Despite the economic impact of COVID-19, your trucking business must keep rolling on. So keep those fuel costs down with one of the five best fuel cards for truckers
Fuel cards help you better manage the cost of topping up your trucking fleet, while also keeping your truckers' fuel spending in check. And when the average yearly cost of operating a commercial truck comes in at an eye-watering $180,000, closely managing those dollars and cents is a must.
But which fuel card program is right for your trucking fleet? To help you decide, we’re here to give you the lowdown on the best fuel cards for truckers.
Or, if you want to start comparing prices now, head straight to our questionnaire – we'll ask a few questions about your trucks, then match you up with the right fuel card suppliers for your unique needs. They'll then be in touch directly with personalized, no-obligation quotes. It's the easiest, quickest way to find and compare the best options for your trucking fleet – and it's free.
The Best Fuel Cards for Truckers
We’ve done our research. Scouring the US fuel card market, we analyzed key fuel card programs and rated them on the factors that matter to trucking businesses – from fees and rebates, to coverage and management features.
This has enabled us to select the five best fuel cards for truckers, and shed light on what they're best for. So, which programs came out on top?
| 1 | WEX FlexCard | Best for expanding businesses | |
| 2 | Fuelman Universal cards | Best for different card deals | |
| 3 | ExxonMobil Business Fleet Card | Best fee-free card | |
| 4 | Shell Fleet Navigator Card | Best for gas station coverage and national coverage | |
| 5 | BP Business Solutions | Best for one-person bands |
1. WEX Fleet FlexCard
According to WEX, over 400,000 companies use their fuel cards for truckers. That’s a pretty impressive figure.
In part, this is down to their 3¢ rebate rate per gallon. The rebate figure benefits small trucker businesses whose fuel usage per month is lower than larger national companies.
On top of a healthy rate figure, WEX offers a full fuel management reporting suite to help you keep track of your outgoings.
Another bonus to the WEX package is the gas station locator app, which guides your truckers to gas stations that accept the WEX fuel card.
So why is WEX the best fuel card for national companies? As well as the favorable rates, the WEX Telematics system provides an end to end fleet management solution .
Get to grips with your fleet activity, fuel use, expenses, and even driver behavior. Better still, report by region, business unit or cost center.
Pros:
- 400,000 companies use WEX
- Suitable for small, medium and large businesses
- WEX Fleet Card accepted at 90% of stations
- WEX FlexCard 3¢ rebate on every gallon of gas
Cons:
- Customer service can be hit and miss
- Benefits from WEX partner cards aren’t as good as going direct
▶ Read more: The best fuel card companies in the US
2. Fuelman Universal Cards
Fuel cards for truckers don’t come more tailored than the Fuelman Universal Card selection. There are five different card options to choose from – a card for every scale of trucker business.
Cards start with the basic Advantage Card, which offers up to a 6¢ rebate at participating gas stations.
At the other end of the scale, you have the Platinum Mastercard, which offers the cash price for credit card purchases, plus a rebate of 3¢ per gallon – great if you don’t mind the overheads.
In addition to finding a card that best suits your company’s fuel spend scale, the Fuelman cards are pretty safe on the road, too.
While there are some gas station gaps in the Montana and New Mexico state areas, there’s full coast-to-coast coverage in the Lower 48.
Similarly to the WEX card, there’s also an app to help truckers find participating gas stations on the road. Plus, the back office suite helps you fine tune the admin process.
Pros:
- Plenty of trucker cards to choose from
- Good coast-to-coast compatible gas stations
- Card benefits can extend to other business purchases
- Robust back office suite
Cons:
- App can be a bit unreliable
- A few gaps in coverage in the Lower 48
3. ExxonMobil Business Fleet card
10¢ per gallon rebate for the first six months? Now you're talking. Just bear in mind that you’re back onto the competitive 6¢ rate once the time is up.
No one likes the idea of monthly charges hanging over their head – unless the perks are worth it! Good news is, ExxonMobil have done away with the monthly charges, making this one the best fee-free fuel card for truckers.
The only concern is the geography of the ExxonMobil gas stations. If you own a smaller scale trucker business that works along the East Coast, this is a great piece of plastic to have in your back pocket. Anywhere east of Mississippi and you may struggle.
Like the other cards in our top five, ExxonMobil has a great back office system that helps you manage your fleet. You can even track which vehicles need servicing – great for your MPG.
Pros:
- No monthly overheads
- Good back office suite
- Exception-based reporting
- Great East Coast gas station compatibility
Cons:
- Interstate coverage is sketchy
- Cuts back to 6¢ max after six months
4. Shell Fleet Navigator Card
The Shell Fleet Navigator card is the best fleet card for gas station coverage.
Compatible with 95% of gas stations across the US, your truckers will never worry about running dry.
This fuel card has another trick up its sleeve, too. Fuel and vehicle maintenance go hand in hand, which is why Shell have teamed up with Jiffy Lube to offer card holders discounts on vehicle supplies.
In addition to their competitive rebate rates, Shell offer a complete back office suite to help you manage your fleet.
You can set purchasing limits if you want to tighten your fuel spending, and customize your reports so they reflect the data you want to see. It’ll even flag up opportunities to save cash.
Of course, like most fleet cards for truckers, rebate rates vary depending on your fleet size. The larger your fuel spend, the better the rate you’ll receive.
Pros:
- Set a variety of limits
- Discounts at Jiffy Lube locations
- 24/7 customer service
- Data points out opportunities to save
Cons:
- Fees and rebate differences apply
- Rebate rate isn’t as high as other suppliers
▶ Read more: The best prepaid fuel cards
5. BP Business Solutions
What makes the BP Business Solutions card the best fuel card for very small fleets?
If you want a touch more control over your truckers on the road, this card from BP may be the ideal solution. Smaller businesses with casual working operations will benefit – especially if you rely on contractors.
This is because the fuel card enables you to eliminate unauthorized purchases. You can also put purchase restrictions on the card during non-business hours.
Because there are no monthly fees , you don’t need to worry about overheads. Although because of that, the rates aren’t quite as good as paid trucker cards.
Lastly, you can request new cards as and when you need them, making this a great card for expanding businesses.
Pros:
- No monthly fees
- Discounts at Jiffy Lube locations
- Real-time data activity
- Use in fueling locations that accept Mastercard credit cards
Cons:
- Offers less control than BP Business Solutions Plus
- Coverage not as high as other fleet cards
Next Steps
Now you know how each of the top fuel cards for truckers can benefit your business, it’s time to discover which one is the best match for your needs, and eventually apply for the program.
Click the button below and we’ll send you to a questionnaire. All you need to do is fill in a few details about your trucks, and up to four of the best fuel card suppliers for your unique needs will be in touch to discuss your requirements, and provide free, no-obligation quotes that are tailored to your business. It's the easiest, fastest way to zero in on the card programs that are right for you, and compare their prices and benefits.
FAQs
Which fuel cards provide discount diesel to trucks?
All fuel card suppliers offer fuel cards with discounts, although these often vary depending on the size of your fleet and the amount of fuel you purchase. Companies like Shell team up with stores such as Jiffy Lube for discounts on vehicle products.
Other cards will offer discounts on business supplies as part of the package. For example, the Uber Freight fuel card gives you great deals on new and used Navistar trucks and spare parts.
What are the best fuel cards for small trucking businesses?
As a small business or start up, there are a few fuel card features you should look out for – low fees, big discounts, and competitive fuel cost rates are key. As is getting a fuel card without a minimum use limit, or restricted benefits (in some cases, you'll only access the big savings when you buy a certain number of gallons, or operate a certain number of trucks).
In terms of network coverage, as long as there are plenty of gas stations that accept the card in your area, you'll be okay. Don't feel you have to spend big on a card with nationwide coverage if you don't need it.
In this article, we've highlighted the ExxonMobil Business Fleet Card as the best card with no fees, Fuelman Universal as offering the best deals, and BP Business Solutions as best for one-person bands. These would be good programs to check out first! You should also take a look at our dedicated roundup of the best fleet cards for small businesses.
Are there any fuel cards for truckers with bad credit?
Good news – many fuel card suppliers separate business credit from personal credit, so a bad personal credit rating does not have to stop you from empowering your commercial operation with a fuel card program.
The best way to work out what a fuel card supplier will want from you is to talk to them in person. That's why we're here to set up phone conversations between you, and the right suppliers for you. Simply answer our questionnaire, and we'll match you with the best providers for your circumstances, for free. They'll give you a call in no time to answer your questions (and provide personalized, no-obligation quotes).
Can I invest in a personal fuel card?
Fuel cards aren't just for businesses – you can get an individual gas credit card to use for your personal vehicle, or your business vehicle (if you're self-employed).
If you're a fleet manager, to ensure your business accounts don’t become out of sorts, you should invest in a separate personal fuel card if you want to use for your personal vehicle too.
Companies such as ExxonMobil supply personal cards. Or, look into signing up for a credit card that offers bonuses for gas purchases.
