Long haul trucking is the backbone of the supply chain, with drivers traveling up to 1,000 miles delivering goods all across the country. As a driver or fleet manager you’re constantly having to worry about fuel costs, maintenance, and the pressure to deliver on time. Fuel cards are one of the most effective ways to help streamline these challenges.
What Are Fuel Cards?
Fuel cards, also known as fleet cards, are payment cards designed for fuel purchases and vehicle maintenance. They help you manage fuel costs and other related expenses with some even offering discounts at select stations. While similar to credit cards, fuel cards are typically part of a dedicated fuel network or a closed-loop system, giving you greater control over how the card is used and what expenses it covers.
Fuel Management
Fuel management is what fuel cards do best. With a fuel card, you can set controls and limits on each card to better manage expenses. Below are of some of the common settings you can enable on most fuel cards:
- Product type limits
- Time frame limits
- Per day transaction limits
- Dollar limits per transaction
- Odometer input requirement
- Driver ID input requirement
These controls ensure that your drivers are only buying fuel, eliminating waste, and reducing the risk of fraud. Along with these you can also enable features like purchase alerts that notify you of every transaction. They can also give you detailed reports of your expenses and run IFTA reports.
Getting You Back On The Road Fast
Long Haul truck drivers are on the road two to three weeks at the time, so getting them back home and delivering on time is crucial. Fuel cards make fueling quick and easy. Fuel cards like Voyager are accepted at 95% of fuel stations nationwide, so drivers won’t have to go out of their way to find an accepting location. Many fuel cards also offer apps and websites that show nearby fueling stations, making it easy for drivers to fuel up and get back on the road without unnecessary delays.
Getting You Back On The Road Fast
Unexpected breakdowns cause not only major delays but also cost up to four times more than scheduled repairs. Most fuel cards allow drivers to pay for maintenance items, helping you to better track and manage your maintenance costs. Some even offer discounts at selected service stations, helping to further reduce maintenance expenses and prevent costly breakdowns.
Conclusion
By leveraging the tools offered by fuel cards, you can closely monitor your fuel consumption, budget more effectively, and enhance your fleet performance. This helps save both time and money, and ultimately makes your operations more efficient and cost effective.