Every transaction
Gallons, price, date and location. Card reports make this automatic.
Factoring companies with fuel cards and fuel advances
Fuel is the first bill of every trip and the biggest one on many. Factors offer two ways to help: fuel advances, which pay part of a load at pickup, and fuel cards, which lower what you pay at the pump. Here's how each works and what each really saves.
Monthly invoices
See my factoring rateWe refer carriers to a factoring partner and may be paid for referrals.
MILE02WHY FUEL FIRST
Why fuel is the first cash crunch
Every load starts with a fuel bill and ends with a payment a month later. On a long first leg, fuel can be a big share of the trip's cost, paid before you've earned a cent from the load. That's why fuel advances exist, and why many carriers pick a factor partly on its fuel program.
A one-ton diesel hauling a heavy load burns more fuel per mile than it does running light, and a semi on a long haul can spend a large sum before it unloads. Either way, the money goes out first.
MILE03HOW ADVANCES WORK
How a fuel advance works
- 01Accept the load. You approve the load and sign the rate con.
- 02Request the advance. Through the factor's app or phone line, often after pickup.
- 03Factor confirms. The factor checks the load is real, usually with the broker or the signed rate con.
- 04Money arrives. To your account or a fuel card, depending on the factor.
- 05Settled at funding. When the invoice is factored, the advance is subtracted from what you receive.
MILE04COSTS OF ADVANCES
What advances cost
- Advance fees. Some factors charge a flat fee or a percentage for each advance. Others include it.
- Limits. Many cap the advance at a share of the rate; know yours before you rely on it.
- Timing. An advance that arrives after you've already fueled doesn't help. Ask how fast it lands.
- Repeat use. Advances on every load can quietly add up. Use them when you need them.
MILE05FUEL CARD SAVINGS
What a discount is worth
Set your weekly gallons, a per-gallon discount and any card fees. The panel shows what you'd save in a month and a year, if the discount actually applies where you fuel.
EXAMPLE values. Discounts vary by station, network and day; many are only at participating locations.
NET FUEL SAVINGS PER MONTH
$2,598 a year, if the discount holds at the stations on your lanes. A discount you can only get 100 miles off your route isn't a discount.
MILE06CARD TYPES
Fuel card types compared
| Type | Discount | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Factor-linked fuel card | Discounts at participating stations | Network on your lanes; tied to the factor |
| Fuel network card | Network pricing or rebates | Card fees; station coverage |
| Truck stop loyalty program | Points or per-gallon discounts | Only at that chain |
| Business credit card | Cash back, sometimes fuel bonuses | Interest if not paid in full |
We don't rank specific cards here, because discounts change by station and week. Compare cards against the stations you actually use.
MILE07FUEL CARD RULES
Card rules to set up
- Purchase limits. Daily and per-transaction limits per card protect you if one is lost.
- Non-fuel controls. Block or limit non-fuel purchases on drivers' cards.
- PIN and driver IDs. Track which driver used which card, and where.
- Reports. Gallons, price and location per transaction help with IFTA and with spotting waste.
MILE08WHERE CARDS WORK
Make the network match your lanes
The most important question about any fuel card is where it works. A strong discount at a chain you rarely pass is worth less than a small one at the stops on your regular lanes. Before choosing, list where you fueled last month and check those stations against the card's network.
For trip planning, use our trip fuel cost calculator. For the factoring side, see the freight factoring overview.
MILE09FUEL AND IFTA
Fuel records and IFTA
By jurisdiction
IFTA needs fuel bought and miles run in each state. Card reports plus your ELD miles cover most of it.
Receipts for the rest
Fuel bought with cash or another card still needs a receipt.
Quarterly check
Compare card totals against your IFTA filing each quarter so nothing is missed.
Estimate your IFTA with the IFTA fuel tax calculator.
MILE10CUT FUEL COST
Cheaper fuel beyond the card
A discount helps, but the biggest fuel savings usually come from the miles you don't drive. Empty miles burn fuel and earn nothing, so a planned reload close to your drop can save more than any card. Speed matters too: a few miles an hour slower on the interstate often shows up clearly in mpg on a loaded truck.
Track your real loaded mpg for a month, by load. It tells you which lanes and which loads cost the most to run, which is worth knowing before you negotiate the next rate.
MILE11DISPATCH
Plan the fuel with the load
Our dispatch desk plans loads so the first leg and the fuel stops make sense, and you approve every load before it's booked. The rate con comes straight to you, which is what a factor needs for an advance. See how we dispatch or start dispatch.
MILE12FAQ
Fuel advance and card FAQ
Q01Do factoring companies offer fuel cards?
Many do, often free with a factoring account, with discounts at participating stations. The size of the discount and where it applies vary widely, so check the network against the stations on your lanes.
Q02What is a fuel advance in trucking?
Part of a load's rate paid to you at or near pickup, before delivery, so you can fuel for the trip. It's deducted when the invoice is funded. Some factors charge a fee for it.
Q03How much of a load can I get as a fuel advance?
It varies by factor and load, and some limit it to a share of the rate. Ask for the exact limits and fees in writing.
Q04Are fuel advances paid before pickup?
Usually at or after pickup, once there's a signed rate con and often proof the load was picked up. Factors want to know the load is real before advancing money on it.
Q05Do fuel card discounts work everywhere?
No. Most apply at participating stations or chains only, and some only at certain lanes. A discount that's 100 miles off your route doesn't save you anything.
Q06Can I use a fuel card for non-fuel items?
Depends on the card and the controls you set. Many fleet cards can limit or block non-fuel purchases, which helps owners with several drivers.
Q07Is a fuel advance better than a fuel card?
They solve different problems. An advance gives you cash for a trip before the load pays. A card discount lowers what you pay at the pump. Some carriers use both.
Q08Will the advance affect my factoring fee?
The advance is part of the same invoice, so the factoring fee still applies to the invoice. Any separate advance fee is on top. Check the fee schedule.
Q09Do I need factoring to get a fuel card?
No. Fuel network cards are available without factoring. Factor-linked cards are convenient if you already factor, but compare discounts either way.
Q10Do fuel advances cost more than waiting?
Often, yes, if there's a fee. Compare the fee with what waiting would cost you: a missed load, a day sitting, or fuel bought on a credit card at interest. Use advances when they solve a real problem.
Q11Can drivers request fuel advances?
With many factors, yes, if the owner sets it up. Fleets often allow drivers to request advances within limits, with the owner seeing every request in reports.
See my factoring rate
We refer carriers to a factoring partner and may be paid for referrals.