What is the difference between retail-minus and cost-plus fuel card pricing?

Retail-minus gives you a discount off the posted pump price at network locations — for example, $0.30 off the Pilot Flying J rack price. Cost-plus gives you access to a benchmark wholesale cost plus a markup — for example, OPIS cost plus $0.05. Which structure produces more savings depends on what diesel retail prices are doing relative to the wholesale benchmark in a given week. When retail-wholesale spread is wide (retail is expensive relative to wholesale), cost-plus often wins. When the spread is narrow, retail-minus can be competitive. Ask prospective issuers which model they use and what the average discount has been over the last 12 months.

Do fuel cards help with IFTA filing?

Yes, for carriers who fuel at network locations, fuel card statements can provide state-by-state fuel purchase data that simplifies quarterly IFTA reporting. Instead of manually sorting paper receipts by jurisdiction, the card statement shows how many gallons were purchased in each state during the quarter. Not all fuel cards provide IFTA-formatted reports — verify with the issuer before selecting a card primarily for this benefit.

Can I use a fuel card at any truck stop?

No — fuel card discounts apply only at locations within the card's accepted network. Using the card at an out-of-network location may result in no discount, a higher transaction rate, or the card not being accepted at all. Before signing up for a fuel card, confirm that your primary fueling locations are in the card's network. Cards with large networks (covering Loves, Pilot Flying J, TA, Petro, and independent locations) offer more flexibility than single-network cards.

What should I watch out for with fuel card fees?

Common fees that reduce net savings include monthly account maintenance fees, per-transaction fees at certain locations or fuel card terminals, out-of-network fees, and cash advance or check fees if the card offers cash advances. Some cards also charge a fee for accounts with low monthly volume. Calculate the total monthly fee load against your actual monthly fuel volume to verify the net savings — a card with a large posted discount and multiple fees may deliver less than a card with a smaller discount and no fees.

Guide

Fuel card strategy for owner-operators

Fuel is typically the largest variable expense for an owner-operator, and a well-chosen fuel card can reduce that cost by $0.10 to $0.40 or more per gallon at network locations. Choosing the wrong card — or not using the right card correctly — leaves real money at the pump every week.

How commercial fuel cards work

A commercial fuel card is a payment account designed for diesel purchasing at truck stops and fuel networks. Unlike a personal credit card, a fuel card is built specifically for fleet fuel: it offers negotiated per-gallon discounts at partner locations, controls on what can be purchased, itemized statements by vehicle or driver, and in many cases state-by-state purchase data for IFTA reporting.

Fuel cards are accepted at the pump using a card or a PIN, and the discount appears either as a reduced price at the pump or as a rebate on the statement. The specific mechanics depend on the card network and the location.

Retail-minus vs. cost-plus pricing

These are the two fundamental pricing structures for commercial fuel cards, and understanding the difference is the starting point for comparing any fuel card offer.

Retail-minus

Retail-minus starts from the posted pump price at a network location and subtracts a fixed discount. If the posted price is $3.85 and the card offers $0.30/gallon retail-minus, the carrier pays $3.55. The absolute savings in dollars per gallon depends on what the retail price is — the percentage saved varies with the market.

Cost-plus

Cost-plus starts from a benchmark wholesale or network cost — often the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) wholesale index for the region — and adds a markup. If the OPIS cost is $3.40 and the card charges OPIS plus $0.08, the carrier pays $3.48. When the retail price is $3.85, the carrier saves $0.37 per gallon. When the retail-wholesale spread narrows (retail drops to $3.60 while OPIS is $3.38), the cost-plus price of $3.46 looks less competitive against a retail-minus card at $3.85 − $0.30 = $3.55 — but cost-plus still wins here too. The spread changes weekly.

Which is better?

Neither structure is always better — it depends on the current market spread and your specific network. Carriers who primarily fuel at a single large network (such as Pilot Flying J) often find that a dedicated card for that network produces better savings than a multi-network card with smaller per-gallon discounts. Carriers who run diverse routes and fuel at multiple networks may find a broader card with consistent cost-plus pricing more practical.

Matching the card to your lanes

Fuel card discounts only apply at network locations. Before evaluating any card, map where you actually fuel:

Which truck stop chains do you use most often — Loves, Pilot Flying J, TA/Petro, Flying J?
Do you often fuel at off-network or independent locations?
Are your lanes concentrated in specific regions, or spread nationally?

A card with excellent savings at Loves but no coverage at TA/Petro is worthless on weeks when your routes take you away from Loves locations. Network coverage maps are available from card issuers — verify your typical fueling stops against the map before committing.

Calculating actual monthly savings

The right way to compare fuel cards is by net monthly savings, not advertised discount. Steps:

Calculate your average monthly fuel spend: total gallons × current diesel price
Apply the card's average per-gallon discount to get gross savings
Subtract all monthly fees: account fee, transaction fees, out-of-network fees
Result is net monthly savings from the card

Example: 450 gallons/month, card offers $0.22/gallon average discount = $99/month gross savings. Monthly account fee: $12. Transaction fee at some locations: $0.50 × 20 fills = $10. Net monthly savings: $99 − $12 − $10 = $77/month, or $924/year.

Run this calculation for each card you are comparing using your actual numbers, not average truck fleet numbers from the card issuer's marketing materials.

IFTA reporting and fuel cards

For carriers who file IFTA quarterly, fuel cards that provide state-by-state purchase reports offer a secondary benefit beyond the discount. IFTA requires reporting fuel purchased and miles driven in each jurisdiction. A fuel card statement that shows 120 gallons purchased in Texas, 85 gallons in Oklahoma, and 60 gallons in Kansas eliminates the manual work of sorting receipts and entering fuel data by jurisdiction.

Not all fuel cards provide IFTA-formatted reports. If IFTA reporting is a priority, confirm:

Does the card provide state-by-state purchase data, or only a summary?
Is the report downloadable in a format compatible with your IFTA filing software?
Are all network locations coded by state accurately?

Cards that do not provide IFTA-formatted data still allow IFTA filing — you will need to track receipts manually or export transaction data and sort it by state yourself.

Common fuel card mistakes

Choosing the largest advertised discount without checking network coverage: A $0.50/gallon discount at 20 locations near Chicago is worthless when you are running Texas to Georgia all month.
Ignoring fees: Monthly fees, transaction fees, and out-of-network fees significantly reduce net savings. Always calculate the full fee load before comparing cards.
Not using the card consistently: A fuel card with a $0.25/gallon discount only saves money on gallons purchased through the card. Buying fuel with a credit card or cash at non-network locations eliminates those savings.
Signing a long-term contract without reading termination terms: Some commercial fuel programs include early termination fees or minimum volume commitments. Read the agreement before signing.
Not comparing cards periodically: Fuel card pricing and network agreements change. A card that was the best option two years ago may not be today. Review your options annually.

Common questions about fuel cards

What is the difference between retail-minus and cost-plus fuel card pricing?: Retail-minus gives a discount off the posted pump price; cost-plus gives access to a wholesale benchmark plus a markup. Which saves more depends on the current spread between retail and wholesale diesel prices in your fueling regions. Ask prospective issuers which model they use and what the average effective price has been over the last 12 months at your typical fueling locations.
Do fuel cards help with IFTA filing?: Yes, if the card provides state-by-state fuel purchase reports. Many commercial fuel cards generate statements showing gallons purchased in each jurisdiction, which simplifies quarterly IFTA reporting. Not all cards offer this — verify the report format before selecting a card for this purpose.
Can I use a fuel card at any truck stop?: No — discounts apply only at in-network locations. Using the card at an out-of-network location typically produces no discount and may incur an out-of-network fee. Always verify that your primary fueling locations are covered before selecting a card.
What fees should I watch out for?: Common fees that reduce net savings include monthly account maintenance fees, per-transaction fees at certain terminals, out-of-network surcharges, and cash advance fees. Calculate total monthly fees against your actual fuel volume before comparing cards — a large posted discount with multiple fees may net less than a smaller discount with no fees at your lanes.