What is a fuel card?
A fuel card (or fleet card) is a payment card that allows truckers to purchase gasoline, diesel, and other fuels. In some cases, drivers can use fuel cards for vehicle maintenance and other related expenses.
One of the main benefits of using a fuel card is getting fuel discounts. This is because many fuel card programs offer discounted fuel prices or other rebates for purchasing fuel within a network. When companies require drivers to purchase fuel within a network of fueling locations for a discounted price, it helps fleets reduce fuel costs .
There are three different kinds of fuel cards
- Branded fuel cards. These cards are issued directly by fuel companies.
- Universal fuel cards. These cards are not tied to specific fuel providers and can be used at many different locations.
- Merchant branded cards. Fuel merchants partner with fuel companies to offer branded cards.
How does a trucking fuel card work?
Instead of using cash, a debit card, or a credit card to pay at fueling locations, truck drivers and independent owner-operators can use a fuel card to pay for fuel purchases within their fuel card program’s network of partnered gas stations and truck stops.
You can get your own fuel card or it can be provided to you by the company you work for.
Tip: When you get a fuel card it will include some of the truck stops where you get a discount on your fuel. For better savings is best to have more than 1 fuel card to include all truck stops, so when you look for fuel on your route you have more options and better potential of saving money. More info here
Insurance
What you will be paying for insurance depends on manny factors (driving record, credit score, your setup, your age, location, what you will be hauling and other) thats why I cannot give you even an estimate of what will cost you and no one else can.
Do not accept first quote you get or second, first check progressive online and get an Idea of what to expect and compare with what you get from others, find a few agents, talk to them, compare them, check few options before you get the insurance, get quotes from several companies, the difference can be considerably big, from few hundreds to thousands. Some can give you conditions in order to get a better premium (example: you cant haul antique cars or cars of which value is more than 100 k ) Take your time and do not rush to get the insurance.
I’ve learned the hard way, I payed for insurance thousands more because I didn’t know better and the insurance agent took advantage of me, of course why wouldn’t he.