Geotab launches fleet card as diesel prices pressure trucking

Geotab, a telematics company, has introduced a fleet card in response to the rising cost of diesel fuel. This card, developed in partnership with transportation payment firm AtoB, integrates vehicle data with AtoB's payment platform and fuel discount network. The card utilizes location and fuel level information to automatically authorize or decline fuel purchases.

Geotab's analysis of 419,000 diesel fill-ups across 660 U.S. fleets has revealed significant price differences between fueling locations. For a 75-gallon fill-up, a difference of 77 cents per gallon could amount to a $58 discrepancy. For smaller fleets with fewer than 100 vehicles, drivers often choose the cheaper fueling option 17% of the time, potentially saving $24 per fill-up or $4,700 annually per truck.

Steven Berube, Geotab's vice president of sales, stated that with fuel costs on the rise, fleets need practical methods to reduce their expenditures. The card can be controlled via the Geotab Drive app, where drivers can view nearby fueling locations and prices. Ineligible transactions are blocked until the driver unlocks the card at the merchant location.

The card is also equipped with a fraud guarantee of up to $250,000, provided by AtoB, for eligible accounts. Unauthorized fuel purchases could cost a hypothetical 500-vehicle Class 8 fleet with $31.3 million in annual fuel spending approximately $2.19 million, based on Geotab's estimates. The Fleet Card can cover other expenses such as maintenance, tolls, parking, towing, and roadside assistance.