An efficient fleet management strategy starts with cost control. By examining costs and where overspending occurs, you can optimize where needed and allocate funds to where it matters most for your business.
When auditing your fleet businesses, you’ll find that fuel expenses are one of the leading causes of increased costs. In fact, the American Automobile Association (AAA) reported that the national average fuel cost is now up to $3.16 as of April 2025. As these prices continue to rise and outside factors impact fuel pricing, fleet managers must examine their internal processes and adopt data-informed fuel-saving tactics and solutions, starting with fuel cards.
While national fuel price increases can’t be avoided or often controlled, you can control ways to maximize resources and manage cost control within your business. MICHELIN Connected Fleet breaks down the benefits of fuel card management and how to find a card that best suits your fleet.
Fuel cards are a form of payment that fleet drivers can use to purchase fuel, including gasoline, diesel and other types. Think of these as credit cards—fleet managers can monitor fuel spending and expenses in real-time and establish spending limits. Many fuel card vendors participate in volume-based pricing, where businesses can benefit from discounts in exchange for brand loyalty. Some vendors even allow you to pay less per gallon if you regularly pay on time.
But the benefits don’t stop there. When integrated with your fleet’s telematics system, fuel cards provide actionable insights that help fleet managers monitor fuel spending patterns and optimize operations. You may often find that your drivers are partaking in fuel-wasting behaviors like speeding, idling or harsh braking, leading to increased fuel card use, driver safety risks and potential vehicle damage. With telematics-enhanced fuel card data, you gain visibility into these behaviors and can proactively address them.
Relying on fuel card data can inform further discussions around proper card use and acceptable driver behavior, as well as help reduce fuel card fraud so you can save on fuel costs and avoid losses from fraudulent activities.
Knowing that fuel cards can help you save on costs is just one piece of the puzzle. Similar to credit cards, many options and vendors are available, making it difficult to narrow down your options and find the right one for your fleet. By identifying your specific business needs, you can better align with fuel card benefits and features. Some cards only allow you to purchase fuel from particular vendors in certain regions, so you’ll need to consider your operating territory and which vendors are located near your drivers’ routes. If this option doesn’t work for your business, consider investing in a universal fuel card for more accessibility.
Once you’ve identified the right card, work with your fleet technology provider on integrating the card with your fleet management system to begin tracking card use, monitoring fuel spend and saving on costs.
Managing fuel costs doesn’t need to be reactive. With the right tools and data in place, you can take back control. Adding fuel cards to your arsenal not only presents opportunities for discounts and cost savings but also ways to monitor driver behavior and vehicle condition—driving a safer, more efficient and cost-effective fleet operation. From providing a consultative approach and analyzing your specific needs, MICHELIN Connected Fleet can help you identify and choose the right fuel card for your business. Kick off your fuel-saving efforts today by implementing fuel cards into your fleet management strategy.
Kick off your fuel-saving efforts today by implementing fuel cards into your fleet management strategy. Ready to see how smarter fuel card management can support a more efficient fleet? Contact us today to discover how MICHELIN Connected Fleet can help reduce your operating costs and boost productivity with a customized, data-driven strategy.