Like that perfect t-shirt or pair of jeans, finding the right fleet fuel card for your business is essential. The best cards offer impressive discounts, trusted security features, and exceptional account tracking solutions.
Look for a card that does not restrict brand or geography limitations. This prevents drivers from taking detours that add to mileage and cost the company more money.
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Station-Specific Cards
Choosing the right card can mean significant daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly savings, depending on your fleet’s needs and region. Whether your business owns one or thousands of vehicles, the card you select can lower fuel expenses and simplify expense reporting. In addition, it’s essential to know first what is the best fleet fuel card option for your needs.
A company gas card functions similarly to a credit or charge card, allowing your employees to pay for all business driving expenses at specific locations. These cards also help you track the number of gallons purchased and other vital data.
Oil companies brand some fuel cards, while others work at any location that accepts major card processing networks. The type of card you choose should be based on your business’s particular needs, including region, discount, fee structure, controls, and back-end reporting.
For example, some offer a variety of fleet cards for small businesses and their drivers. It comes with budget management tools, real-time alerts, and automatic rebates on all gas and convenience store purchases, so you can keep your expenses low. You can also opt for, which provides even more advantages, such as detailed custom reports and per gallon rebate.
Universal Cards
As the name suggests, these cards can be used at any fuel station that accepts credit card payments. This is often a key factor for businesses looking to reduce expenses while increasing convenience and efficiency. In addition to nationwide acceptance, the best fleet fuel cards offer several other tools to help small businesses cut costs and improve profitability.
Many fleet fuel management cards offer an online portal that allows business owners to see detailed purchasing data. This helps save time tracking down receipts and cuts accounting administration costs. Additionally, look for a platform that offers telemetrics and other tools to help drivers cut fuel waste by monitoring driving habits, vehicle conditions, and more.
Other essential features include real-time alerts and the ability to set spending limits. Additionally, make sure your fuel cards have EMV chips that prevent unauthorized use of the card. Unlike traditional business cards, these chips generate unique codes with each swipe, making duplicating a transaction impossible unless the card is physically stolen or hacked.
Some fuel cards offer a separate loyalty program that rewards drivers with points for each purchase. This is an easy way to increase driver satisfaction and help your team track progress toward company goals. However, these loyalty programs usually require a minimum spending amount that may be out of reach for smaller businesses.
No Hidden Fees
Whether you run a fleet of cars, semis, or other vehicles such as motorcycles, scooters, UTVs, forklifts, bulldozers, and backhoes, you can save time and money with a fuel card that doesn’t limit where drivers can buy fuel. The best fleet cards allow you to use your branded fuel discounts at any station, plus they have large partner networks that offer extra savings on gas and other expenses.
Another perk is that the top cards have built-in security features such as EMV chips that create unique codes for each transaction, preventing fraud or accidental use of your card by another person. Some cards even require driver IDs and odometer numbers so you can see exactly what’s being purchased — and where.
Some fuel cards require a credit check to qualify, but many have accessible applications and various options that accommodate low credit scores. For example, some offer a free fleet fuel card that doesn’t charge any setup or annual fees and gives you 3 cents per gallon in instant rebates. It’s accepted at more than 45,000 stations nationwide and can be used for in-store purchases. The card’s online reporting features give advanced insights into purchasing behavior and help you find cost savings. Some include detailed information like fuel types, odometer readings, and the price paid per gallon, so you can identify areas for improvement or savings.
Expense Tracking
In addition to offering discounts on fuel, many fleet cards provide comprehensive reporting metrics. This can be a huge time saver for busy fleet managers and offer insights into areas where expenses can be reduced. Many also integrate with IFTA for automatic tracking and reporting of fuel taxes, further simplifying fleet management.
Whether choosing a universal card or one with a limited network, check the station coverage and branded networks to see which stations work for your fleet. Look for stations along your drivers’ regular routes or those associated with the brands you use. Many fuel cards are also accepted at service stations for routine maintenance, making them a one-stop solution for most fleet needs.
Fleet fuel cards provide several advantages to businesses of all sizes, from small companies with two or five trucks to full-scale national operations. These cards can help reduce costs and streamline accounting administration, making them a valuable tool for any transportation company. With a fleet fuel card, you can access detailed information about purchase data, including the amount purchased, the date and location of the purchase, and the price paid per gallon. With access to this data type, you can identify opportunities for cost savings, like reducing mileage or switching to a more economical fuel source.
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