Without fleet discounts, truckers end up overpaying for fuel every single day. Unlike large fleets that get bulk pricing, most smaller operations pay full retail at the pump. That difference could add up to thousands of dollars per year.
Fuel prices keep climbing. As a business owner relying on fuel daily, even a few cents per gallon can add up to thousands a year. It’s easy to feel cornered. You might think there’s no way to control costs unless you’re a massive trucking company with bulk fuel contracts.
But that isn’t the case. Fuel cards for truck drivers level the playing field by providing access to fleet discounts typically reserved for large carriers. Here’s why traditional fuel pricing systems put you at a disadvantage, and how your business can close the gap.
In the trucking industry, bigger companies have the upper hand. They get access to wholesale fuel rates since they purchase fuel in bulk. Meanwhile, single-owner operators often pay full retail at the pump. Those extra cents per gallon, without fleet discounts, stack up quickly and chip away at your operating margins.
To help you better understand the gap, here’s how much trucking companies pay based on fleet size, according to the American Trucking Research Institute.
Small fleets pay significantly more for fuel per mile than larger carriers without realizing it. For example, truckload fleets with fewer than five trucks spend about $0.565 per mile, while fleets with over 1,000 trucks spend only $0.436. That’s $0.129 in missed fuel savings.
For a distance of over 300 miles, each truck incurs an additional fuel expense of $38.70. Multiply that by 240 driving days a year, and the gap grows to $9,288 just from paying more per gallon.
Source: Pexels
Does that mean you need 1,000 trucks to get the lowest rates on fuel, repairs, and maintenance services? There’s a better solution. You can enjoy the same benefits that larger companies get by applying for a fuel card.
Fuel discount providers offer small- to mid-sized carriers substantial discounts on their fuel purchases, eliminating the complexity of volume commitments. They negotiate discounted rates directly with a nationwide network of truck stops and fuel stations. These rates are often based on wholesale or network-preferred pricing rather than the retail pump price.
Here’s how to use your fuel card strategically and further maximize your savings:
The discounts vary per provider, but with Nomad, you can save about $600 monthly on about $4,000 worth of fleet fuel.
Source: Pexels
Start saving on fuel expenses today. You’ll access significant discounts at thousands of stations nationwide with Nomad. We aim to democratize fuel pricing and level the playing field for trucking businesses of all sizes, from large trucking companies to owner-operators.
Speak to a representative today. Let’s discuss how you can use our commercial fuel card to reduce fuel costs and maximize profits.
