Fuel is the single largest operating expense for most trucking companies. Owner-operators typically spend $50,000 to $70,000 per year on diesel, and small fleets spend multiples of that. Even a modest per-gallon discount adds up to thousands of dollars in savings over the course of a year.
That is where fuel cards come in. The right fuel card program can shave 10 to 50 cents per gallon off your diesel costs, provide detailed reporting for IFTA filing and tax deductions, and give you better control over fuel spending across your operation.
But not all fuel cards are created equal. Some have broad networks, others are limited to specific chains. Some charge monthly fees, others take it out of your discount. Here is a breakdown of the most popular fuel card programs for truckers in 2026 and how to pick the right one.
How Fuel Cards Work
A fuel card is a payment card designed specifically for purchasing diesel and other truck-related expenses at fuel stops. Unlike a regular credit card, fleet fuel cards typically offer negotiated per-gallon discounts, restrict purchases to fuel-related categories, and provide detailed transaction reporting.
Most fuel card programs work on one of two models:
- Negotiated discount cards. The card issuer negotiates volume discounts with fuel stop chains. You get a per-gallon discount (typically 5 to 50 cents) off the posted retail price when you fuel at in-network locations. The bigger the overall network volume, the larger the discount.
- Wholesale pricing cards. Some programs give you access to the wholesale or cost-plus price at the pump rather than a discount off the retail price. This can result in even larger savings, particularly at truck stops where the retail markup is significant.
Most fuel cards also include fraud controls — you can set purchase limits per transaction, restrict which drivers can use which cards, limit purchases to diesel only, and require odometer entry at the pump. These controls help prevent unauthorized purchases and make expense tracking much simpler.
Top Fuel Card Programs for Truckers in 2026
Here are the most widely used fuel card programs in trucking, along with what makes each one stand out.
RTS Fuel Card (by RTS Financial)
The RTS Financial fuel card is one of the most popular options among owner-operators who use their factoring services. It is accepted at over 8,000 truck stops nationwide including Pilot Flying J, Love's, TA, and Petro locations.
- Discounts: Varies by location — typically 10 to 40 cents per gallon at in-network stops
- Network: Major truck stop chains plus many independent locations
- Fees: Generally bundled with RTS factoring services
- Best for: Carriers already using RTS for factoring who want one integrated platform
Pilot Flying J Fleet Card
Pilot Flying J operates the largest network of travel centers in North America with over 750 locations. Their fleet fuel card offers competitive discounts and detailed reporting.
- Discounts: Negotiated per-gallon savings at Pilot and Flying J locations
- Network: 750+ Pilot and Flying J locations nationwide
- Fees: No annual fee for the basic program
- Extras: Shower credits, loyalty points, mobile app for locating cheapest nearby fuel
- Best for: Truckers who frequently fuel at Pilot and Flying J stops
Love's Fleet Card
Love's Travel Stops is the second-largest truck stop chain, with over 600 locations. Their fleet card program offers discounts at all Love's locations and integrates with their My Love Rewards loyalty program.
- Discounts: Per-gallon savings at Love's locations, plus rewards points
- Network: 600+ Love's locations across 42 states
- Fees: No annual fee for the basic card
- Extras: My Love Rewards points redeemable for fuel discounts, showers, and merchandise
- Best for: Truckers whose routes pass through Love's locations regularly
Comdata (now Corpay)
Comdata has been a name in fleet payments for decades. Their fuel card is accepted at virtually every truck stop in the country and many retail fuel stations. Comdata is often the card issued through factoring company fuel advance programs.
- Discounts: Volume-based savings at thousands of locations
- Network: One of the broadest — over 50,000 fuel locations including truck stops and retail stations
- Fees: Transaction fees and monthly fees vary by plan; can add up for low-volume users
- Extras: Maintenance and tire purchase options, integration with fleet management software
- Best for: Fleets that need maximum network coverage and already use Comdata for payroll or settlements
EFS (Electronic Funds Source)
EFS is another major fleet card provider, now owned by WEX. Their card is widely accepted at truck stops and offers competitive pricing for larger fleets.
- Discounts: Volume-tiered per-gallon savings
- Network: Broad acceptance at truck stops and fuel stations nationwide
- Fees: Monthly card fees and transaction fees apply; more cost-effective at higher volumes
- Extras: SmartFuel pricing engine finds the cheapest fuel on your route
- Best for: Mid-size and larger fleets with consistent monthly volume
TCS Fuel Card
TCS (formerly Transport Clearing Solutions) is a well-known factoring company in trucking, and their fuel card is designed for owner-operators and small carriers. The card is accepted at most major truck stop chains.
- Discounts: Competitive per-gallon savings, especially at in-network locations
- Network: Major truck stop chains — Pilot, Flying J, Love's, TA, Petro, and more
- Fees: Bundled with TCS factoring for most users
- Best for: Owner-operators using TCS factoring who want an integrated fuel and factoring setup
Mudflap
Mudflap is a newer entrant that works differently from traditional fuel cards. It is a mobile app that provides instant fuel discounts at over 5,000 truck stops and fuel stations — including independent locations that traditional fleet cards often miss. There is no physical card and no contract.
- Discounts: Average of 15 to 40 cents per gallon depending on location
- Network: 5,000+ locations including many independents
- Fees: No monthly fees, no contracts, no minimum volumes
- Extras: Works alongside any existing fuel card — use whichever offers a better price at each stop
- Best for: Owner-operators who want savings without commitments; great as a complement to a chain-specific card
AtoB
AtoB is another modern fuel card option that offers universal acceptance (works at virtually any fuel station) with per-gallon discounts. It is designed for small fleets and owner-operators who fuel at a mix of truck stops and retail stations.
- Discounts: Varies by location — up to 50 cents per gallon at some stops
- Network: Accepted at over 95 percent of fuel stations in the US
- Fees: No monthly fees on the basic plan
- Extras: Real-time spending controls, IFTA-ready reporting, mobile app
- Best for: Owner-operators who fuel at a mix of locations and want broad acceptance without fees
What to Look for When Choosing a Fuel Card
Not every fuel card will save you money. Here are the factors that matter most:
1. Network Coverage on Your Routes
A card with huge per-gallon discounts is worthless if none of those locations are on your regular routes. Before signing up, map your most common lanes and check which fuel stops you actually use. If you run consistent lanes, a chain-specific card (Pilot or Love's) might save you the most. If you run varied routes, a broader network card like Comdata, AtoB, or the Mudflap app gives you more flexibility.
2. Actual Per-Gallon Savings
Advertised discounts and actual discounts are not always the same. Some cards advertise "up to 50 cents off" but the average discount at most locations is much lower. Ask for the average discount across the network, not just the maximum. Better yet, look up a few specific locations on your regular routes and see what the posted discount is.
3. Fees
Some fuel cards charge monthly maintenance fees, per-transaction fees, or card issuance fees. These fees can eat into your savings quickly, especially if you are a single-truck operator. Compare the total cost — savings minus fees — not just the headline discount.
Common fuel card fees to watch for:
- Monthly card fee: $2 to $15 per card per month
- Transaction fee: $0.50 to $2.00 per fueling transaction
- Out-of-network fee: Some cards charge extra when you fuel outside the primary network
- Card replacement fee: $5 to $25 if you lose or damage a card
4. IFTA and Tax Reporting
Good fuel cards generate detailed reports showing gallons purchased, price per gallon, location (state and jurisdiction), and date for every transaction. This data is exactly what you need for IFTA quarterly reporting and for documenting fuel as a tax deduction. If your current system involves shoeboxes of receipts, a fuel card with automated reporting will save you hours every quarter.
5. Spending Controls
If you have drivers fueling for you, spending controls matter. Look for cards that let you set per-transaction limits, restrict purchases to diesel only, require odometer readings, and limit the number of transactions per day. These controls prevent misuse and keep your fuel spending predictable.
6. Integration with Your Factoring Company
Many freight factoring companies offer their own fuel card programs or integrate with major fuel card providers. Some factoring companies — including CHC Factoring — offer fuel advances that load directly onto a fuel card when you pick up a load, giving you money for diesel before you even deliver. If you are using factoring, ask your factoring company what fuel card options they support.
Fuel Cards vs. Regular Credit Cards
Some owner-operators use a personal or business credit card for fuel to earn cash back or rewards points. This can work, but there are trade-offs:
- Credit cards typically offer 1 to 3 percent cash back on fuel purchases. On a $500 fill-up, that is $5 to $15 in rewards.
- A fuel card offering 20 cents per gallon off on a 200-gallon fill-up saves you $40 — significantly more than credit card rewards.
- Credit cards do not provide IFTA-ready reporting — you still need to track gallons, jurisdiction, and price per gallon separately.
- Credit cards do not offer spending controls for drivers — anyone with the card number can buy anything, anywhere.
For most trucking operations, a dedicated fuel card provides better savings, better reporting, and better security than a general credit card. Some truckers use both — a fuel card for the per-gallon discount and a credit card as backup for locations where the fuel card is not accepted.
How to Stack Fuel Savings
Smart owner-operators do not rely on a single source of fuel savings. Here are strategies for maximizing how much you keep in your pocket:
- Use multiple fuel programs. There is no rule that says you can only have one fuel card. Many truckers carry a chain-specific card (Pilot or Love's) for their best discounts plus a broader card or app (Mudflap or AtoB) for locations where the chain card does not offer the best price.
- Check fuel prices before stopping. Apps like GasBuddy, Mudflap, and the Pilot and Love's apps show current fuel prices at nearby stops. A 10-cent-per-gallon difference on a 200-gallon fill-up is $20. Over a year, checking prices before each stop can save thousands.
- Fuel in cheaper states when possible. Diesel prices vary significantly by state due to different fuel tax rates. If your route takes you through a cheaper state, plan your fueling accordingly. Your IFTA filing reconciles everything at the end of the quarter regardless of where you buy fuel.
- Use fuel advances from your factoring company. If your factoring company offers fuel advances, use them. Getting $300 to $500 loaded onto your fuel card when you pick up a load means you are never paying for fuel out of pocket or putting it on a high-interest credit card.
- Maintain your truck. Proper tire inflation, clean air filters, and regular maintenance can improve fuel efficiency by 5 to 15 percent. That is the equivalent of a perpetual per-gallon discount that never expires.
- Reduce idle time. Idling burns about 0.8 gallons per hour. Eight hours of idling costs you roughly $30 in diesel. An APU (auxiliary power unit) or idle management system pays for itself quickly in fuel savings.
Fuel Cards and Factoring: A Natural Combination
Fuel cards and freight factoring work naturally together. Here is why:
Without factoring, you deliver a load and wait 30 to 60 days to get paid. During that time, you need to fuel up for your next load — and the next one after that. You are either paying out of pocket, putting it on a credit card, or hoping you have enough cash in the bank to cover diesel until the invoice payments come in.
With factoring, you deliver a load and get paid the same day. You can fund your fuel card immediately, take advantage of per-gallon discounts, and never worry about having enough cash for the next fill-up.
At CHC Factoring, we offer fuel advances that put money in your hands when you pick up the load — not after you deliver it. Combined with a good fuel card program, you get maximum savings on every gallon and zero cash flow stress between loads.
The Bottom Line
A good fuel card program is one of the easiest ways to reduce your operating costs as a trucker. The savings are automatic — you fuel up like normal and pay less per gallon. Over the course of a year, those savings compound into thousands of dollars.
The best approach: pick a fuel card (or two) that covers the locations you actually use, check that the fees do not eat into your savings, and combine it with fuel advances from your factoring company so you are never scraping together cash for diesel.
Fuel is a cost you cannot avoid. How much you pay per gallon is something you can control.