Last Updated January 26, 2026
Fuel prices are the biggest variable expense for any trucking company. To complicate matters, regional cost differences and fluctuating prices at the pump make it difficult for fleets to plan for these expenses. Because of this, many carriers turn to cost-plus fuel cards.
Fuel cards are a helpful tool for managing expenses, especially for larger fleets. Some offer alternative pricing models, like cost-plus, to trim fuel costs.
Cost-plus fuel cards can reduce fuel costs (especially in high-priced areas), but they do introduce more complexity to your routes. Learn how these specialized fuel cards work, their pros and cons, and how they compare to other fuel card pricing models.
Key Takeaways
- Cost-plus fuel cards can lower fuel costs by providing access to wholesale pricing plus a fixed per-gallon fee, offering predictable savings for fleets in high-cost areas.
- Fuel cards improve spending control by limiting where and how drivers refuel, helping optimize routes, monitor usage, and prevent unauthorized purchases.
- Cost-plus cards come with added complexity and administrative requirements, so they are most beneficial for fleets operating in regions with high fuel prices.
What Is a Cost-Plus Fuel Card?
Cost-plus is a special type of fuel card that commercial trucking businesses use. It’s similar to other fuel cards in that it helps you:
- Control fuel and maintenance costs
- Track purchases
- Simplify billing for larger fleets
However, cost-plus fuel cards offer the added perk of access to wholesale fuel pricing. Instead of paying the retail pump price that non-commercial customers see, fleets pay wholesale fuel costs. The card issuer charges the actual cost of the fuel plus taxes, and then adds a small, fixed fee per gallon (the “plus” part). That fee is essentially the trade-off for accessing wholesale pricing.
Even with the added fee, the total price per gallon is often significantly lower than standard pump prices. In most cases, the “plus” fee is under 30 cents per gallon, but the savings add up fast. When you factor in frequent refueling, multiple vehicles, and long-haul routes, shaving even a few cents off every gallon can lead to meaningful savings over time.
Benefits of Cost-Plus Fuel Cards
Cost control is one of the most obvious benefits of fuel cards, but cost-plus cards can take things one step further.
Lower Fuel Costs
Wholesale fuel prices are much lower than pump prices because they don’t include retail margins. Many cost-plus programs also offer consistent pricing across locations within the same fuel network, so drivers aren’t penalized for fueling in “expensive” areas along their routes.
Spending Controls
Like any fuel card, cost-plus cards also give you more control over when, where, and how your drivers refuel. You can restrict purchases to approved fuel networks, limit fueling by location or route, and prevent any unauthorized spending. These controls pair well with broader efforts to improve semi-truck fuel efficiency, like route optimization and tracking driving data. Together, these efforts help you run a more profitable business in the long run.
Access to the Best Available Pricing
Some fuel cards automatically switch between cost-plus and retail-minus pricing models. Instead of locking you into one pricing structure, these cards can dynamically choose the best deal.
Drawbacks of Cost-Plus Fuel Cards
Cost-plus fuel cards come with a lot of benefits, but they do have some drawbacks, such as:
- Complexity: Cost-plus pricing introduces more variables than standard retail fuel cards. Instead of a single posted pump price, you’re tracking wholesale rates, per-gallon fees, taxes, and network pricing. To really maximize savings, someone on your team needs to actively review fuel data.
- Additional rules: From stringent fuel card application requirements to restrictions on where you can get gas, fuel cards come with many rules.
- Minimal ROI: Cost-plus fuel cards may not make financial sense if you live in an area where retail gas prices are already low. You may be able to shave a few cents off per gallon, but these fuel cards are generally a better deal in areas with high gas costs.
The Difference Between Cost-Plus vs. Retail-Minus Fuel Cards
Retail-minus is another fuel card pricing model that helps fleets trim fuel costs. Both cost-plus and retail-minus can optimize fuel costs, but they work differently.
Cost-plus fuel cards offer wholesale pricing, plus fees, making them more stable than retail pricing. These cards also typically deliver the most value in regions with high fuel prices.
Retail-minus charges the posted pump price at the time of purchase. The savings come later in the form of a rebate, which is usually issued weekly or monthly. How much you save depends entirely on the size of that rebate. Retail-minus pricing often works better in areas with lower fuel prices.
| Cost-Plus Fuel Card | Retail-Minus Fuel Card |
| Pay wholesale prices with taxes and a fixed per-gallon fee | Pay retail price and receive a rebate later |
| See savings immediately | Receive savings after a rebate |
| Locked-in, predictable pricing across fuel networks | More variability across fueling locations |
| Requires more administrative complexity | More straightforward pricing with fewer variables to manage |
Ultimately, choosing between cost-plus and retail-minus depends on your business. If you’re in a high-cost area, cost-plus may be the way to go, while retail-minus is better for lower-cost areas.
In-Summary: Cost-Plus Fuel Cards
Cost-plus fuel cards are just one of many tools trucking companies can use to control fuel costs and manage their fleet wisely. While these fuel cards can reduce expenses and stabilize fuel costs, they do come with added complexity. To maximize savings, these cards are a better fit if you primarily drive routes in higher-cost areas. For fleets operating in lower-cost areas, the added complexity may outweigh the perks.
Michael McCareins is the Content Marketing Associate at altLINE, where he is dedicated to creating and managing optimal content for readers. Following a brief career in media relations, Michael has discovered a passion for content marketing through developing unique, informative content to help audiences better understand ideas and topics such as invoice factoring and A/R financing.
