute escalate over something this absurd, or is Florida just built different?

2 comments

2 Comments

zara5721d ago

Used to think Florida was just getting a bad rap from all the tourist stories and weird news headlines. Then I sat behind these two grown adults arguing over a nozzle like it was the last life raft on a sinking ship. That cone move by the manager was the most peaceful resolution I've ever seen, honestly genius. Now I get why people say the Turnpike is its own little universe where normal rules just don't apply. I've seen people fight over parking spots and checkout lanes, but never over spray patterns, that's a new level of commitment. This changed my whole view, Florida isn't built different, it's built on a different planet.

holly_henderson861d ago

Tbh I got stuck behind a guy at a gas station in Georgia who was timing his squeegee wiping like it was an Olympic sport. The nozzle thing sounds wild but Florida's gas stations are basically UFC cage matches with pump handles.