Blogs and Insights
How Does a Fuel Card Work?
If you are in the trucking industry and want to streamline operations and boost your bottom line, you need to make use of the right fuel cards. Here is how fuel cards work and can benefit your trucking business.
What are Trucking Fuel Cards?
Fleet fuel cards, also known as trucking fuel cards or simply fuel cards, are specialty cards that offer real-time discounts on fuel purchases along with other potential savings, such as discounts on vehicle maintenance, tires, and truck washes.
How Do Fuel Cards Work?
Signing Up for Owner-Operators
- Owner-operators contact the fuel card company to discuss which benefits and programs are best suited for their unique business needs. They can review perks that would benefit their fleet, including fraud protection, discounts on diesel fuel prices, account management services, and more.
- Once decided, owner-operators sign the appropriate documents and provide relevant information, like driver numbers.
- The card company issues new fuel cards.
Getting Discounts at the Pump
- Truckers enter a PIN number at the fueling station pump.
- To protect against fraud, some programs require additional input, including vehicle mileage, trip numbers, or two-factor authentication via text message.
- After entering this information, drivers can fill up their vehicle.
- Drivers pay for their fuel and take a receipt.
- Savings are earned at the point of sale or later through reimbursement, depending on the specific fuel card program.
Are Fuel Cards the Same as Debit or Credit Cards?
No, fuel cards are not the same as debit cards or credit cards.
Fuel cards offer unique benefits that the average cash-back credit card may not, including:
- Fuel savings
- Driver spending limits
- Unique fraud protection features
- Specialty service discounts
Who is Motor Transport Alliance’s Fuel Card Provider?
We are proud to say that our cards are powered by QuikQ.
Our QuikQ partnership offers our members unique benefits like:
- Enhanced fraud prevention
- Exclusive discounts
- No contracts
- No transaction fees
- Minimal paperwork
Who Can Get a Fleet Fuel Card?
Owner-operators and business owners with a fleet of vehicles may be eligible for these cards.
While some programs might require a certain number of vehicles in a fleet, Motor Transport Alliance does not, because we believe in empowering small businesses as much as mid-sized and large-sized ones.
Can Fuel Cards Help Manage Fuel Expenses?
Yes, these cards are great for fleet management beyond just cost savings.
With the Motor Transport Alliance fuel card program, members can:
- Track fuel costs and cash flow
- Set spending limits on drivers
- Get detailed reporting metrics
Can Fuel Cards Be Used at Any Gas Station?
No. Drivers can typically only use these cards at select fueling locations and truck stops.
Motor Transport Alliance’s fuel card program unlocks benefits at over 500 Love’s Travel Stops, making it incredibly convenient for most truckers in the United States.
Do Fuel Card Companies Charge Transaction Fees?
Many fuel card companies charge transaction fees. Not Motor Transport Alliance.
Not only do we not charge transaction fees, but we also do not charge annual fees or require contracts.
How Do Businesses Benefit from Using Fuel Cards?
The best fuel card offers trucking companies more than just fuel discounts. They also offer discounts on other services, like tires and maintenance, theft protection measures, flexible payment options, easy report tracking, and more.