Chief,  Trick is to keep the nozzle in contact with the side of the fuel can to prevent the static build up while fueling.  When filling up a gas can it is normal to hold the nozzle in the center so you don't knock over the gas can, static builds up. Bed liners and rubber mats are good insulators, so notice the bed of the truck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tYO4jvnJHw When filling cars is pretty easy to leave the nozzle hanging there. If the person builds up static electricity you can transfer it to the nozzle when removing it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdCaQ3eWnkc&feature=related After getting out of the car, she could have touched the pump first, to reduce the spark potentional. We use electrostatic meters to check potential for spark in the electronics industry. ESD (electrostatic discharge) is a lightening bolt to electronics, so huge effort is disappating any ESD.   You're meter has a 10M ohm resistance path, more than enough to disappiate the electrostatic field.  We use non-contact meters.  Example: http://www.gndzero.com/awareness_meters_fieldmtr3000.php Tom