Fuel Cards That Can Be Used Anywhere: Full Guide for Fleet Owners (2026)

Most fleet fuel cards don't work everywhere — and that costs you money. Between out-of-network fees, wasted miles, and missed discounts, a limited card eats into your bottom line fast. Fuel cards that can be used anywhere fix that, but the savings gap between providers is bigger than you'd think.

Key Takeaways

• AtoB leads with 99% acceptance — the highest among universal fuel cards — plus truck stop discounts up to $2.00 per gallon
• Hidden fees can erase your fuel discounts — transaction fees, monthly fees, and out-of-network surcharges often cost more than you save per gallon
• Fraud protection varies dramatically between providers, from $25,000 to $250,000 coverage limits (AtoB offers the industry max)
• The best fleet fuel cards combine broad acceptance with spending controls, expense tracking, and IFTA-ready reporting

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What Are Universal Fuel Cards?

A universal fuel card works at nearly every gas station and truck stop in the country, not just specific branded locations. Unlike Shell-only or ExxonMobil-only cards that limit purchases to their networks, universal fleet cards run on Visa, Mastercard, or proprietary networks like Voyager and WEX that span hundreds of thousands of service stations.

For fleet owners managing drivers across multiple states, this matters. A driver hauling freight from Texas to Montana shouldn't waste fuel hunting for a specific brand when independent truck stops along the route offer better prices.

Universal fuel cards fall into two categories:

Open-loop cards operate on major payment networks (Visa, Mastercard) and are accepted anywhere those networks are accepted. AtoB fuel cards use the Mastercard network, giving drivers access to 99% of fuel stations nationwide.

Proprietary network cards, such as the Voyager Fleet Card or WEX Fleet Card, have their own acceptance networks. The Voyager fleet card reaches 97% of gas stations, while the WEX fleet card covers approximately 95% of locations.

Why Acceptance Rates Matter for Fleet Operations

Every percentage point in acceptance translates to real money for your fleet.

When a driver can't use their fleet fuel card at the nearest station, three things happen:

1. Wasted miles driving to find an accepted location (deadhead miles cost you fuel with zero revenue)
2. Higher prices at major brands versus independent stations that often charge 20-50¢ less per gallon
3. Lost productivity as drivers spend time searching instead of hauling

According to ATRI's 2025 "Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking," fuel accounts for approximately 21% of a trucking company's total operating costs. At $0.48 per mile in fuel expenses on a total of $2.26 per mile, even small inefficiencies compound into significant losses across your fleet.

Top Universal Fleet Cards Compared

1. AtoB Fuel Cards (Best Overall)

AtoB fuel cards run on the Mastercard network with 99% acceptance—the highest among universal fuel cards. The card combines universal coverage with truck stop discounts averaging 45¢ per gallon at 30,000+ partner locations.

Strengths:

• 99% acceptance through the Mastercard network
• Fuel discounts up to $2.00 per gallon at partner truck stops (TA, Petro, Speedway, RaceTrac)
• $250,000 fraud guarantee (industry-leading)
• No personal guarantee required for credit
• Comprehensive card controls with telematics integration
• Reports to all three business credit bureaus

Limitations:

• Monthly fees apply ($3-6 per card, depending on tier)
• Premium features requirean  upgraded plan

See how much your fleet could save with AtoB →

2. Voyager Fleet Card

The Voyager fleet card offers 97% acceptance at over 320,000 gas stations and truck stops nationwide, according to P-Fleet and other authorized partners. It's a solid choice for fleet managers who want broad coverage without transaction fees.

Strengths:

• Zero transaction fees at any location
• Level 3 data capture for detailed expense tracking
• Strong IFTA reporting capabilities
• Works at major brands and independent stations

Limitations:

• Fuel discounts vary by location (not a discount-focused card)
• Less aggressive savings at truck stops compared to trucking-specific cards

3. WEX Fleet Card

The WEX fleet card covers approximately 95% of U.S. gas stations, including Exxon and Mobil stations, Shell stations, and 45,000+ service stations for vehicle maintenance. WEX offers rebates of 3-15¢ per gallon at Savings Network locations and 1-3¢ per gallon elsewhere, though rebates don't apply at major truck stops like Pilot, Loves, and TA.

Strengths:

• Comprehensive spending controls and spending limits
• Strong accounting tools integration
• Maintenance locations included for non-fuel purchases
• Established reputation with larger fleets

Limitations:

• Some users report hidden fees and support issues
• 95% acceptance means 5% of stations won't work—problematic in rural areas
• Monthly fees can add up for small businesses

Quick Comparison

*WEX offers 3-15¢/gal at Savings Network locations, 1-3¢/gal elsewhere. Rebates are not available at major truck stops (Pilot, Loves, TA, Petro, Flying J).

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Essential Features in Fleet Fuel Cards

Spending Controls and Limits

Every fleet fuel card should let you set spending rules by driver and vehicle. Look for:

• Dollar limits per transaction, day, week, or month
• Fuel types restrictions (diesel only, no premium)
• Time restrictions to limit purchases to business hours
• Location controls to flag suspicious transactions outside normal routes

Advanced spend controls prevent both fuel fraud and honest mistakes. When a driver accidentally selects premium instead of diesel, spending limits catch it before the error impacts your fleet expenses.

Expense Tracking and Reporting

Quality fleet cards capture data beyond the total—they track fuel consumption by vehicle, gallons purchased, price per gallon, and location. This data feeds directly into:

• IFTA quarterly reporting (eliminates manual receipt tracking)
• Vehicle efficiency analysis (identify trucks burning more fuel than expected)
• Driver and vehicle performance monitoring
• Spending patterns that reveal optimization opportunities

The best fleet fuel cards integrate with your accounting tools and fleet management software. Manual data entry wastes time and introduces errors.

Fraud Protection and Security Features

Fuel fraud costs the trucking industry millions monthly. The FBI reported a 700% increase in card skimming across all businesses from 2022 to 2023. A Motive survey of over 100 trucking industry leaders found that about half reported fuel fraud, accounting for roughly 5% of their fuel spend.

Look for these security features:

• Real-time alerts for suspicious transactions
• GPS tracking to verify vehicle location matches purchase location
• Tank capacity verification to flag purchases exceeding what the truck can hold
• PIN requirements and driver ID verification
• Fraud guarantee that reimburses unauthorized charges

AtoB's $250,000 fraud guarantee with telematics integration represents the industry's strongest protection. One fleet manager noted: "It's virtually impossible to steal with AtoB" thanks to GPS location verification that blocks transactions when the card and truck aren't in the same place.

Mobile App and Online Portal

Fleet managers need real-time visibility, not month-end surprises. Your online portal should let you track spending across all cards and show:

• Live transaction feed across all cards
• Ability to freeze or limit spending instantly
• Driver and vehicle assignment management
• Downloadable reports for every dollar spent

Drivers benefit from mobile apps that help them track fuel levels, find cost effective stations along their route, track spending against budgets, and see their average savings in real-time.

Hidden Costs That Destroy Your Savings

That "up to 15¢ off per gallon" headline means nothing if hidden fees eat your discount.

Transaction Fees

Some fleet cards charge $1-3 per transaction, especially at out-of-network locations. A driver who refills twice daily generates 40+ transactions per month. At $2 each, that's $80 in fees per truck—often more than the fuel discounts earned.

Monthly Fees and Card Fees

Fees range from $0 to $12 per card monthly. For a 20-truck fleet, that's up to $2,880 annually before purchasing a single gallon.

Smaller trucking businesses get hit hardest. A 5-truck operation paying $7.80 per card needs substantial fuel volume just to break even.

Out-of-Network Surcharges

When drivers refuel outside the preferred network, some cards add a per-gallon surcharge of 10-20¢. This quietly erodes your fuel discounts and often goes unnoticed until quarterly reviews.

The True Cost Test

Before choosing a fleet fuel card, calculate the total cost of ownership:

1. Monthly/annual fees × number of cards
2. Transaction fees × expected transactions
3. Out-of-network fees × percentage of non-network purchases
4. Subtract from projected fuel discounts

If the math doesn't work, the card doesn't work—no matter how impressive the headline discount looks.

AtoB keeps pricing simple: $3/card/month for Basic, $6 for Premium, zero transaction fees at partner locations, and no hidden surcharges. Check your fleet's savings potential →

Fuel Fraud Prevention Strategies

Beyond choosing a card with strong security coverage, fleet managers should:

• Know your tank capacity for each vehicle and set limits so fuel purchases do not exceed the trucks' physical capacity. A 150-gallon tank shouldn't show 200-gallon purchases.
• Watch for spending patterns that indicate fuel theft: fill-ups at unusual hours, purchases far from assigned routes, multiple same-day transactions, and declining payments followed by immediate retries.
• Unless drivers need vehicle maintenance on the road, restrict cards to fuel purchases only. Non-fuel purchases at gas stations create opportunities for abuse and complicate expense tracking.
• Cards that verify GPS location against transaction location catch skimmed card data being used elsewhere. AtoB's telematics integration does this automatically — blocking transactions when the card and truck aren't at the same gps location.

How to Choose the Right Universal Card for Your Fleet

For Small Businesses and Owner-Operators

Prioritize:

• No or low monthly fees
• Universal acceptance (you can't plan routes around card networks)
• Simple pricing without hidden surcharges
• Prepaid options if credit isn't available

AtoB Unlimited offers prepaid universal fuel cards with no credit check required—ideal for new trucking businesses building their credit history. AtoB also reports to all three business credit bureaus, so every on-time payment builds your business credit score. Apply for AtoB Unlimited →

For Larger Fleets

Prioritize:

• Negotiated volume discounts
• Advanced accounting tools integration
• Comprehensive spending controls across all driver and vehicle cards
• Dedicated account management and excellent customer service
• Fleet management software compatibility

AtoB's Premium tier ($6/card/month) includes FuelMap route optimization that saves an additional 21¢ per gallon on average, telematics-based fraud checks, and priority support — built for fleets that need both control and savings at scale.

For Mixed Fleets

Operations running both Class 8 trucks and light vehicles need fleet fuel cards that work at both truck stops and regular gas stations. Universal cards on Visa or Mastercard networks handle both seamlessly, while truck-stop-specific cards leave your service vehicles stranded. AtoB's Mastercard network supports all vehicle classes (1-8) on a single card — one program for your entire fleet.

FAQs

How do universal fuel cards save money?

Universal fleet cards reduce costs through multiple channels beyond the per-gallon discount.

Direct savings: Fuel discounts at partner locations put money back immediately. At 45¢ off per gallon and 1,000 gallons monthly per truck, that's $450 in average savings per vehicle.

Operational savings: Drivers refuel at the nearest station rather than detour. Less wasted fuel, more productive hours.

Administrative savings: Automated expense tracking eliminates manual receipt collection and data entry. IFTA reporting that once took hours happens in clicks.

Fraud prevention: Strong security features stop fuel theft before it happens. That 5% fraud rate disappears with proper controls.

With AtoB, fleets like High Tech Transport have saved $80,000+ in just 8 months, and Sweatman Trucking averages 54¢+ per gallon in savings. See real fleet savings →

What's the difference between fleet cards and business credit cards?

Business credit cards offer cash back on fuel purchases but lack fleet-specific features:

• No spending controls per driver
• No vehicle efficiency tracking
• No IFTA-ready reporting
• No tank capacity verification
• No real-time fleet spending visibility

Fleet cards exist specifically to manage fleet expenses. They capture data that business credit cards can't and provide controls that protect against both fraud and misuse. AtoB's fuel card gives you the universal acceptance of a Mastercard with the spending controls, IFTA reporting, and fraud protection of a purpose-built fleet card.

Can fleet fuel cards help with IFTA reporting?

Yes. Fleet fuel cards automatically track the data IFTA requires:

• Gallons purchased by jurisdiction
• Purchase dates and locations
• Fuel types

Instead of collecting paper receipts for months and manually calculating state-by-state fuel consumption, fleet managers download reports directly from their online portal. Some cards, including AtoB, integrate with TMS systems to automatically generate IFTA filings.

What should fleet managers look for in customer support?

Fuel emergencies don't follow business hours. When a driver's card declines at 2 AM in rural Wyoming, you need:

• 24/7 phone support (not just email)
• Quick card replacement options
• Ability to issue virtual cards instantly for emergencies
• Multilingual support for diverse driver teams

AtoB offers 24/7/365 phone and chat support with response times under 30 seconds, supporting English, Spanish, Hindi, Punjabi, and other languages.

The Bottom Line

Universal fleet cards eliminate the headache of network restrictions while providing the controls and savings your fleet operations need. The right fleet cards combine broad acceptance with meaningful fuel discounts, strong fraud coverage, and tools that simplify fleet management.

For fleets tired of choosing between acceptance and savings, AtoB's 99% Mastercard acceptance with truck stop discounts up to $2.00 per gallon delivers both. Add the industry's strongest $250,000 fraud guarantee, and you've got a fuel card built for how trucking actually works.

Ready to stop planning routes around your fuel card? Apply for AtoB today and see why over 30,000 fleets trust us with their fuel purchases.

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References:

• https://truckingresearch.org/2025/07/an-analysis-of-the-operational-costs-of-trucking-2025-update/
• https://www.truckinginfo.com/10217157/how-trucking-is-fighting-fuel-card-fraud-and-what-you-can-do
• https://www.ccjdigital.com/technology/article/15667329/technology-fuels-the-fight-against-fuel-fraud
• https://www.wexcard.com/fuel-card/wex-fleet-card/
• https://voyager.usbank.com/app/public/merchantLocator.do