Truck driver fuel cards for truckers

As a truck driver, you know how much money goes into filling up your vehicle. This is especially true if you’re an Owner-Operator who needs to front the costs of those expenses. Luckily, fuel cards can provide you with a whole host of benefits that you can take advantage of. From tracking costs to saving money, this article will address everything you need to know about fuel cards for truckers, as well as the steps you need to take to obtain yours.

What Is a Fuel Card?

A fuel card, otherwise known as a fleet card, can be used by truckers to purchase fuel. As with a retail store credit card, fuel cards are typically accepted among a network of fueling locations and can provide discounted prices. Further, these cards allow Owner-Operators and Fleet Managers to track fuel purchases and costs. In turn, managers can then set spending controls, audit expenses, and much more. Overall, fuel cards offer a highly effective way of streamlining a trucking business and reducing fuel costs at the pump.

How Do Fuel Cards for Truckers Work?

When the average driver heads to the pump, they might pay with cash, a debit card, or a credit card. However, instead of using any of these methods, truck drivers with fuel cards can use their cards to pay for fuel and other approved purchases at truck stops. Typically, a fuel card can be used to make these approved purchases in the same way a typical credit card would. When using a fuel card, the provider receives a portion of the sale from the gas station or truck stop (2%-3%). This is part of the reason why fuel cards are only accepted at partnered fuel stations and, in turn, why the stations may provide a per-gallon discount on fuel prices. Sometimes, they will offer discounts on the per-gallon fuel prices. Discounts can also come in the form of discounted cash prices at the point-of-sale, or through monthly rebates. Either way, it’s important to read about the nature of a particular fuel card before you purchase it, so you know when and where you’ll be offered discounts.

Fuel Card Benefits for Owner-Operators

If you’re an Owner-Operator looking to purchase a fuel card, there are many benefits you should know about. After all, these benefits can help you streamline your records and save money in the process. For example, with a fuel card, you can expect to:

• Save Money on Fuel. Saving money at the pump is one of the biggest and most important reasons why Owner-Operators get fuel cards. After all, fuel is the second-highest cost for trucking companies, costing an average of over $45,000 annually.

  Fortunately, many fuel cards offer discounts at affiliated locations, meaning you can save a few cents on every gallon. That might not seem like a lot, but after 100 refuelings, a 5-cent discount could mean a savings of over $700.

• Improve Security and Control. Most fuel cards will offer you safety and security advantages such as adjustable spending controls, daily gallon and transaction limits, postal code restrictions, and more. All of these options will allow you to not only manage your books better but also prevent fraud, theft, and unauthorized spending.

• Have Real-Time Transparency. Fuel cards offer amazing transparency through real-time documentation. For example, when a purchase is made, you’ll be able to see details such as which driver made the purchase, when the driver made the purchase, the odometer reading, sales tax, and more.

  That way, the accounting process is made much simpler through the information provided by your fuel card rather than loose receipts.

• Receive Automated IFTA reporting. Similarly, each fuel card will provide you with automatic International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) reporting. These are useful tax reports that are prepared for you and easily accessible for download from your associated fuel card account.

• Make the Lives of Your Drivers Easier. Drivers have enough to worry about, so making their refueling process easier can save them a lot of time and energy. Like credit cards, fuel cards can be used efficiently. Plus, your drivers won’t have to worry about carrying cash or receipts that can be easily lost or stolen.

How to Choose a Quality Fuel Card

Similar to credit cards, there are many companies and options available to those truck drivers who want to purchase a fuel card. However, not all fuel cards are created equal. To ensure you get the best deals, here are some attributes of a quality fuel card:

• Discount Networks. One of the biggest advantages of owning a fuel card is being able to save money on fuel, but this wouldn’t be possible without networking. Quality fuel cards are accepted by big companies like Shell or BP, and come with discounts that have been agreed upon through networking.

• Spending Controls. A good fuel card will allow you to set spending limits, such as daily transaction and gallon limits, as well as postal code limits that only allow the card to be used in certain areas. These features will keep all of your operations safe and secure.

• Account Management. A quality fuel card will provide you with an online account where you can access important information. For example, through your account, you might receive automated IFTA reports or expense tracking.

  Additionally, some fuel cards even come with helpful mobile apps that allow you to find nearby fuel stops and compare prices.

• Roadside Assistance. Roadside assistance is a great perk that can help you save time and money when things go wrong, and we all know things go wrong with any vehicle now and again. As a truck driver, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you can always access valuable help when you need it.

Top 6 Fuel Cards You Can Take Advantage Of

As mentioned, there are many fuel cards out there for you to choose from. With that in mind, we’ve gathered a list of the top six fuel cards you should consider when you shop around. Overall, these cards offer the best perks, services, and networking we could find:

1. WEX Fleet Cross Roads Card

   Average Discount: 3 cents per gallon Network: 45,000+ sites WEX fuel cards are a popular choice for truck drivers, and there’s a reason why. These cards are essentially universal, as you can use them at 95% of U.S. fuel stations (over 45,000) across the country. The card also comes with additional perks, like WEX ClearView, which has digestible reports about your fleet's fuel spend, the WEX Connect station-finder, and DriverDash mobile payments apps. There are only two major downsides to WEX fuel cards. Firstly, the 3 cents per gallon discount is considerably less than most other fuel cards on this list and likely the cost of universality. Additionally, WEX doesn’t publicly disclose card fees, so it’s unclear how much you’ll be paying monthly or annually for the card.

2. Shell Fleet Plus Card

   Average Discount: 6 cents per gallon Network: 14,000+ sites Shell fuel cards are an excellent way to save money when you know you prefer the brand. This card comes with no monthly fees, a 6-cent per gallon discount at Shell gas stations, generous rebates, and Jiffy Lube discounts. All of which can save your business thousands of dollars per year. Of course, the only downside is that you can only use this card at Shell gas stations. However, with 14,000 of them across the country, you’ll likely have one near your business. For your convenience, Shell also has a station finding app you can use to locate these gas stations.

3. ExxonMobil BusinessPro Card

   Average Discount: 6 cents per gallon Network: 11,500+ sites Similar to the Shell cards, ExxonMobil's BusinessPro fuel card comes with some amazing benefits. With this card, not only will you’ll receive a 6 cent per gallon at Exxon and Mobil stations, but you’ll also have the ability to customize your card. This option can be great for trucking businesses, as you can set up your card to suit your needs. However, do keep in mind that location matters with this card. Most of ExxonMobil’s 11,500 gas stations are located east of the Mississippi, meaning that a West Coast trucking business might not see the benefits of owning this card.

4. Fuelman Deep Saver Card

   Average Discount: 8 cents per gallon Network: 50,000+ sites Fuelman cards are a great choice if you want big savings and universality. This card is accepted at over 50,000 gas stations around the country (more than any other card on this list) and offers generous rebates for diesel fuel. You’ll also earn periodic loyalty rewards and receive real-time alerts for potentially fraudulent transactions. On the other hand, this card comes with hefty monthly fees, as well as a $5 dollar penalty when you purchase gas outside of Fuelman’s network. However, with over 50,000 stations available to you, needing to pay that fee is unlikely.

5. BP Business Solutions Mastercard

   Average Discount: 6 cents per gallon Network: 7,500+ sites BP’s fuel cards allow you to earn a discount of 6 cents per gallon at any BP or Amoco gas station. However, this card will also be accepted at other gas stations without fees. While this card does have a $10 monthly fee, this fee will be waived if you buy more than 5,000 gallons of fuel per month. This means that if you have a very busy trucking fleet, you can potentially avoid paying fees altogether. Of course, the biggest downside to this card is that there are under 7,500 gas stations nationwide where you can receive that 6-cent discount.

6. RTS Fuel Card

   Average Discount: 25 cents per gallon Network: 2,000+ sites If savings are what matters to you the most, there’s no better fuel card than an RTS fuel card. This program offers a massive 25-cent per gallon discount at affiliated gas stations, as well as point-of-sale discounts at 1,000 Pilot Flying J and Speedway truck stops all over the country. And that’s not all, as you’ll also receive exclusive discounts on truck maintenance, tires, and more at over 90 different locations (Pilot Flying J, Boss Shop, and Sapp Bros). Obviously, all of these perks come with a cost. RTS fuel cards are the least widespread of any on this list, only operating at around 2,000 sites across the U.S. That means, depending on your location, you may not even have access to this card.

Truck Driver Fuel Card FAQ

1. Is it worth getting a fuel card?

   Yes, getting a fuel card is worth it. Many fuel cards offer amazing discounts and perks, such as anywhere from 3 cents to 25 cents off per gallon. Other prominent perks include tracking fuel purchases and costs, setting spending controls, auditing expenses, helpful apps, and much more. In fact, even when fuel cards do have monthly fees, the perks you receive will likely save you more money in the long run. For example, if you’re spending $10 per month on a fuel card, that yearly cost is $120. However, by saving 6 cents at the pump, you can easily save over $1,000 in that same year.

2. How do fuel card companies make money?

   Fuel card companies make money through a small cut taken out in every purchase. Similar to a regular credit card, fuel card companies will take a small portion of each purchase (typically 2%-3%). This is also why fuel card companies tend to network with gas stations to provide you with discounts. Some fuel cards also make monthly and annual income from card fees (anywhere from $5-$20), which is the cost you pay to own the card.

3. Can individuals have a fuel card?

   Yes, anyone can have a fuel card, even if you’re not an owner-operator or even a truck driver. However, the less gas and diesel you’re purchasing on your own, the less useful your fuel card will be. This is especially true for cards with monthly fees, which often offer the highest discounts. In other words, you’ll only save money if your fuel savings outway the monthly or annual cost of the card.

4. What is the best fuel card for an owner-operator?

   There are at least nine fuel cards that are great options for owner-operators. These can include amazing discounts, useful apps, and other perks. They are:

   • WEX Fleet Cross Roads Card

   • Shell Fleet Plus Card

   • ExxonMobil BusinessPro Card

   • Fuelman Deep Saver Card

   • BP Business Solutions Mastercard

   • RTS Fuel Card

   • ARCO Business Solutions Fuel Card

   • Comdata Card

   • Chevron Texaco Business Access Card

Final Thoughts

Fuel can be a huge burden for truck drivers, and especially Owner-Operators. Luckily, fuel cards provide you with massive savings at the pump. With a fuel card, you can save 3 cents or more per gallon on every purchase you make, ultimately saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars per year. Plus, with a fuel card, you can have access to other perks, such as tracking fuel purchases and costs, setting spending controls, auditing expenses, helpful apps, and much more. Overall, there’s little to no reason why you wouldn’t get a fuel card as a truck driver. All of these benefits are sure to make your life a little easier.