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Fuel is the single largest operating expense for most trucking operations, consuming 30-40% of total costs. For an owner-operator burning 18,000 gallons a year at $4.00 per gallon, that is $72,000 annually going straight into the tanks. Even modest per-gallon savings of $0.20-$0.50 translate to $3,600-$9,000 back in your pocket each year. The right fuel card turns that math in your favor without adding another line item to your expenses.
The catch with many fuel cards is that monthly fees, transaction charges, and activation costs quietly erode the savings they promise. A card advertising 15 cents per gallon in discounts loses its edge when $10/month in card fees and $1.50 per swipe eat into every fill-up. For smaller operators running one to five trucks, those fees can represent a meaningful percentage of total savings, making it harder to justify the card in the first place.
No-fee fuel cards solve this problem. By eliminating monthly charges and transaction fees, they ensure that every cent of your per-gallon discount lands in your operating account rather than going back to the card provider. For owner-operators and small fleets watching every dollar, a no-fee card means your fuel savings are actual savings. The six cards below deliver real discounts without charging you for the privilege.
Our Top Picks
Top Pick
TCS Fuel Card
★★★★★4.5
Best overall no-fee card with the highest per-gallon discounts for Midwest and Eastern route operators
Best overall no-fee card with the highest per-gallon discounts for Midwest and Eastern route operators
TCS is a prepaid, cash-secured fuel card with zero activation, monthly, or in-network transaction fees. The card delivers industry-leading discounts averaging 47-57 cents per gallon at 2,300+ premium locations including TA, Petro, AMBEST, Casey's, Kwik Trip, and 7FLEET stations. The prepaid model requires no credit check or personal guarantee, making it accessible to new authorities and credit-challenged operators. TCS has helped carriers save over $1 billion in fuel costs since 2014, and their customer service answers 98% of calls within 30 seconds.
Pros
Industry-leading per-gallon discounts averaging 47-57 cents, with some locations reaching 86 cents per gallon
Genuine zero-fee structure: no activation, monthly, annual, or in-network transaction fees
No credit check or personal guarantee required for the prepaid card
Exceptional customer service with 98% of calls answered within 30 seconds and an 81 NPS score
Cons
Prepaid funding model requires cash on hand before fueling, which demands cash flow discipline
Limited Western US coverage in Montana, Idaho, and Washington compared to Midwest and Eastern routes
$3.00 per-transaction fee applies at out-of-network locations
Best zero-cost fuel discount app for truckers who want savings without another card to manage
Mudflap is not a traditional fuel card. It is a free app that lets you use your existing debit card, credit card, or bank account to access negotiated fuel discounts at 2,800+ truck stops. There are zero monthly fees, zero transaction fees when paying with debit or ACH, and zero contracts to sign. The app uses cost-plus pricing at most locations, delivering savings of up to $1.00 per gallon with Midwest averages around 40-60 cents. Over 515,000 drivers have registered, generating $2 billion in annual payment volume.
Pros
Absolutely zero fees when paying with debit or ACH, so every penny of discount goes to your bottom line
No contracts, no credit checks, and no proprietary card required. Download the app and start saving the same day
Use your existing debit card or bank account instead of managing another fleet card statement
Free truck-safe GPS navigation with fuel discount integration built into the app
Cons
Network does not include Pilot/Flying J or Love's, the two largest truck stop chains
Discount amounts vary significantly by region; Pacific Northwest coverage is sparse
Most transactions require going inside to the cashier rather than paying at the pump
Best near-zero-fee card with universal Mastercard acceptance and the widest truck stop discount network
AtoB offers two card products, and the Unlimited prepaid card carries just $3/card/month with zero transaction fees and the same discount network as their credit product. At 4,200+ truck stops including TA, Petro, Love's, and Speedway, AtoB delivers savings averaging 45 cents per gallon on the Mastercard network with 99% station acceptance. No credit check is required for the prepaid option, and the mobile app provides real-time discount visibility, instant card controls, and automated IFTA reporting.
Pros
Mastercard acceptance at 99% of fuel stations means drivers can fuel anywhere without network restrictions
Discounts at 4,200+ truck stops averaging 45 cents per gallon, with some reaching $2.00 per gallon
Prepaid Unlimited card requires no credit check, making it accessible to new authorities
Consistently high ratings: 4.7 Google Play, 4.7 App Store, 4.6 Trustpilot
Cons
Unlimited prepaid card costs $3/card/month, so not completely fee-free for the prepaid option
Flex credit card costs $15/month for 1-5 cards, with Net 7 payment terms
Late fees on the credit card are steep: 9% of balance with a $99 minimum
Best no-fee option for carriers who also factor invoices and fuel frequently at Pilot/Flying J
RTS Financial offers a zero-fee fuel card with no activation, monthly, transaction, or annual charges. The card delivers average savings of 25 cents per gallon at 3,000+ locations, with a strong Pilot Flying J partnership covering 850+ exclusive discount locations. Two card options are available: a Fleet One credit line for RTS factoring customers (up to $3,200/truck/week with no credit check) and a Self-Funded prepaid card open to anyone. The card integrates seamlessly with RTS factoring services for carriers who use both.
Pros
Genuine zero-fee structure with no activation, monthly, transaction, or annual fees
Pilot Flying J partnership provides discounts at 850+ locations that other no-fee cards miss
Self-Funded prepaid option requires no credit check and is available to non-factoring customers
Seamless integration with RTS factoring creates one dashboard for fuel and invoice management
Cons
BBB customer rating of 1.51/5 with complaints about account termination difficulties
Best value requires using RTS factoring services; standalone card has fewer perks
Average discount of 25 cents/gallon is lower than TCS or Mudflap savings
Best no-fee add-on card for fleets already running the Motive telematics platform
The Motive fuel card itself carries zero fees: no activation, transaction, monthly, or membership charges. It runs on the Mastercard network with acceptance at 35,000+ partner locations and delivers up to 21 cents per gallon in diesel savings at Love's, TA, Petro, Casey's, and 7-Eleven. The catch is that the card requires a Motive platform subscription ($25-$50/vehicle/month), so it is only truly "free" for fleets already paying for Motive ELD, GPS, or dashcam services. For those users, the fuel card adds savings with no incremental cost.
Pros
Zero card fees of any kind: no activation, transaction, monthly, or membership charges
Deep platform integration with Motive ELD, GPS, and IFTA means all fleet data in one dashboard
GPS-verified purchase matching prevents fraud and unauthorized fuel purchases
Savings Finder in the Motive Driver App helps drivers locate cheapest fuel along their route
Cons
Requires Motive platform subscription at $25-$50/vehicle/month, so not standalone
BBB D- rating with documented complaints about contract terms and cancellation difficulty
Maximum discount of 21 cents/gallon is lower than TCS, Mudflap, or AtoB savings
Best low-fee option for long-haul operators who need the widest possible network coverage
WEX Fleet One EDGE charges $2-$4 per card per month but eliminates transaction fees at 4,000+ in-network locations, which can save more than the monthly fee for frequent fuelers. The card accesses the largest truck stop network in the industry at 16,000+ locations with 95% nationwide acceptance, covering Pilot, Love's, TA/Petro, and every major chain. Average savings run 12-15 cents per gallon, with better rates available through NASTC membership or factoring company partnerships. Included perks like 24/7 roadside assistance and the WEX EDGE tire and maintenance savings network add additional value.
Pros
Industry-leading network coverage at 16,000+ truck stops with 95% nationwide acceptance
No transaction fees at 4,000+ in-network locations eliminates per-swipe costs
WEX EDGE savings network includes tire discounts, maintenance, and hotel savings beyond fuel
Automated IFTA reporting with integration into Motive, Samsara, and other TMS platforms
Cons
Monthly card fee of $2-$4 per card, so not truly zero-fee
Pricing structure lacks transparency with contract-based rates that vary by negotiation
Real-world fuel discounts often run 4-14 cents depending on chain, below advertised averages
Yes. Several fuel cards charge zero monthly fees, including TCS Fuel Card, Mudflap, and the RTS Financial fuel card. TCS and RTS operate as prepaid cards with no activation, monthly, or in-network transaction fees. Mudflap works as a free app that lets you use your existing debit card or bank account to access discounts at 2,800+ truck stops. AtoB's Unlimited prepaid card charges just $3/card/month, which is close to zero. The key difference between these options is the discount network and average per-gallon savings, so the best choice depends on where you typically fuel.
How much can a trucker save with a fuel card?
Savings vary by card and fueling habits, but most owner-operators save between $3,000 and $10,000 per year. TCS Fuel Card users report average savings of 47-57 cents per gallon, which translates to $8,500-$10,300 annually on 18,000 gallons. Mudflap users in the Midwest average 40-60 cents per gallon, putting annual savings around $7,200-$10,800. Even lower-discount cards like WEX Fleet One EDGE at 12-15 cents per gallon save $2,160-$2,700 per year on the same volume. The more you plan your fuel stops around in-network locations, the higher your total savings.
What fuel card has the best discounts at truck stops?
For the highest per-gallon discounts at truck stops, TCS Fuel Card leads with documented averages of 47-57 cents per gallon at TA, Petro, AMBEST, and other in-network locations. Mudflap delivers cost-plus pricing with savings up to $1.00 per gallon at select stops, though the network excludes Pilot/Flying J and Love's. AtoB averages 45 cents per gallon across 4,200+ truck stops with the added advantage of Love's discount porting. For carriers who fuel primarily at Pilot/Flying J, the RTS Financial card offers dedicated discounts at 850+ Pilot locations.
Do fuel cards work at all gas stations?
It depends on the card. AtoB runs on the Mastercard network and is accepted at 99% of all fuel stations nationwide, though the premium truck stop discounts only apply at 4,200+ specific locations. The Motive card also uses Mastercard for universal acceptance. WEX EFS covers 16,000+ truck stops with 95% U.S. acceptance. TCS and Mudflap have more limited networks (12,000+ and 2,800+ locations respectively) but deliver deeper discounts where they are accepted. Most no-fee fuel cards work best when you plan stops around in-network locations to maximize savings.
Can I use a fuel card for DEF and maintenance?
Most fuel cards allow DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) purchases at the pump, and some offer specific DEF discounts. TCS Fuel Card provides $0.50 per gallon savings on DEF at 7FLEET locations. AtoB includes DEF and reefer fuel purchases in their discount program. WEX EDGE goes further with tire discounts at 2,200+ Bridgestone locations, AutoZone parts savings, and maintenance vendor discounts through their savings network. For broader non-fuel purchases like maintenance, tires, and truck wash services, check each card's merchant category restrictions, as some operators limit cards to fuel-only purchases for security.
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