A fleet fuel card is a valuable tool for small business owners who want more control over their spending and omit the need to collect receipts. Consider the following benefits before you apply for a fleet card. Whether you’re a small company with two trucks or an operation with hundreds of vehicles, fleet fuel cards can mean daily, weekly, and monthly savings. Plus, online tools help eliminate piles of receipts and make expense reporting easier than ever before.
Payment Options
Businesses that spend a lot on gas – such as plumbers, electricians, moving companies, freight transporters, and limo services – find fleet fuel cards invaluable in their day-to-day management. Instead of having employees charge all driving-related purchases to their credit card and submitting receipts for reimbursement, they can use a company-issued fuel card reloaded with money at any in-network gas station, repair shop or maintenance facility. As a business owner, selecting the best fleet fuel cards for your needs requires a few considerations beyond saving money at the pump. The review should also be placed on the regions a card covers, what discounts are offered, fee structures, and back-end reporting. Some cards are branded and can only be used at that specific station, while others offer more extensive networks that may be ideal for those who drive from coast-to-coast. Most fuel cards also have expense tracking and reporting perks that can help you monitor spending in real time and quickly catch any misuse or fraud.
Discounts At Gas Stations
Fuel cards work like credit cards; using them responsibly can boost your business’s eligibility for all kinds of small business loans. But they have some key differences from regular business credit cards that can help you save money on gas and other fleet-related expenses. For example, fleet card programs often offer quantity discounts for a certain amount of fuel purchased each month, which can be valuable for smaller companies and owner-operators. Other benefits include rebates on diesel purchases and car wash discounts. Fleet cards typically capture more robust data on fuel-related purchases at most brand-name stations, such as price per gallon and location. Access to this information helps drivers and companies analyze spending patterns and identify areas of improvement. Some fleet cards are partnered with specific gas station chains and only receive fuel discounts at affiliated locations, while others feature larger universal networks for greater flexibility. It’s worth comparing the options available to find a plan that fits your budget, vehicle routes and reporting needs. If you’re ready to get started with a fleet fuel card, you can apply online for most cards.
Convenience
Businesses that spend much on gas yearly, like shipping and transportation companies or even local services such as plumbers, electricians and roofing companies, are often good candidates for fleet fuel cards. Especially when the card also offers extra expense tracking and reporting. Whether you want detailed reports on each vehicle or driver, a fleet fuel card is the best way to streamline the process. Most cards provide a single invoice for all purchases, making reviewing costs and identifying unnecessary expenses easy.
Some cards also provide additional discounts on other business needs, like tires, retreads, and maintenance. It is a big benefit, especially for smaller businesses that can save significantly by bundling these expenses. A fleet fuel card compatible with GPS can elevate the insights provided by each transaction and give you a deeper understanding of cost trends across your business. It can help you improve your budgeting processes and identify unwanted driver behavior that impacts cost efficiency. It enables you to keep your fleet running smoothly and profitably.
Security
Fleet fuel cards provide superior security for small businesses compared to regular business credit cards. A few features they include that are a plus are: Real-time data collection with a fleet fuel card lets you see where your drivers are spending and what they are doing, which can help you detect internal fraud. It includes a thief inserting a hidden skimmer at the pump or another employee siphoning fuel from a vehicle tank. Fleet fuel cards can also offer features like purchase alerts that will notify you if an unusual pattern of activity occurs on your card. These alerts can help prevent theft or other fraudulent activity by giving you the information you need to act fast. When choosing a fleet fuel card, look for a vendor that offers an easy-to-use interface for both drivers and managers to manage their fuel expense data. A good solution integrates with your TMS to view and access your fuel card data in one place without juggling multiple programs and websites.
Tracking
Whether you’re a small plumbing, electrical or roofing business with two to five trucks and vans, or a full-scale national fleet company that needs thousands of vehicles delivering products nationwide, fleet fuel cards help you control expenses, reduce fraud, and make informed decisions. The best fleet cards collect detailed level III data, including card number, driver, vehicle, gallons, and odometer readings and provide controls that allow businesses to monitor usage closely. For real-time access to comprehensive purchase data, look for a vendor that supplies online reporting capabilities. These reports can reveal inefficiencies or theft and save time reconciling individual receipts. A reputable card provider can also enable regional purchase blocking, so thieves cannot use stolen cards outside your service area. Some fleet cards are partnered with specific gas stations, while others have broad network coverage. Finding one that is accepted where your drivers travel most frequently is important, as it can significantly reduce the time you or your employees spend tracking purchases.