Fuel Cards -- owner op newb

There are several different types of fuel cards. They all operate pretty much the same. Starting out you may need to prepay a certain amount into your fuel card. You then use the card to purchase fuel. When your funds get below a certain amount the fuel card company will usually automatically transfer funds from your bank account to your fuel card account. It works similar to a debit card. If you are established and have good credit you could qualify for a line of credit for the fuel card. But, you need to make sure that you have funds available to transfer to pay your fuel bill. Most fuel cards will automatically transfer money from your bank account.

Most fuel cards charge a transaction fee each time you use the card. You might be able to negotiate something of a discount on fuel, but may not qualify for much with one truck. In order to receive a discount, you may need to agree to a minimum amount of fuel purchases.

Some brokers and factors offer a fuel card for carriers with whom they do business. Most of these cards come with fuel discounts. These brokers will probably have greater discounts than you will be able to negotiate on your own. The catch is that you cannot load (put money) the card. The broker is the only one who can load it for you. They only load it when you haul their loads. Most will use the cards for fuel advances, if offered, and settlements.

TAB Bank offers a combination debit/fuel card you can apply and it comes with a rebate program. They refund or rebate 1.75% of all fuel purchases using their card. There is no transaction fee for using their card. You can also get the cash price at most fuel stops if you use it as a debit card rather than a credit card. Since it is also a Mastercard, you can also use it at for other purchases. I prefer using a debit or credit card for all of my business and travel expenses. It helps to keep things straight.

I have used three cards: Comdata, TCH, EFS and Fleetone. The only one I would not recommend is Fleetone. I prefer either TCH or Comdata. One thing all fuel cards do is help you keep track of gallons and state fuel purchases for IFTA reporting.

 

Call NASTC. They use fleet one and get good discounts. Depending on your credit they will let you have a line of credit that they withdraw automatically every week or with less credit they will let you preload an account. The transaction fee is $3.75 per month. It is $250 per year for the association and a 1 time $50 fee to get set up the first time with fleet one. Don't know what you have been paying but I paid 3.03 per gal in Beaumont on Oct 29th. Well worth the cost.

 

NASTC +1
Been using their card over two years now. Average approx 15 cents per gallon. Worth the setup, membership fees.

 

if you just buy a truck and lease onto a carrier
they will still furnish you a fuel card insurance etc

 

Rts fleet one all th way, line of credit, payoff weekly, your good to go.

 

I use one of my buisness accounts. Set a certain amount in it every month an use the debt card. I don't get any major fuel discounts but I use it as debt, I get the cash price. Saves me a lot of money in the long run, cause I'm not limited where I have to fuel. I see a regular gas station with a lot of room an there diesel is .20 cent cheaper or more then a truck stop I will pull in an fuel. Takes longer but saving 40-50 bucks a full up adds up fast an I have no fees of using my money.

Or a friend of mine just carries a nice stack of 100's around an always pays cash. But I don't have the balls to keep that much cash on me

 

I pay cash. My father in law does too. We only go to certain stations avoid pilots or anyone associated with pilot. Our old trucks do not like their fuel

 

My question is.....if one can buy fuel cheaper than cash price using a fuel discount card....then why not do it? I pay cash everywhere I fuel but am thinking about joining NASTC, at least looking into them closely.