Is a Fuel Card Worth It?
Are you wondering whether a fuel card is truly worth the investment? As fuel prices continue to fluctuate, managing expenses can be a daunting task for trucking professionals. Below, we’ll explore what a fuel card is, the different types of card options available in the market, how they can benefit both your bottom line and daily operations, and what to watch for when assessing a fuel card service provider.
What Is a Fuel Card?
A fuel card is a specialized payment tool designed for buying diesel and related services over the road. Unlike a general credit card, fuel cards are designed with specific features to help trucking companies track spending and decrease their fuel bill. They have built-in purchasing controls that allow you to select allowed products, gallon volumes, etc. And, because fuel cards are treated like cash at the pump, they offer the convenience of paying by credit card while providing cash-price savings on every gallon. Multi Service Fuel Card was the first to offer a diesel fuel card with live authorization at the pump—pioneering an easier, more transparent way to track and manage fuel purchases.
Types of Fuel Networks
Closed-Loop Over-the-Road (OTR) Fuel Card
Ideal for long-haul truckers and fleets that frequently travel across multiple states.
Includes an extensive acceptance network, helping drivers find fuel stops nationwide.
But also excludes fueling locations that are not capable of handling heavy duty equipment.
Bypasses credit card processing fees, providing operational cost-savings to in-network merchants and cardholders.
Merchants accepted into a closed-loop network meet certain criteria for that network. In the case of over-the-road fuel cards, the merchants that accept the card should be truck stops with designated high-flow diesel islands and lots that are capable of handling tractor-trailer traffic. Multi Service Fuel Card, for example, is accepted at all nationwide truck stop chains (Love’s, Pilot Flying J, and TA Petro) as well as widely recognizable super-regional, regional and independent truck stop locations, providing a combined network of more than 8,900 locations nationwide. It’s just the right balance of everything a trucking company needs, and nothing they don’t.
And, because closed-loop networks are managed outside of a traditional credit card network, the processing fees associated with fuel cards are typically much lower for both the cardholder and the merchants accepting the cards.
Open-Loop or Universal Fuel Cards
Best suited for those operating light and medium duty equipment
Often utilized for regional or final-mile operations, but provides extensive nationwide network coverage that can support emergency response nationwide.
Streamlines gasoline and diesel fuel purchases and provides oversight for shorter routes and stop-and-go driving.
Open-loop or Universal fuel cards are typically accepted anywhere a standard credit card is accepted and can be utilized for gasoline, forecourt diesel as well as high-flow diesel pumps. They provide a single-card solution to tracking over-the-road expenses for mixed fleets, but do not provide the same level of discounts as a closed-loop fuel card. Often the discount network, if provided, would be a limited segment of the overall acceptance network, which requires additional planning to achieve operational cost-savings.
Key Benefits of a Fuel Card
Fuel Discounts and Savings
Fuel cards can provide discounts or rebates that significantly reduce costs over time—an especially important factor given the number of miles that long-haul truckers drive each month.
Simplified Expense Tracking
By consolidating fuel purchases into a single statement, fuel cards make it easier to track and categorize expenses for tax reporting and driver reconciliation. Real-time or near-real-time transaction details help with budgeting, forecasting, and ensuring compliance.
Purchase Controls and Fraud Protection
Most fuel cards offer built-in controls that let you set purchase limits and restrict spending to diesel and essential items. These measures help prevent unauthorized purchases. Additionally, Multi Service Fuel Card provides One-time PIN mobile fraud protection which prevents skimmers from collecting critical information at the pump that would allow them to compromise your account.
Better Cash Flow Management
Instead of paying for fuel immediately with cash, using a fuel card shifts your over-the-road fuel expenses into a billing cycle, which provides operational flow to help stabilize your cash flow.
24/7 Support and Additional Tools
Because trucking is a 24/7 business, you need your fuel card to be too. Multi Service Fuel Card has live customer service representatives available around the clock to take your call. With industry-leading hold times regularly under 25 seconds, we pride ourselves on making sure we get you back on the road as quickly as possible.
Multi Service Fuel Card provides access to many additional perks including discounts on truck maintenance, tires, road service, health insurance and legal referrals- further improving your operational efficiency.
Possible Drawbacks and Factors to Consider
Fees and Terms
Some cards come with an annual fee, per card maintenance fee or may require meeting certain gallon thresholds to avoid these charges. Always review the payment terms to ensure the fuel program being offered aligns with your operational needs and nets to overall savings for your business.
Network Acceptance
Even widely accepted fuel cards can be limited by geographic areas or truck stop brands. Confirm that your routes and fueling stations match the network offered by each program to ensure you won’t need to go off-route in order to stay in-network.
Fraud Protection
Fraud in the trucking industry has been dramatically on the rise since the COVID pandemic. Beyond authority fraud and cargo theft, card skimming has also risen dramatically across both open-loop and closed-loop cards. Speak to your fuel card provider about all of their fraud protection options. What settings can you manage on your account to ensure your cards are used the way you expect them to be? What back-end monitoring of transactions does the fuel card provider have in place? How are you notified of suspected fraudulent activity on your account?
Who Benefits Most?
Owner-Operators
Solo truckers can track expenses more easily, access discounted rates, and streamline record-keeping—particularly useful during tax season.
Small Fleets
Managing multiple trucks and driver purchases can quickly become complex. A fuel card’s centralized reporting cuts down on manual bookkeeping, offers insight into each truck’s fuel efficiency and streamlines tax reporting.
Growing Fleets and Mixed Operations
As fleets expand, so do the complexities of fuel management. A fuel card with robust features helps scale operations while maintaining oversight and savings.
Choosing the Right Fuel Card
Look for a solution that provides wide acceptance where you operate. Consider the discount or rebate structures, the transparency of fees and terms, and the level of support offered. A fuel card often proves its worth through simplified expense tracking, cost savings, fraud prevention, and better cash flow management. While fees and network restrictions should be weighed, these drawbacks usually pale in comparison to the benefits—especially for long-haul truckers or fleet managers seeking more control over fuel spending. If you’re evaluating your fueling strategy, a diesel fuel card that aligns with your specific routes and fleet size could be the most valuable tool in your trucking arsenal.
Interested in learning more about how Multi Service Fuel Card can help your fleet?
Contact us at Multi Service Fuel Card and explore how our OTR, local, or mixed fleet fuel card options can simplify your operations and support your bottom line.