• Issue 127 • April 2018
How to Control Fuel Cost: Fleet Cards vs. Credit Cards
With diesel prices back on the rise, now more than ever fleet managers have to monitor fuel spending. With diesel prices back on the rise, now more than ever fleet managers have to monitor fuel spending. Both proprietary fleet cards and bank-issued credit cards offer fleets the ability to track and set controls on their fuel spending. But the similarities stop there. Fleet cards provide more in-depth transaction data, greater flexibility and tighter purchase controls than their bank card alternatives.
Spending Control: Fleet Cards vs. Credit Cards
One of the most significant advantages fleet cards offer over credit cards is their ability to provide in-depth data on purchases. While bank cards use a one-size-fits-all approach, fleet card companies tailor their services specifically to the fleet's needs.
Major credit card networks offer Level I data – such as Purchase amount, Merchant name, and Purchase Date/Time, but most do not offer Level II or Level III data. A proprietary network means a fleet card can capture valuable Level III data on all transactions. Level III data is captured when a driver swipes the card and is prompted to enter additional information, such as odometer reading, vehicle ID, etc.
Fleet cards also show the product type and description of the purchase, which is not captured by major credit cards. This gives fleets the ultimate in flexibility and control when monitoring purchases.
Extensive Acceptance Network
Fleets need a card with high network acceptance so that drivers don't waste time and fuel driving around to find a station they can use. A fleet card such as the DAT Fuel Card from EFS offers acceptance at over 90% of U.S. retail fueling locations. More importantly, it provides Level III data capture at more than 99.8% of these accepting locations. This covers all of the major fuel retailers, and a majority of the independents.
For most fleets, fleet cards are a more versatile option than bank-issued credit cards and offer advantages to the fleet manager that regular credit card networks can't. Fleet cards can revolutionize reporting processes to better manage fuel costs, making more dollars and sense.
Magazine about trucks, cars, and ground transportation. Published monthly and distributed in the Greater Toronto Area, provinces of Ontario and Manitoba.
- Industry News 2018
• Volvo Trucks to Demonstrate Volvo VNR Electric Models in 2019 and Commercialize in 2020 Volvo Trucks announced on December 11th, 2018 that it will introduce all-electric Volvo VNR regional-haul demonstrators in California next year, operating in distribution, regional-haul and drayage operations. Sales of the VNR Electric in North America will begin in 2020.
• All-new Loadlink Puts it all under One Hood TransCore Link Logistics Closes Loop with New Single-Platform Loadlink Service.
• How to Control Fuel Cost: Fleet Cards vs. Credit Cards. With diesel prices back on the rise, now more than ever fleet managers have to monitor fuel spending.
• Volvo Trucks Celebrates 35 Years of Innovation and Aerodynamic Truck Design in North America This year marks the 35th anniversary of Volvo's introduction of the Integral Sleeper, the first North American conventional truck model to offer a modern, streamlined design and a fully integrated sleeper compartment.
- Selected news 2017
• Mack Trucks Stakes Highway Claim with All-New Mack Anthem™ Mack Trucks introduced its new, next-generation highway hero, the Mack Anthem™, during the Mack Global Dealer Summit in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Mack Anthem is a re-engineered, redesigned and reimagined interpretation of what today′s highway truck should be – aerodynamic, comfortable and connected, all with a distinctively bold Mack look.
• Glasvan Recognized as International Dealer of the Year Sweeps top honours for international Great Dane sales with three out of four award wins
• Glasvan employees earn top recognition by Great Dane in sales category Company Employees Win Awards for Sales Achievements and Superior Customer Experiences
• TIPS AND TRICKS 4-ways to find a great load An owner-operator offers some of his tried-and-true tricks for finding great loads on the load board.
• 2013 HOS Rule Is Gone for Good. The 2013 version of the 34-hour restart rule required drivers to be off-duty for two periods from 1AM to 5AM before they could go back to work, and the restart could only be used once per week.
• Where to Find Loads in the Slow Season February is the slow season for freight, and it may feel like your business is at a crawl right now.
• The Freight Recession is Over. 2017 Outlook: The Freight Recession is Over.
- Selected news 2016
• "Beaver" speaks many languages. DorogaRoad interview with "Beaver" Sales Rep.
• Industry Trends by DAT. Industry News by DAT Truckers Edge.
• Caravan first Canadian fleet to deploy BlackBerry Radar. Caravan Transportation Group is the first fleet to roll out BlackBerry's Radar asset tracking system.