Fleet Fuel Cards

With the large number of competitive fleet fuel cards available, deciding which to use for your fleet can be confusing and time-consuming. To help streamline this decision-making process, AF compares 29 major fleet cards.

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As more transactions enter the world of electronic commerce, fleet fueling is no exception. Today, the majority of companies use fleet cards for some or all of their fuel purchases. Increased reporting flexibility, reduced paperwork, prevention of unauthorized purchases, increased security, and volume discounts are among the reasons why more and more fleets are opting to use fleet fueling cards.

Exception Reporting Makes Policy Enforcement Easier

One benefit of fleet fuel cards is their comprehensive exception reporting capabilities. Exception reporting makes it easier for fleet managers to track and enforce their fleet fueling policies, control unauthorized purchases, and better manage fleet costs and trends.

Most fleet fuel cards allow fleet managers to select only the data they need and have it delivered to them quickly in the medium they choose; more and more, this is via the Internet.

Typical exceptions include:

• Cost per transaction.
• Price per gallon.
• Days.
• Fuel type.
• Gallons per month.
• Driver adds/terminates.
• Gallons per transaction.
• Hours.
• States.
• Number of transactions per day.
• Miles per gallon.
• Vehicle adds/ terminates.

Different Companies Offer Programs For All Types of Fleets

Windell Mitchell, fleet manager, King County Department of Transportation in Seattle, WA, has adopted the Voyager card for his fleet fuel program.

Mitchell said, "We are using the Voyager card for all our drivers. We have another card for all our internal fuel stations. The Voyager card works just like a regular credit card. We can also use it to pay for repairs. We program what drivers can use it for and we can place limits on its use. For example, you can approve it for, say not more than $35 for fueling or not more than $250 for maintenance; we could say ‘no accessories’; or we can say ‘only for regular fuel, not for premium.’"

According to Mitchell, the Voyager card is cost-effective, since the county doesn’t have to pay any administrative costs for using the card. The administrative cost is borne by the fuel provider.

"It is cost-effective because now when we receive the report, it is sorted by vehicle, so we don’t have to hire clerks to sort out or do any key punching. Everything is electronically transmitted, so we can upload it into our computer. We save a lot of time that way," Mitchell said.

The most important advantage for King County is that now it has an almost immediate record for vehicle mileage and usage patterns. "That puts us in a better position to schedule our preventive maintenance," added Mitchell.

John Alley, fleet administrator, Washington State Patrol, is also satisfied with the performance of the Voyager card regarding to cost savings and convenience.

"It costs us no money. We wind up getting the cost of fuel at the discounted price with no tax involved – they do that automatically – and they do not charge a surcharge with regards to cost per gallon or cost per transaction. It’s also convenient that virtually every major oil company accepts the card."

Richard Avery, director of transportation, Bergen Brunswig Corp, in Orange, CA, uses the Wright Express card for his fleet of 500 vehicles, mostly light-duty trucks.

"We can control how it’s used or what’s purchased with it, and it’s tied to each vehicle."

Charles Bowen, fleet director for Rollins Inc., who oversees 6,600 vehicles, also uses the Wright Express card.

"Their level of reporting and being able to meet our reporting needs, and the interfacing of that has been a major benefit. Another advantage is the versatility of their card in terms of various brands of fuel available through the network."

Tom Gustin, program officer, State of Montana Procurement Bureau, is also a WEX user.

"For us, it’s convenient for the drivers, because the WEX card is accepted at so many locations."

For Mark Good, manager, field leasing operations for Pinkerton Security in Encino, who uses PHH’s fuel card, point of sale (POS) capability is the main point. "It’s got POS capability in most cases, and standard reporting options."

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* Company provided data