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Fuel cards for your commercial trucking company is a great way to save on fuel and monitor employee spending. Here are our top picks for fuel cards for truckers.
Chelsea Krause is a writer who specializes in accounting, payroll, and small business loans. She has been helping small business owners manage their finances since 2016. She is a QuickBooks Certified User and former eCommerce store owner. Her accounting expertise has been quoted in Forbes and her work appears in Startup Nation, Small Business Bonfire, and Women on Business. Chelsea graduated summa cum laude with a BA in English & Creative Writing from George Fox University and studied abroad at the University of Oxford as well.
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Chelsea KrauseChelsea Krause is a writer who specializes in accounting, payroll, and small business loans. She has been helping small business owners manage their finances since 2016. She is a QuickBooks Certified User and former eCommerce store owner. Her accounting expertise has been quoted in Forbes and her work appears in Startup Nation, Small Business Bonfire, and Women on Business. Chelsea graduated summa cum laude with a BA in English & Creative Writing from George Fox University and studied abroad at the University of Oxford as well.
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Erica has been writing about small business finance and technology since 2008. She joined Merchant Maverick in 2018 and specializes in researching and reviewing business software, financial products, and other topics to help small businesses manage and grow their operations. Her expertise has been cited in MSN, Reader's Digest, Vox, U.S. News & World Report, and Real Simple. She is a Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll, a graduate of Limestone University, and currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina.
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Erica SeppalaErica has been writing about small business finance and technology since 2008. She joined Merchant Maverick in 2018 and specializes in researching and reviewing business software, financial products, and other topics to help small businesses manage and grow their operations. Her expertise has been cited in MSN, Reader's Digest, Vox, U.S. News & World Report, and Real Simple. She is a Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll, a graduate of Limestone University, and currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina.
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If you run a trucking business, finding the best fuel card for truckers can help you save some serious cash. Fleet fuel cards can even help you run your business more efficiently. But which cards are worth your time?
In this article, we’ll highlight the best fleet fuel cards for truckers and trucking companies.
Fuel cards, also known as fleet cards or fleet fuel cards, are unique payment instruments that help trucking businesses save money on the cost of fuel and maintenance as well as monitor their workforce’s spending. A participating trucking business gives its drivers a fleet card to use when driving company vehicles on the clock. The drivers then use their card at any fuel vendor within the card’s network of locations.
These networks will typically cover 10,000+ gas stations nationwide, though a few such networks feature hundreds of thousands of individual stations.
The Best Fuel Cards For Trucking Fleets
The best fleet fuel cards offer generous fuel rebates, widespread national coverage, and strong expense management features — and only seven fuel card options made the cut.
Discounts offered at Jiffy Lube & Discount Tire and on QuickBooks
Coast card use builds your business credit
Cons
Coast is a charge card — you can’t carry a monthly balance
The rewards rate on fuel purchases isn’t the highest
Why We Chose Coast As The Overall Best Fleet Fuel Card
Coast earns the title of the overall best fleet fuel card because it is universally accepted across the entire country. That's because Coast is accepted anywhere Visa is accepted. You'll get a flat 2 cents back on fuel purchases, with up to 10 cents possible based on Coast's current partner discounts. Coast cards also have the unique ability to be used on additional purchase categories like maintenance and car washes.
Coast Rewards
The Coast card gives you a flat two cents per gallon fuel rebate on your monthly statement, and up to 10 cents per gallon with certain partner discounts.
You’ll also get discounts on various partner services like 8% off at Discount Tire and 10% off on maintenance/oil changes at Jiffy Lube.
Coast Features
The Coast card offers several great features and benefits, including:
Set spend controls by card, driver, or vehicle
Set tank capacity and GPS controls
Real-time expense tracking
Transaction-level reporting by card, driver, and vehicle
Fuel fraud protection
Fleet GPS tracking
Integrations
Other benefits of Coast include no personal guarantee and credit-building opportunities.
Coast Rates & Fees
Coast charges $4/month per active card (an active card is any card that has a completed transaction during the billing period). Although this fee is higher than the last time we updated this post, for many, it could still be a good tradeoff for the unique benefits Coast offers.
The Coast card is a charge card, so you can’t carry a balance from month to month.
When To Choose A Coast Card
You need nationwide coverage
You want a flat 2 cent fuel reward on all fuel purchases with up to 10 cents at certain locations
You need strong driver and vehicle controls
You want a fleet card that also supports non-fuel purchases like maintenance expenses
Online notifications and spend management from the app
Cons
Companies purchasing less than 500 gallons of gas per billing period get a low rewards rate
Can’t carry a balance month-to-month
Why We Chose ExxonMobil BusinessPro As The Best Fuel Card For No Monthly Charges
The ExxonMobil BusinessPro card stands out as one of the most affordable fleet cards with no monthly fees or setup fees. The ExxonMobil BusinessPro fleet card offers a rebate of up to 6 cents per gallon on your fleet's fuel purchases, depending on the total gallons purchased per billing period and is accepted at any Exxon or Mobil Station, which results in 95% nationwide coverage. If you're looking to save money on fuel and save money on fuel card fees, ExxonMobil is definitely one to check out.
ExxonMobil BusinessPro Rewards
This is the ExxonMobil BusinessPro fleet card’s rebate structure:
Less than 500 gallons purchased during a billing period = 1 cent per gallon
500 to 3,999 gallons purchased = 3 cents per gallon
4,000 to 6,999 gallons purchased = 4 cents per gallon
7,000 to 9,999 gallons purchased = 5 cents per gallon
10,000+ gallons purchased = 6 cents per gallon
ExxonMobil BusinessPro Features
ExxonMobil offers the following features:
Card and driver expense tracking
Invoice & payments management
Set restrictions on purchase types
Set limits for transactions, gallons, and dollar amounts
Set specific limits for time-of-day and day-of-week
Receive notifications when expenses fall outside your company policies
Security PINs
24/7 customer support
ExxonMobil BusinessPro Rates & Fees
The ExxonMobil BusinessPro Card has no setup fees, no annual fees, and no card fees, making it an incredibly affordable fuel card option for trucking businesses.
The ExxonMobil BusinessPro card is a charge card, so you can’t carry a balance month-to-month. However, ExxonMobil BusinessPro does offer a revolving credit option for businesses that need flexible monthly payments.
When To Choose An ExxonMobil BusinessPro Card
You want no monthly fees
You have Exxon and/or Mobil stations along your fleet route
You have significant fuel purchases to unlock the higher rewards tiers
The max rewards rate is lower than that of some other fuel cards
Why We Chose WEX FlexCard As The Best Fuel Card For Small & Mid-Size Trucking Companies
The WEX FlexCard has a flat-rate fuel rebate of 3 cents that makes it a good choice for companies with more modest trucking needs that wouldn't qualify for the maximum rates offered by fuel cards like ExxonMobil BusinessPro that scale their rewards with your fuel use. This card also has no monthly fees and the option for carrying a monthly balance, which makes it a better fit for small fleets that need flexibility and affordability.
WEX FlexCard Rewards
The FlexCard gives you a 3-cent rebate on every gallon of fuel purchased. This falls short of the maximum rate of the ExxonMobil card, but it equals or exceeds said rate if you buy less than 4,000 gallons of fuel per billing period. As such, it’s a great fuel card for small and mid-sized fleets.
WEX FlexCard Features
The WEX FlexCard has fewer features than some of the other options on this list but does cover the important basics like:
Spend controls
Expense tracking
Custom reports
24/7 support
WEX FlexCard Rates & Fees
The WEX FlexCard is accepted at 95% of fuel stations nationwide and 45,000 US maintenance locations with no monthly or annual fees. If you want to save money on fuel and save money on monthly fees, the WEX FlexCard is an affordable option for businesses.
The WEX FlexCard is technically a charge card, but the WEX card allows you to carry a monthly balance when necessary. If you choose to carry a balance, the APR is Prime + 12.74%. There is a higher penalty APR if you miss your minimum payments.
When To Choose A WEX FlexCard
You want a flat-rate 3 cent per gallon
You want a fleet card with no monthly fees
You want to option to carry a monthly balance
You don’t have the budget or purchase amount to benefit from fleet cards with higher rewards rates
Why We Chose Shell Fleet Navigator Card As The Best Fuel Card For National Coverage
If you want a fleet card that allows you to carry a monthly balance, the Shell Fleet Navigator card gives fleet owners this option while also offering competitive features, decent fuel rewards, and near-national coverage. This card is accepted at fully 95% of gas stations across the US, including all 13,000+ Shell and Jiffy Lube locations, and you can get up to 5 cents per gallon.
Shell Fleet Navigator Card Rewards
The Shell Fleet Navigator Card offers a rebate of up to 5 cents per gallon of fuel purchased each billing cycle, depending on the amount spent.
1 to 1,000 gallons – 1 cent
1,001 to 4,000 gallons – 2 cents
4,001 to 7,000 gallons – 3 cents
7,001 to 10,001 gallons – 4 cents
10,001 to 25000 – 5 cents
Shell Fleet Navigator Card Features
The Shell Fleet Navigator card comes with:
Spending controls
Expense tracking
Custom reporting
Security & fraud protection features
Automations
24/7 support
Uniquely, the Shell Fleet Navigator card is soon going to be offering reward earnings on EV vehicles as well.
Shell Fleet Navigator Card Rates & Fees
While the card doesn’t officially come with an annual fee, Shell states that the card may carry “limited fees” — though the company does not detail these fees.
The Shell Fleet Navigator Card lets you carry a balance from month to month. However, the card’s APR is not disclosed.
When To Choose A Shell Fleet Navigator Card
You need nationwide coverage
You want the option to carry a monthly balance
You want to be on the cutting edge of electric vehicle fleet rewards when the feature launches
Rewards rate of 15 cents per gallon at 4,500 EDGE Discount gas stations
No annual or monthly fees
Fleet management features
Automated state fuel tax reporting
Cons
Coverage is less extensive than some other fuel cards
Can’t carry a balance month-to-month
Why We Chose EFS Fleet One EDGE Card As The Best Fuel Card For Rewards
The EFS Fleet One EDGE Card is a fuel card that, when used at a gas station participating in the EDGE discount program, offers perhaps the highest fuel rebate around with rebates of up to 15 cents per gallon. All in all, over 12,000 truck stops across the country accept the Fleet One EDGE Card. What's more, you'll pay no monthly or annual fee.
EFS Fleet One EDGE Card Rewards
You’ll get an average 15 cents per gallon rebate when used at one of 4,500 participating EDGE discount sites, which is the highest rewards rate on this list.
You’ll also get discounts on major tire brands, and savings on wireless plans, hotels, and repairs.
EFS Fleet One EDGE Card Features
EFS offers one of the most comprehensive feature suites with:
Spend controls
Custom reporting
Data visualization
Checks & MoneyCodes as alternate payment options
Fuel audits
Manage permits & tolls
Alerts
Some of these features are advertised as “add-on solutions” which may incur additional fees.
EFS Fleet One EDGE Card Rates & Fees
You’ll pay no fuel transaction fees when you use the card at over 4,000 in-network sites. However, you may incur fees for certain add-on features.
EFS also offers a large number of Fleet Cards if you want to compare other options.
When To Choose A EFS Fleet One EDGE Card
You want the highest rewards rates available
You want a card with no monthly or annual fees
Your fleet routes work with EFS Fleet One’s 12k+ accepted locations
You want a large selection of fleet management features
Why We Chose Discover it Secured As The Best Card For Truckers With Bad Credit
The Discover it Secured card is a consumer gas card, not a fleet card, so it does not come with any fleet management features. However, fleet cards are generally unavailable to business owners with bad credit. If your credit is poor, but you still want a credit card that offers a solid rewards rate for gas purchases, the Discover it Secured card may benefit your business.
Discover it Secured Rewards
The Discover it Secured card gives you an unlimited 2% cash back on up to $1,000 in gas station and restaurant purchases. You won’t be limited to gas station locations or brands. You’ll also get 1% cash back on everything else.
And with Discover’s Cashback Match, Discover automatically matches all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year by 2x with no limit.
Discover it Secured Features
The Discover it Secured card doesn’t come with any fleet management features, nor are there any other notable perks to be found beyond the cash back. This isn’t surprising, considering that this is a secured credit card.
Discover it Secured Rates & Fees
The Discover it Secured card has no annual fees. you’ll have to make a security deposit of at least $200 (the maximum deposit is $2,500) that establishes the amount of your credit line.
When To Choose A Discover it Secured Card
You don’t have the credit to qualify for a fleet card
You want to earn cash back on gas purchases
You want a flat-rate cash-back rate on all purchases, not just fuel purchases
Why We Chose Shell Refillable Card As The Best Prepaid Fuel Card
A prepaid fuel card is not the same as an actual fuel card; it is essentially just a gift card that can be used at gas stations. Nevertheless, prepaid fuel cards for truckers can be useful for businesses with operations that involve a degree of road travel, which is why we wanted to highlight the Shell Refillable Card as an option for businesses with very small fleets or with infrequent travel. The Shell Refillable Card can be used at all Shell locations. Up to $300 can be loaded onto the card at one time.
Shell Refillable Card Rewards
This card does not offer rebates on fuel purchases or any other spending rewards.
Shell Refillable Card Features
This card doesn’t offer fleet management or other common credit card features. You can:
Track your card balance balance
Track spending & view transactions online
Get instant access to funds
Shell Refillable Card Rates & Fees
The Shell Refillable Card operates like a gift card and has no fees, but you will have to pay to fill the card. You can load up to $300 on the card and can easily refill the card as needed.
When To Choose A Shell Refillable Card
You have a very small fleets or with infrequent travel
You don’t need cash-back or rebate rewards, but do want to control gas purchases
Are Fuel Cards Better Than Traditional Credit Cards?
Fuel cards let trucking businesses maximize spending rewards and track expenses and employee spending more easily.
These benefits are unique to trucking companies, which often makes them a better fit than traditional credit cards for certain purchases.
Fuel cards can only be used to purchase fuel and repair/maintenance services, which means fuel cards are much less flexible than credit cards. Rewards programs associated with fuel cards are generally more limited than those of credit cards, as only certain gas stations participate in these rewards programs. And, many fuel cards are charge cards and won’t let you carry a balance from month to month (though there are some exceptions).
These drawbacks don’t fully negate the benefits of a fuel card or fleet card. Instead, many trucking businesses can benefit from both a fuel card and a traditional credit card.
Should You Get A Fuel Card?
If your company makes use of two or more company vehicles and your company purchases over 1,000 gallons of fuel every month, getting a fuel card can pay off by providing you with the following:
In-depth purchasing controls to ensure your employees are using the company card for driving-related expenses only
Advanced analytics can improve your drivers’ efficiency
Monthly/annual fees are small or nonexistent
Save money, both on gas purchases and repair/maintenance costs
Advanced GPS apps that point the way toward in-network gas stations and service centers
What To Look For In A Fuel Card For Truckers
Keep the following in mind when looking for fleet fuel cards for truckers:
Get a card that fits your location/region
Get a card that fits the amount of fuel you purchase each month
Decide whether you need a pay-over-time option or just a standard charge card
Understand how the pricing works when considering a fuel card
How To Choose The Best Fuel Card For Your Business
Like any other specialty industry, trucking businesses have unique financing needs. The fuel cards presented here are convenient instruments by which your business can save on the cost of fuel and keep employee spending under control.
If you’re looking for other financing options, you could also consider one of these top business credit cards.
Most fuel card issuers offer an application on their website. To complete the application, you will have to provide details about yourself and your business.
How do trucking fuel cards work?
Truck fuel cards offer rebates on fuel purchases. Some fuel cards might carry additional benefits, such as loyalty bonuses, fraud coverage, online reporting, and other services to help manage your transportation business.
What are the benefits of having a fuel card?
The most significant benefit of having a fuel card is saving money on gas purchases via rebates. Fuel cards might also come with other benefits, such as loyalty rewards and fraud coverage.
Which trucking fuel card is accepted at the most locations?
Several leading fleet cards are accepted at over 95% of US gas stations. However, the Coast card is accepted at any gas station or service location that accepts Visa, making it the fuel card with the broadest acceptance.
Chelsea Krause is a writer who specializes in accounting, payroll, and small business loans. She has been helping small business owners manage their finances since 2016. She is a QuickBooks Certified User and former eCommerce store owner. Her accounting expertise has been quoted in Forbes and her work appears in Startup Nation, Small Business Bonfire, and Women on Business. Chelsea graduated summa cum laude with a BA in English & Creative Writing from George Fox University and studied abroad at the University of Oxford as well.
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