Who's fuel card and checks are you using?

**Crazy D** · 12.06.2011

As the title says. I'm looking into this for fuel and lumping purposes.

**Cowpie1** · 12.06.2011

I use EFS. Hate Comdata.

**oilfieldtrash** · 12.06.2011

I use EFS. I am pretty happy with them.

**G/MAN** · 12.06.2011

If you are a one truck operation you might be better off to get a PDCA card from Transportation Alliance Bank. It is a debit card that acts like a TCH card when used for fuel. You get the cash price as you would with any of the fuel cards, but with no fee that most currently charge. Flying J and Pilot will give you a couple of cents off at the pump and that is about as good as you will get with any of the other fuel cards unless you get involved with one of the major brokers and use their fuel card. I don't think that there are discounts with any other fuel stops, but TA, Petro and Love's will give you the cash price. The nice thing about the card is that you can use one card for anything you buy on the road or at home, although it would be best to keep a separate account for your business. Another feature is that TAB pays interest on money you have in the account. It won't be much at this point, but it all helps.

I have used Comdata, TCH and Fleetone in my business. I will NEVER, EVER use Fleetone again. TCH is good and their fees are less than Comdata. The advantage of a regular fuel card is that you can more easily track your fuel spending and do reports for quarterly IFTA filing. T-Check and EFS are widely used. I don't recall if they offer any fuel discounts.

**G/MAN** · 12.06.2011

One other thing. With the PDCA card you can register and use TCH checks. I believe the fee is $2+ $1/hundred over $200.

**Crazy D** · 12.06.2011

Yes. I am just a one truck operation. I just didn't want to be carrying gobs of cash around to pay for fuel and lumping. Comdata sucks, and the fleet one the guy I work with now has says it's 4.50 to write a #### check. F that. When I looked at EFS it seems like most of them you have to be with afactoring company in order to receive it. I am really trying not to factor if I don't have to. As most places have quick pay. UGH so much to do and only 3 weeks to get it all done!!!

**Pedigreed Bulldog** · 12.06.2011

I just use a Visa card. Accepted everywhere fuel is sold. As long as you avoid the large chains, there is seldom a difference between the cash & credit price....and most of the time, I'll fuel up across the street from a big chain truck stop and I'll pay 5-10 cents per gallon less with my credit card as the chain is charging for their cash price.

I've never had the displeasure to deal with lumpers, so that's a non-issue...

**Big John** · 12.06.2011

Cash/Debit card. Don't need to pay someone for the use of their card when they make automatic withdraws weekly from your account. Might think about a credit card that gives you money back. I have a friend that operates with a Discover card and pays it off each month and gets 5% back.

**SHC** · 12.06.2011

Just like Peigree and John stated, just use a credit/debit card. Fuel at the smaller stops and you should be ok. I like the 5% back idea too, that would actually cover the difference in price at the end.

I use Comdata but it was issue to me thru my lease company. I ran a AMEX card before this with double points on fuel purchases. I went on 2 trips to Hawaii with it off of just 1 years use !!!

**G/MAN** · 12.06.2011

If you have a PDCA account at TAB, you can have direct deposit set up with a factor or quick pay. If you are paid with a comcheck or other similar checks you can call it in or use the internet and have it in your account in less than 20 minutes. TCH and T-Check go in immediately with no hold on the money. It is easy to make deposits or transfer money from one bank to another and their fees are fairly cheap as far as bank fees are concerned. You could use the same account for all of your business expenses from fuel to repairs to dinner. I know several people who use them and they all like doing business with them. They do make it easy for truckers to do business with them. And you don't have to do business with Flying J or Pilot to use it. www.tabbank.com is their website.