Fuel is one of the biggest expenses in trucking, so the card you choose affects what you keep from every load. The application process is usually straightforward, but requirements vary by provider and card type. Preparation up front helps you choose well and avoid delays.
For most carriers, the process has five steps: compare options, check eligibility, gather business information, apply, and activate and fund your card. This guide covers each step, what you need, savings tips, common approval questions, and what the OTR Fuel Card offers carriers.
Key Takeaways:
- Compare cards before applying: Savings, network coverage, fees, and card type matter more than the biggest advertised discount.
- Requirements vary by provider: Some cards require a credit check, but OTR offers prepaid and credit-based options without one.
- Gather business details early: Having company, contact, banking, and authority information on hand helps your application move through review faster.
- Plan for delivery time: The OTR Fuel Card typically arrives in three to five business days, and prepaid cards need funding before you use them.
- In-network stops drive savings: Carriers who plan fuel stops around in-network locations capture more of their card's available discount.
How to apply for a fuel card in 5 steps
To apply for a fuel card, compare providers, check their eligibility requirements, gather your business information, complete the application, and activate your card once it's approved. Each step builds on the last, so a little prep work up front keeps the process moving.
Step 1: Research your options
Not all fuel cards offer the same savings, coverage, fees, or account features. Before you apply, compare several options based on how and where you operate, rather than picking a card for its advertised discount alone. Consider the following factors when comparing fuel cards.
The right fuel card delivers real savings at the stops you actually use, without fees or restrictions that eat into those savings. If you're still weighing card types, discounts, and fuel networks, a closer look at how fuel cards work can help you narrow the field.
Step 2: Check the eligibility requirements
Before you apply, review each provider's eligibility requirements to confirm the card is available to your business. Requirements vary by provider and card type, so don't assume every fuel card uses the same qualifications.
Eligibility may depend on factors such as:
- Business type or operating status
- USDOT or MC authority requirements
- Fleet size or number of trucks
- Monthly fuel usage
- Business credit history
- Prepaid, credit-based, or other funding requirements
Some fuel card programs run a credit check, while others offer options without one. A quick review of these requirements up front helps you narrow your choices and avoid applying for a card that doesn't fit your business.
Step 3: Gather the information needed to apply
To apply for a fuel card, you'll typically need your business information, contact details, banking information, and, for many programs, your USDOT or MC number. Some providers also ask about fleet size or credit history, so the exact list depends on the card you choose.
Requirements differ by program, so confirm the list with your provider before you start. New carriers still sorting out their operating authority can check whether their operation needs an MC number before they apply.
Step 4: Submit your fuel card application
Once you've gathered the required information, complete the provider's application and review every detail before you submit. A mismatched business name, address, or USDOT number can slow approval. The provider may verify some or all of the following before approving your account:
- Business information
- Operating authority
- Banking details
- Credit history, for programs that require it
Not every fuel card requires a credit check. Prepaid and factoring-backed programs often skip that review, which helps new carriers and owner-operators get a fuel card without a credit check. The OTR Fuel Card offers both prepaid and credit-based options, and neither one requires a credit review.
Step 5: Activate and fund your fuel card
After approval, your card arrives by mail, and you'll need to activate it and set up your account before your first fill-up. With OTR, you submit your contact information, verify your business details, upload the required documents, and receive your card within three to five business days.
Before your first fuel stop, take care of a few setup items:
- Fund the account: Prepaid cards need funds loaded before first use, while credit-based options let you fuel first and settle the balance on a weekly billing cycle.
- Add cards and drivers: Carriers running more than one truck can request additional cards for drivers or trucks and manage them from a single account.
- Set spending controls: Per-gallon limits and purchase restrictions keep spending in line before a card ever reaches the pump.
- Set up your mobile app: Your provider's app lets you manage the card, check transactions, and find fuel stops from the road.
OTR fuel credit ties to your factoring relationship, so a new carrier can sign up for factoring and the fuel card together. A fuel card line of credit is a good fit for carriers who want to fuel now and settle up on a weekly schedule.
Tips for maximizing your fuel card savings
Approval is only the first step. How and where you use your card shapes your actual fuel savings and how well you manage day-to-day operating costs.
Plan fuel stops around in-network discounts
The biggest advertised discount usually isn't available at every station that accepts your card. Your strongest discounts and lowest fees come at in-network locations, so those stops deserve priority when you map out a load. A stop a few miles farther can often end up cheaper once the discount applies.
Plan your fuel stops before each trip instead of picking stations by proximity or posted pump price. Fuel Finder in the OTR Mobile App compares real-time diesel prices across stations and shows discounted in-network stops right along your planned route, where OTR Fuel Card savings average $0.50 per gallon.
Track fuel spending and usage
Regular reviews of your fuel purchases show where your fuel budget goes and where you can cut costs. Owner-operators and fleet managers alike should keep an eye on a few core numbers:
- Total fuel spend
- Gallons purchased
- Average price per gallon
- The stations you use most
- Spending by individual driver or truck, where it applies
Use those numbers to make practical decisions, like shifting fuel stops, flagging unusually high spending, improving your budget, and estimating future fuel costs. Fuel feeds straight into your cost per mile, which tells you whether a load actually pays once fuel is counted.
Set spending controls for drivers
Card controls matter most for fleets running multiple drivers and cards, where unauthorized purchases get harder to catch by hand. Available controls vary by provider and can include:
- Purchase limits by card, driver, or truck
- Approved purchase categories, such as fuel only
- Other card restrictions set by the account owner
- Real-time transaction alerts, where the provider offers them
Controls help reduce unauthorized purchases, overspending, and fuel fraud. The OTR Fuel Card uses per-gallon limits, which tie spending controls directly to fuel volume. Pair any limits with regular reviews of transaction activity each week rather than treating them as a set-it-and-forget-it fix.
Consider factoring and fuel together
Fuel costs hit every day, while carriers may wait weeks for brokers or customers to pay their invoices. Factoring turns unpaid invoices into faster access to cash, which helps keep fuel and other operating expenses covered between payments, so a slow-paying broker doesn't leave a truck parked.
Look for factoring and fuel options that work together instead of managing each expense separately. With OTR, that connection looks like this:
- True Non-Recourse Factoring protects carriers when brokers approved to factor with OTR don't pay.
- Truly Instant Funding gives eligible clients access to factoring funds 24/7/365.
- Fuel credit with weekly billing is available to OTR factoring clients.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get a fuel card without a credit check?
Yes. Many prepaid and factoring-backed fuel cards skip the credit check and look at your business information instead. The OTR Fuel Card offers both prepaid and credit-based options, and neither requires a credit check or credit review.
Can a new trucking company get a fuel card?
Yes. New carriers can qualify for many fuel cards, especially programs that don't rely on credit history. With OTR, a new carrier can sign up for factoring and the OTR Fuel Card together and access fuel credit once approved.
Can owner-operators get fuel cards?
Yes. Owner-operators can qualify for both prepaid and credit-based fuel cards. The right choice depends on your cashflow, since prepaid cards need funding before first use, while OTR's credit-based option lets you fuel first and settle up on a weekly billing cycle.
Can you get a fuel card with bad credit?
Yes. Prepaid and factoring-backed fuel cards often don't depend on your credit score, which makes them a practical choice for carriers with bad or limited credit. The OTR Fuel Card doesn't require a credit check for either option.
Do you need a USDOT or MC number to get a fuel card?
It depends on the provider. Many trucking fuel card programs ask for a USDOT number, and some ask for an MC number to verify your operating authority. Confirm what's required with your provider, since requirements vary by program and card type.
How long does it take to get a fuel card?
Timelines vary by provider. With OTR, cards typically arrive within three to five business days after you submit your details and required documents. Since the card comes by mail, plan ahead so you're ready before your next fill-up.
Apply for the OTR Fuel Card
A smooth fuel card application starts with comparing your options, confirming eligibility, and having your business information ready before you apply. Once you're approved, the real savings come from how you use the card on the road.
The OTR Fuel Card delivers average savings of $0.50 per gallon, with discounts up to $2.25 per gallon at select in-network stops. Carriers get $0 in-network transaction fees at 3,000+ in-network locations, acceptance at 8,000+ locations nationwide, and prepaid or credit-based options with no credit check.
Signup for the OTR Fuel Card and start saving at the pump.
