Fuel Cards can help carriers control fuel purchasing and reconcile fleet-related spend. Its value depends on how it connects with drivers, tractors, trailers, dispatch, safety, maintenance, customer commitments, and load economics. Compare the listed details with your needs and confirm current capabilities with providers.
Multi Service Fuel Card, FleetOne EDGE Card, Coast are three product options to compare for Carriers in Fuel Cards. Review their listed details below. A detail that is not listed may still be available, so ask providers about your requirements.
Multi Service Fuel Card
The original diesel fuel card for trucking since 1978 — now a Shell USA subsidiary. 8,900+ truck stop network, One-Time PIN fraud protection, zero transaction and maintenance fees. Profile fit: Owner-operators and small fleets (1-10 trucks) seeking a trucking-specific fuel card with zero fees, flexible credit for new authorities, and 24/7 live US-based customer support; Profile fit: Mid-size and large OTR trucking companies that need negotiated per-location fuel discounts, purchase controls at the driver and vehicle level, and a network covering all major truck stop chains; Profiled strength: Industry pioneer since 1978 — created the first real-time authorization diesel fuel card for trucking, giving Multi Service 45+ years of OTR-exclusive expertise and a reputation as the go-to card for new and growing trucking businesses; Profiled strength: One-Time PIN fraud protection generates a unique time-sensitive code per transaction, rendering skimmed card data completely useless — paired with pre-purchase VIN and hubodometer authorization that stops fraud before it starts.
Details to compare
- feature: 8,900+ Truck Stop Network
- feature: One-Time PIN Fraud Protection
- integration: TA/Petro
- integration: Pilot/Flying J
View full product profileFleetOne EDGE Card
Fuel card for growing fleets with 15¢/gallon savings and zero transaction fees. Profile fit: Small fleets (1-50 trucks); Profile fit: Growing trucking companies; Profiled strength: 15¢/gallon average savings; Profiled strength: Zero transaction fees.
Details to compare
- feature: 15¢/gallon average fuel savings
- feature: Zero transaction fees at 4,000+ locations
- integration: Samsara
- integration: Motive
View full product profileCoast
Fleet fuel card and corporate card with expense management — 3¢–9¢/gal savings at 30,000+ stations, fraud protection, and real-time spend controls. Profile fit: Fleet operators with 5–500 vehicles seeking fuel savings without truck-stop-only network restrictions; Profile fit: Carriers and owner-operators who need a no-personal-guarantee commercial card; Profiled strength: 3¢–9¢ per gallon savings at 30,000+ partner stations including Exxon, 7-Eleven, Casey's, and RaceTrac; Profiled strength: $25,000 fuel fraud guarantee backed by GPS-based transaction protection and custom spend controls.
Details to compare
- feature: Fuel Card
- feature: Corporate Card
- integration: NetSuite
- integration: Telematics Platforms
View full product profile| Listed field | Multi Service Fuel Card | FleetOne EDGE Card | Coast |
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| Features | 8,900+ Truck Stop Network, One-Time PIN Fraud Protection, Pre-Purchase VIN/Hubodometer Authorization, Purchase Controls, Zero Transaction Fees, Zero Maintenance Fees, Secured & Unsecured Credit Options, Mobile App, Real-Time Fuel Price Visibility, CNG/LNG/EV Site Access, 24/7 US-Based Customer Support, IFTA-Friendly Reporting, Driver Card Management, Account Manager Negotiated Discounts | 15¢/gallon average fuel savings, Zero transaction fees at 4,000+ locations, Automated IFTA/IRP reporting, Real-time transaction monitoring, Spending limits and controls, Mobile app for drivers and managers, MoneyCodes for emergency cash, Maintenance and tire discounts, 12,000+ truck stop acceptance, Integrated factoring solutions | Fuel Card, Corporate Card, Expense Management, GPS Fraud Protection, $25K Fraud Guarantee, Driver-Level Spend Controls, Vehicle-Level Spend Controls, Real-Time Alerts, Telematics Integrations, Accounting Integrations, 1% Cash Back on Non-Fuel, No Personal Guarantee, Virtual Cards |
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| Integrations | TA/Petro, Pilot/Flying J, Loves, Maverik, Shell Rotella | Samsara, Motive, Geotab, QuickBooks, Xero, Samsara ELD, Motive ELD, Fleet management APIs | QuickBooks, NetSuite, Telematics Platforms |
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| Subcategories | Trucking Fuel Cards | Trucking Fuel Cards | Universal Fleet Cards, Corporate Cards |
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| Buyer-fit details | Owner-operators and small fleets (1-10 trucks) seeking a trucking-specific fuel card with zero fees, flexible credit for new authorities, and 24/7 live US-based customer support, Mid-size and large OTR trucking companies that need negotiated per-location fuel discounts, purchase controls at the driver and vehicle level, and a network covering all major truck stop chains, Carriers and fleet managers looking to eliminate fuel card fraud using One-Time PIN technology and pre-purchase authorization without restricting where drivers can fuel | Small fleets (1-50 trucks), Growing trucking companies, Owner-operators seeking savings | Fleet operators with 5–500 vehicles seeking fuel savings without truck-stop-only network restrictions, Carriers and owner-operators who need a no-personal-guarantee commercial card, Mixed-use fleets with fuel, field, and office expenses needing one unified card program |
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| Target company sizes | smb, mid-market, enterprise | startup, smb, mid-market | smb, mid-market, enterprise |
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Not seeing a capability here? Ask the provider whether it is available for your needs.
For carriers, the most relevant fit is fleet fuel discounts. Products differ in the depth of these capabilities and how they connect with existing systems.
Fuel Cards for carrier buying guidance
At a glance: Fleet fuel cards are payment programs used to pay for business-vehicle fuel and, depending on issuer and contract, to record or control transactions. Programs differ in acceptance locations, payment network, price calculation, transaction controls, fees, account terms, and reporting. A card's label or advertised discount does not establish acceptance, net cost, tax treatment, or compliance suitability. IFTA's 2026 Procedures Manual requires covered licensees to maintain auditable distance and fuel records; it does not say that any card automatically supplies adequate records. IFTA Procedures Manual (effective January 2026), P510, P530, P540 and P550; Publication 510 (12/2025), Excise Taxes
Fit for carrier (core)
A motor carrier can compare card acceptance and net cost against its regular routes, then test whether transaction records reconcile with fuel and distance accounting. IFTA Procedures Manual (effective January 2026), P510, P530, P540 and P550
Workflow: Map dispatch lanes, fuel stops, vehicle/driver identifiers, receipts, and IFTA reporting responsibilities before enrolling tractors. IFTA Procedures Manual (effective January 2026), P510, P530, P540 and P550
Ask in a demo: Request a route-based location check, sample statement export, and a failed/exception transaction walkthrough. IFTA Procedures Manual (effective January 2026), P510, P530, P540 and P550
Check before choosing: A card report alone is not proof that all applicable IFTA records are adequate. IFTA Procedures Manual (effective January 2026), P510, P530, P540 and P550
Common workflows
- Route and acceptance planning: Map actual vehicle routes, fuel stops, vehicle classes, and hours before comparing card networks. Ask for a current acceptance/location list and determine whether acceptance is direct, through a payment network, or limited by site or transaction rules. A published network count alone does not establish that a card works on a fleet's routes. IFTA Procedures Manual (effective January 2026), P510, P530, P540 and P550
- Net-cost and contract comparison: Use representative, same-date purchases to compare the actual pricing basis, pump-price reference, rebates, transaction and account fees, payment terms, credit conditions, and any minimums. Request a sample statement and a written settlement example; do not treat an advertised discount as a guaranteed saving against another station's price. IFTA Procedures Manual (effective January 2026), P510, P530, P540 and P550
- Controls, reconciliation, and tax records: Test how the program identifies vehicle, driver, date, location, fuel type, quantity, and transaction exceptions, then reconcile exported transactions against source receipts and dispatch/odometer records. For IFTA-covered operations, assess the whole recordkeeping process against the applicable base-jurisdiction requirements; a card report is one record source, not a compliance determination. IFTA Procedures Manual (effective January 2026), P510, P530, P540 and P550; Publication 510 (12/2025), Excise Taxes
Questions to ask providers
- Which locations and fuel types can each vehicle use on its actual routes, and how is the live acceptance list maintained?
- Is price calculated as pump discount, cost-plus, fixed price, or another method, and what dated example shows the net transaction total?
- Which fees, minimums, payment terms, credit checks, deposits, or early-termination conditions apply?
- What transaction controls can the account owner configure by driver, vehicle, product, time, geography, and dollar or quantity limit?
- Can the fleet export original transaction details and exception records in a format that its accountant and tax preparer can reconcile?
- For an IFTA-covered operation, what additional distance, fuel, receipt, and retention records remain necessary outside the card report?
Frequently asked questions
Does a fuel card automatically make IFTA records compliant?
No. IFTA's 2026 Procedures Manual requires complete fuel records and records adequate for audit, along with separate distance records and retention. A card's reports may help, but the fleet must verify that its whole record set meets the applicable jurisdiction's requirements. IFTA Procedures Manual (effective January 2026), P510, P530, P540 and P550
How long must IFTA records be kept?
The 2026 IFTA Procedures Manual section P510 states a four-year retention period following the later of the return due date or filing date, with additional periods for specified circumstances. Confirm the base jurisdiction's current rules and any audit, waiver, or assessment requirements. IFTA Procedures Manual (effective January 2026), P510, P530, P540 and P550
Is a posted per-gallon discount the same as the lowest net price?
No. Compare the offer's stated reference price with the station's actual price at the same time, then include fees, rebates, eligibility limits, and payment terms. Neither IFTA nor IRS fuel-tax guidance verifies a commercial program's savings claim. IFTA Procedures Manual (effective January 2026), P510, P530, P540 and P550; Publication 510 (12/2025), Excise Taxes
What should a small fleet check before issuing driver cards?
Ask the issuer to demonstrate its actual controls, available transaction fields, exception alerts, account permissions, and lost-card process; obtain terms in writing. Program capabilities vary by issuer and plan and are not established by federal tax publications. IFTA Procedures Manual (effective January 2026), P510, P530, P540 and P550
Can one card program cover diesel, gasoline, and off-road fuel purchases?
Acceptance and permitted fuel types are program-specific, while tax treatment depends on fuel use and facts. Verify eligible products and transaction reporting in the issuer agreement and consult IRS Publication 510 and the relevant state or jurisdictional tax authority for applicable fuel-tax rules. Publication 510 (12/2025), Excise Taxes
Does IRS Publication 510 determine whether a fleet should buy a fuel card?
No. Publication 510 describes federal excise-tax topics, including fuel taxes and heavy highway vehicle use tax; it is not a fuel-card comparison or endorsement. Compare current offers against the fleet's own use and accounting needs. Publication 510 (12/2025), Excise Taxes
Sources (2)
- IFTA Procedures Manual (effective January 2026), P510, P530, P540 and P550 — International Fuel Tax Association, Inc.
- Publication 510 (12/2025), Excise Taxes — Internal Revenue Service