How Trucking Fuel Cards Work: Discounts, Fees and Controls Compared
A fuel card discount is only as good as the network you actually fuel in and the fees behind it. How the main card types work and what their published terms say.
A trucking fuel card pays for diesel at truck stops and, at in-network locations, takes a negotiated discount off the price, usually stated in cents per gallon. Issuers such as Comdata, EFS, TCS and the truck stop chains publish different networks, discounts and fees, so the savings depend on where a carrier actually fuels. The card’s transaction data also feeds IFTA records and spending controls.
How do fuel card discounts work?
Fuel card discounts work off the price at the pump, not a fixed fuel price. The issuer has agreements with truck stop chains or individual locations, and a card holder fueling there pays the pump price minus a set amount per gallon, or a cost-plus price, depending on the program. Outside the network, many cards still work but pay the posted price, sometimes with a transaction fee.
Published discounts come with conditions. Common ones are a fleet size cap, a monthly gallon tier, on-time payment of invoices and a time limit after which the issuer can change the rate. A headline average saving is usually a blended figure across many customers and locations, not what one truck will see on every fill.
What do the main fuel cards publish?
These are terms the issuers show on their own websites as of November 2026. They change often, so get the current rate sheet and fee schedule in writing before signing.
| Card | Type | Published network or discount | Published fees and conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comdata (small fleet cards such as Simple Saver, Smart fleet, Total advantage) | Credit, subject to approval | Discounts stated as “up to” cents per gallon at named chains, varying by card; 8,000+ truck stops in the Comdata network | $0 truck stop fee on these cards; advertised discounts not available to fleets over 20 trucks; on-time payment required; discounts may change after 12 months |
| Comdata Max | Fuel card tied to factoring | Higher “up to” discounts at named chains | Requires factoring enrollment and a fleet under 21 trucks |
| TCS Fuel Card | Cash-secured, funded in advance | 2,300+ in-network locations; average saving of 49 cents per gallon on in-network client transactions from Q1 to Q3 2026, per TCS | $0 transaction fees in network when fuel is bought in the same transaction; $0 activation, monthly or annual fees |
| EFS (WEX) and Fleet One cards | Credit | Several cards, including an EFS Fleet Mastercard for wider acceptance | Fees and discounts not published on the main page; quoted by sales |
| Pilot Flying J Axle Fuel Card | Credit, commercial accounts only | Participating Pilot Flying J and One9 locations | Pilot states it is not valid for DEF and not accepted in Canada; gas-only fleets not eligible |
| Love’s fleet cards | Credit | Love’s locations | Terms set in the credit application; Love’s may change terms or require security |
Some factoring companies also offer fuel cards and load fuel advances onto them. How those advances are repaid out of invoices is covered in freight factoring explained.
Which fees should you look for?
The fees that eat into a discount are usually not on the front page. Before signing, ask for a written schedule that covers:
- Out-of-network transaction fees, per fill or per gallon.
- Card, account, monthly or inactivity fees.
- Fees for cash advances, money codes or Comchek-style drafts.
- Late payment fees and finance charges on credit cards, and how quickly a late payment cancels the discount.
- Funding fees on prepaid cards, such as charges for paying by debit card.
- Minimum monthly gallons or a contract term with a cancellation fee.
Then compare the discount against your real fueling pattern. A large discount at a chain you rarely pass is worth less than a smaller one where you fuel twice a week.
How do fuel cards help with IFTA?
A fuel card statement lists each purchase with date, location, gallons and price, which is most of what an IFTA return needs on the fuel side. IFTA auditors expect receipts or equivalent records showing the date, seller, gallons, fuel type, price and the vehicle or unit number, under the record rules published by IFTA, Inc., so set up the card so drivers enter the truck number at the pump.
Many issuers sell reports that total gallons by state for the quarter. They do not replace mileage records by jurisdiction, which still come from the ELD or trip sheets. The full filing process is in our guide to IFTA fuel tax reporting, and state tax differences that affect where to buy are in diesel fuel tax by state.
What fraud controls do fuel cards offer?
Fuel cards let the account owner limit what a driver can buy. Typical controls include:
- product limits, such as diesel and DEF only, or no cash;
- gallon or dollar limits per transaction or per day;
- a driver ID and unit number prompt at the pump;
- location or time limits and real-time alerts on unusual purchases;
- pump shut-off at a set limit on some Mastercard-network cards.
Comdata, for example, notes that some controls and text alerts must be turned on by the customer. A lost or skimmed card can be used until someone shuts it off, so reconcile statements at least weekly. The same issuers run payment codes that drivers use for lumper charges, covered in lumper fees explained.
Bottom line
Several published discounts are reserved for small fleets: Comdata’s advertised rates stop at 20 trucks, and Comdata Max requires fewer than 21. A carrier near that size should ask what happens to its pricing when it adds trucks, and whether a discount tied to a factoring contract ends when the factoring does.
FAQ
Do I need good credit to get a fuel card?
For credit cards such as Comdata’s, yes; issuers state that all products are subject to credit review. Prepaid or cash-secured cards such as TCS’s are funded in advance, so they rely less on credit history.
Can I use a trucking fuel card at any gas station?
Not always. Proprietary cards work only in their network, while cards on the Mastercard network are accepted more widely. Discounts usually apply only at in-network truck stops.
Are fuel card discounts the same at every truck stop?
No. Issuers publish different discounts by chain, and many state them as “up to” amounts that depend on the location, volume and payment history.
Does a fuel card file my IFTA return?
No. The card supplies fuel purchase data, but the carrier still files the quarterly return with its base jurisdiction and needs miles by state.
