Tag Archives: Garmin ELD 2025

Best Fuel Cards for Owner-Operators in 2025: Discounts, Fees, and the Right Choice for Your Business

Introduction

For independent truckers and small fleet owners, controlling fuel costs can make the difference between staying profitable and barely breaking even. Fuel is the single largest operating expense for most trucking businesses, sometimes representing over 40% of total costs. In 2025, the right fuel card is no longer just a convenience; it is a competitive advantage.

Owner-operators today have more options than ever, with fuel cards offering deep discounts, rewards programs, cash-flow management tools, and reporting systems to simplify IFTA tax compliance. But with dozens of programs on the market, from big names like WEX and RTS to newer disruptors like Mudflap, choosing the right card is far from simple. Some cards offer maximum discounts but limited acceptance. Others give universal acceptance but smaller savings. And many hide fees in the fine print.

This article breaks down the best fuel cards for owner-operators in 2025, highlighting real discount averages, network coverage, fee structures, and unique benefits. We will focus on the most popular options—TCS Fuel Card, Mudflap Fuel Card, RTS Fuel Card, and WEX (Fleet One / EFS family)—and explain which type of operator each one fits best.

What to Look for in a Fuel Card

Before diving into the comparison, it’s important to understand what makes a fuel card truly valuable for an owner-operator:

  1. Discounts per gallon: Some cards offer retail-minus pricing (subtracting a flat discount from the posted price), while others use cost-plus pricing (adding a margin to wholesale cost). Cost-plus usually provides bigger savings at major truck stops.
  2. Network coverage: A deep discount is useless if it’s only available at a handful of locations. You need to match the card’s strongest networks to your routes.
  3. Fees and transparency: Many cards advertise “big discounts” but quietly add transaction fees, network fees, or monthly service charges that eat into savings.
  4. Credit vs. prepaid: Some cards require strong business credit, while others are prepaid or tied to factoring programs. Cash-flow flexibility can be just as important as discounts.
  5. Extra features: Rewards, IFTA reports, mobile apps, and fraud protection can all add value.

TCS Fuel Card: Maximum Discounts Without Monthly Fees

One of the most consistently recommended cards for single-truck operators in 2025 is the TCS Fuel Card. The program has built its reputation around one thing: large, transparent discounts.

On average, TCS cardholders save around $0.47 per gallon in Q2 2025 when fueling in-network. These are not inflated “up to” numbers—this is the real average reported across their 2,000+ partner locations. The network is particularly strong at TA, Petro, TA Express, and AMBEST, which makes TCS extremely attractive for drivers who run lanes heavy on those stops.

What makes TCS especially appealing is its fee-free structure. There is no activation fee, no monthly maintenance fee, and no in-network transaction fee. For an owner-operator, that means your savings go directly into your pocket without being eaten away by hidden charges.

The card runs on the EFS/Comdata platform, giving it reliable back-office tools, integration for IFTA reporting, and wide acceptance even beyond the deepest discount stops.

The downside? If you run mostly through Pilot Flying J or Speedway locations, TCS is not as competitive there. The discounts are designed around its TA/Petro partnerships. But if those are along your lanes, it is one of the most powerful tools available to an owner-operator in 2025.

Mudflap Fuel Card: Flexibility and Zero Fees

The Mudflap Fuel Card, launched in 2024 and expanded in 2025, has shaken up the fuel card market. Unlike most cards that punish you with fees when fueling outside their discount network, Mudflap markets itself as the first truly “universal” no-fee trucking fuel card.

Here’s what makes it stand out:

  • Discounts up to $1.00 per gallon at partner stops in their network, which now includes more than 2,700 truck stops such as Speedway, TA, Petro, AMBEST, Casey’s, Kwik Trip, Maverik, and Road Ranger.
  • When you are not at a partner stop, the card still works anywhere Visa is accepted, with at least 2¢ per gallon in rewards. Importantly, there are no out-of-network fees. This is a huge advantage compared to traditional cards that often charge $2–$3 per transaction outside their preferred network.
  • No activation, monthly, or swipe fees. Mudflap makes money from fuel station partnerships, not from charging truckers.
  • In the app, payments made with ACH or debit are free, while using a credit card adds a 1.9% processing fee.

Another benefit is that Mudflap shows you the exact discounted price in its app before you pull in. You lock that price in for 24 hours, avoiding surprises at the pump.

The limitation is that while the partner network is growing quickly, some areas of the country still don’t have strong coverage. Also, the deepest savings are only available at partner stops—if you mostly run routes heavy in Pilot Flying J, RTS may still beat it. But for flexibility, transparency, and freedom from surprise fees, Mudflap is one of the most innovative cards on the market in 2025.

RTS Fuel Card: Strong at Pilot Flying J with Credit Options

RTS Financial, partnered with Pilot Flying J, offers the RTS Fuel Card, which remains popular with small fleets and factoring clients. The card provides average savings of about $0.25 per gallon in 2025. While not as high as TCS, the savings are consistent and cover a broad network.

The main strength of RTS is its deep integration with Pilot Flying J, Speedway, Circle K, and Casey’s. If your routes revolve around Pilot locations, RTS is almost always a better choice than TCS or Mudflap.

Another appeal is the credit line that RTS provides. Owner-operators can qualify for as much as $3,200 per week in fuel credit per truck, making it easier to manage cash flow when factoring loads through RTS.

In terms of fees, the company advertises “no annual fees and no long-term contracts.” However, industry reviews note that some packages may include a $75 setup fee and per-swipe charges of around $0.50. This is where you need to be cautious: RTS sales reps often tailor packages, so you should always request a written breakdown of all fees before signing.

Overall, RTS is the most logical choice for operators who fuel primarily at Pilot Flying J and who also use RTS for factoring. The integration can simplify operations, though the savings are smaller than TCS and the transparency isn’t as strong as Mudflap.

WEX, Fleet One, and EFS: Wide Acceptance but Smaller Savings

WEX is one of the biggest names in the fleet card industry, and its family includes Fleet One EDGE, EFS, and other white-labeled programs. WEX cards are widely accepted, offer robust reporting tools, and can be excellent for fleets that want control over driver purchases.

For an owner-operator, however, the story is more mixed. The typical savings in 2025 are between 3¢ and 15¢ per gallon at discount-network locations. Outside those networks, rebates may drop to just 1–3¢ depending on monthly volume. This is significantly smaller than what you can expect from TCS or Mudflap.

Fees are also a concern. Many WEX cards carry a $40 account setup fee, monthly per-card charges (up to $2 each), and extended-network transaction fees up to $3 when fueling at certain out-of-network truck stops. Some programs even add “program maintenance fees” of a few cents per gallon.

The advantage is acceptance. WEX is virtually everywhere, and its back-office tools for IFTA, spending limits, fraud detection, and driver management are best-in-class. For a single owner-operator, though, the discounts often do not justify the fees. WEX tends to be more appropriate for small to mid-sized fleets with multiple drivers, where control is more important than maximum per-gallon savings.

Other Cards Worth Mentioning

While TCS, Mudflap, RTS, and WEX are the most talked about in 2025, there are other cards that some owner-operators still consider:

  • Comdata Connect: Offers retail-minus or cost-plus pricing with moderate discounts, but usually charges a $50 setup fee and $8 monthly fee. Popular for drivers with weaker credit histories since some versions are pay-as-you-go.
  • NASTC (National Association of Small Trucking Companies): Provides access to a cost-plus program heavily tied to TA/Petro. Historically strong discounts, but requires membership fees, mandatory safety courses, and reports of rising monthly fees in 2024.

These alternatives can be worth considering if they align perfectly with your routes and business setup.

WEX vs RTS vs Mudflap: Which One Fits Best?

Now let’s directly compare the three most commonly debated options: WEX, RTS, and Mudflap.

  • Discounts: RTS averages about $0.25 per gallon, Mudflap can reach $1.00 per gallon at partners, while WEX is usually between 3¢ and 15¢. For pure savings, RTS and Mudflap outperform WEX, with TCS still the king.
  • Network coverage: RTS dominates at Pilot Flying J, Mudflap spreads across 2,700+ stops with Visa acceptance everywhere else, and WEX has nearly universal acceptance but at smaller rebates.
  • Fees: Mudflap positions itself as a no-fee card, RTS may carry setup and swipe fees depending on the package, and WEX is notorious for layered fees that can erode real savings.
  • Best for: RTS suits drivers loyal to Pilot Flying J, Mudflap works best for flexible operators who need nationwide coverage without penalties, and WEX is better for larger fleets needing spending control rather than maximum discounts.

Example Savings Scenario

Let’s put these numbers into perspective. Suppose you burn 2,000 gallons per month.

  • With RTS at $0.25 average savings, you save $500 per month.
  • With TCS at $0.47 average, you save $940 per month.
  • With WEX at 10¢ per gallon, you save only $200 per month.
  • With Mudflap, if your routes align with cost-plus partners averaging 50¢ discounts, you save about $1,000 per month—and sometimes much more.

The difference between $200 and $1,000 per month can add up to over $9,000 per year for a single truck.

Tips for Choosing the Right Fuel Card

  1. Map your lanes first. Look at where you usually fuel. If you’re always near TA/Petro, TCS is unbeatable. If you’re at Pilot Flying J every week, RTS will be stronger.
  2. Beware hidden fees. Always request a complete fee schedule in writing. Some cards that look attractive on the surface can end up costing you more than you save.
  3. Consider cash flow. If you struggle with working capital, cards with weekly credit lines like RTS can help, while prepaid cards like TCS keep you disciplined.
  4. Use multiple cards if necessary. Many owner-operators carry both TCS and Mudflap. That way, you maximize savings at TA/Petro and still have flexible coverage everywhere else without fees.
  5. Don’t ignore reporting tools. Even if discounts are your top priority, features like IFTA reporting can save time and money during tax season.

Conclusion

In 2025, fuel cards have become as important to trucking profitability as freight rates and maintenance schedules. For an owner-operator, the difference between the right and wrong card can be thousands of dollars each year.

  • If you want the biggest average discounts with no fees, TCS Fuel Card remains the gold standard—especially if your routes include TA and Petro.
  • If you value flexibility and transparency above all, Mudflap Fuel Card offers unmatched freedom with zero out-of-network penalties and strong partner discounts.
  • If you are loyal to Pilot Flying J and value credit options, RTS Fuel Card is the clear fit.
  • And if your priority is broad acceptance and corporate-style controls, WEX and its family of cards deliver on coverage, though at smaller savings and higher fees.

The smartest strategy for many independent drivers is a hybrid approach: use TCS or RTS for your primary network and carry Mudflap as a universal backup. That way, you never pay full retail and never get penalized for fueling where the road takes you.

At the end of the day, your truck is your business. Choosing the right fuel card in 2025 isn’t just about shaving cents—it’s about stacking dollars, staying profitable, and keeping control of your cash flow in a competitive freight market.