Looking to protect your bottom line? A fleet fuel card can help. These cards have several perks that help you save at the pump, get rebates and track spending. Many of these cards offer enticing features, but which fleet card makes the most sense for your company? These fleet fuel cards offer a great starting point that can aid your profit margin.
Quicklook: Best Fleet Fuel Cards With Discounts
- Best For Rewards: Fuelman Fleet Cards
- Best For Large Fleets: BP Fleet Fuel Cards
- Best For National Networks: WEX Fleet Fuel Cards
- Best For No Fees: AtoB Fuel Cards
- Best For Small Businesses: 76 Universal Fuel Cards
5 Best Fleet Fuel Cards With Discounts
Fleet managers can choose from several cards. These five best fleet fuel cards offer an appealing mix of rewards, fleet size requirements, minimal fees and availability.
Fuelman Fleet Cards
The Fuelman Fleet Card allows you to choose what you pay for different packages, which offer some of the most generous fuel rebates in the industry. You can use the Maintenance Manager feature to monitor and approve maintenance payments from your Fuelman account.
Best for: Rewards
Station coverage:
- 50,000 U.S. fuel stations
- 20,000 service locations
Fees: $4 to $12 per card
Rewards: 6 cents to 10 cents per gallon, depending on the program
Special features:
- Package flexibility
- Deepest rebates in the industry
- Credit option available
Benefits:
- Rebates of up to 10 cents per gallon
- Carbon-neutral, environmentally friendly options
- Available to use at any gas station
Disadvantages:
- Coverage gaps in some states outside of the Midwest
- Higher-than-average monthly fees
- Accuracy issues with mobile app
BP Fleet Fuel Cards
This card provides maximum savings for large fleets. BP Fleet Fuel Cards waive monthly fees if your business purchases at least 5,000 gallons of fuel each month. BP also offers a 15-cent per gallon rebate during the first three months of using the card. In addition, it offers a Business Solutions MasterCard that is widely accepted across fuel stations.
Best for: Large fleets
Station coverage: This card is accepted at 7,200 BP stations, 451 Amoco stations and anywhere MasterCard is accepted nationwide.
Fees:
- No fees if the 5,000-gallon minimum is met
- $2 for fueling at stations outside of BP and Amoco
Rewards: A rebate of 15 cents per gallon is awarded for the first three months. From there, you can earn up to a 6-cent-per-gallon rebate.
Special features:
- MasterCard option for fuel and maintenance coverage
- Card prompts to help prevent misuse
- Create and organize reports
- Security and fraud controls
Benefits:
- Excellent coverage in the eastern United States
- Over double fuel rebates during the first three months
- No fees for fleets using 5,000-plus gallons of fuel per month
Disadvantages:
- Higher fees for smaller fleets
- 14 U.S. states do not have BP or Amoco stations
- A $2 fee is charged for using non-BP and non-Amoco stations
- No driver location app is available
WEX Fleet Fuel Cards
Worried the nearby gas station won’t be part of the network? It’s a risk for any fleet card holder, but WEX Fleet Fuel Cards minimize this risk. The WEX Fleet Fuel Card has a 95% coverage rate which makes it a popular card. WEX offers spending reports and an app that includes a station locator and options for mobile payments. WEX offers card options for large fleets as well as small businesses.
Best for: National networks
Station coverage:
- 95% of U.S. fuel stations
- 45,000-plus service locations
Fees: No fees
Rewards: Rebate for 3 cents per gallon
Special features:
- Mobile payments through DriverDash
- Fuel spending reports generated by ClearView
- Employee spending controls
- Automatic fuel expense tracking
Benefits:
- 160,000-plus fuel stations
- 45,000-plus service stations
- Helpful driver app
- Specialized cards for various fleet sizes
- Ease of payment
Disadvantages:
- Unlisted fees for some services
- Low rebates
- User complaints of being wrongfully charged late fees
AtoB Fuel Cards
AtoB fuel cards are extremely popular because of their lack of fees for set-up, maintenance or other reasons. This card is also accepted anywhere, and the dashboard allows you to set spending limits, track live usage and generate reports to manage your expenses.
Best for: No fees
Station coverage:
- Anywhere that accepts Visa
- 99% of merchants
Fees: No fees
Rewards: Competitive discounts of up to 10 cents per gallon
Special features:
- No out-of-network stations
- Spend on fuel to unlock your card for repairs, parts, insurance and tolls
- Net seven-day payment terms
Benefits:
- No fees
- User-friendly dashboard
- QuickBooks accounting
- Allows small businesses to build credit
Disadvantages:
- Must pay the balance within seven days
76 Universal Fuel Cards
76 Universal Fuel Cards are widely accepted and offer many benefits, from the ease of technical use to rewards and benefits. Additional fuel card options are also available. 76 Universal assembles the expenses, so you don’t have to worry about collecting employee fuel receipts. You can also cancel lost or stolen cards right from the app to prevent misuse.
Best for: Small businesses
Station coverage:
- Accepted at the following:
- 95% of U.S. fuel stations
- 6,800 plus 76, Conoco and Phillips stations
- Over 45,000 service stations
Fees:
- No set-up fees
- No annual fees
- No card fees
Rewards: Save up to 7 cents per gallon at 6,800-plus Conoco, 76 and Phillips stations.
Special features:
- Look up driver IDs
- Make payments
- Spot potential misuse
- Automatic fuel account and expense tracking
Benefits:
- Save up to 7 cents per gallon
- Accepted at any major gas station
- More security and control than cash or credit cards
- 24/7 U.S.-based customer service
Disadvantages:
- Limited online resources
- Managed by WEX
- Rebates only available from a small network of stations
How do Fleet Fuel Card Discounts Work?
Fleet fuel cards allow trucking businesses to reduce costs on fuel and maintenance by using a network of merchants and fuel stations. You get to save money on several trucking expenses and track how your money gets spent. You can control how drivers use your card so they don’t use it for personal expenses or spend more than they should for the truck.
How to Choose a Fleet Fuel Card With Discounts
Choosing a fleet fuel card with discounts can be daunting, as there are many options. Before you decide on a fleet fuel card, you should consider which features matter the most to you. Most of these cards have many perks, but the long list can distract you from focusing on critical features for your business if you don’t lay them out in advance. Here are some guidelines to help you get started with choosing the right fleet fuel card for your company.
Savings
Doing a bit of research and asking good questions can help you choose the best fleet fuel card. Calculate the savings offered and ask the card issuer some questions. For instance, how many cents can you earn in rebates for each gallon of fuel your drivers buy with the card?
How else can the fuel card program help you save more money? By understanding the total benefit of each card, you can choose the best fleet fuel card for your business. Trucking companies operate on narrow margins, and any savings would be helpful.
Coverage
A fuel card with great savings but limited coverage may not make sense for you. You’ll want to know how many gas stations accept this card and where they are located. If most of their locations are on an interstate highway your truck drivers don’t use for travel, that card is not the best fit for your company.
Coverage is important because if you are forced to stop at fuel stations or maintenance shops that are not covered by your card, you will pay a premium cost and miss out on the discount opportunities offered by your fleet card.
Benefits and Rewards
A fuel card’s benefits don’t stop at rebates and saving money at the pump. Here are some of the benefits and rewards to look for when considering a fleet fuel card.
- Tracking fuel expenses
- Security measures that prevent misuse
- Controls on spending
- Creates reports for you
- The ability to access information from a mobile phone
Package Options
The ability to choose packages and how you pay for fuel can be a beneficial feature. Greater flexibility allows you to choose a package that fits your specific business needs. If you manage a large fleet, coverage and top-tier volume discounts may be most important to you. However, if you manage a small fleet, then maximum savings and low fees may be more important to you.
More Consistent Fuel Pricing
Fuel cards offer savings at the pump, which allows you to get better discounted rates on fuel and additional discounts that can help you save even more on fuel. By getting the best discounts, you can keep your fuel costs consistent and less susceptible to fluctuations in the fuel market. Diesel fuel prices rose 55% from January to June 2022, demonstrating the significant price fluctuations of fuel. Having some protection from price swings and built-in discounts can make your budgeting more predictable.
Expanding Your Profit Margin with a Fleet Fuel Card
A fleet fuel card lowers costs and helps you monitor expenses. It’s easier to stay on top of your fleet and protect the bottom line. You shouldn’t go with the first fleet fuel card you find. It’s good to compare options and determine what you need in a fleet card.
FAQ
The AtoB Fuel Card has no fees and competitive discounts that can help you save up to 10 cents per gallon. Most cards offer a 5-cent to 10-cent range, but it’s important to consider other features and how you will use the card to determine which card has the best discounts for you.
Most cards let you save 5 cents to 10 cents per gallon of gas. Those savings can quickly add up. Maintenance savings also play a role and vary for each fuel card issuer.
The 76 Universal Fuel Card is a great choice for small-business owners, but you should consider your needs and compare features across multiple cards.
Sign up for a FreightWaves e-newsletter to stay informed of all news and trends impacting supply chain careers and operations.
