Whether a fleet manager has a couple of reefers running daily between Ayr and Edinburgh, or ten tankers leaving Aberdeen every hour for all points south, one thing is never far from their thoughts: keeping an eye on the pennies. Running a fleet is not cheap. An outsider might think it strange to worry about the odd pound here and there, when filling the tank can cost over £1,000, but we all know that the general public has some very strange ideas about this industry.
No, I am not about to say that fuel cards are the answer. I expect you to be paying less than pump prices already. Many readers will have more than one fuel card. You already know how saving even a couple of pence per litre mounts up: £2,400 annually for an average 10,000 litres per month user.
In fact, although all readers should have one, a fuel card might not be the answer.
More precisely, no single fuel card can be the right answer for everyone. The trouble with fuel cards is that people think of them as discount cards. Sometimes, this is right: a particular card’s benefits can begin and end with cheaper diesel. Not all cards are the same, however, and one size does not fit all.
Remember our Ayr to Edinburgh reefers? It will be an unusual route if they spend even half of their time on the motorway. So, a fuel card network that focuses on motorway refuelling will not be ideal for them. It could be perfect, though, for those Aberdeen tankers covering 250+ motorway miles by the time they reach Birmingham.
So, look beyond a card’s top-line benefits. A driver needs more than diesel to keep the wheels rolling. What about lubricants and AdBlue, for example? Some cards handle these, some do not. Ask. How about tolls? It might not matter for trips within Scotland, but an HGV driver regularly travelling farther afield could end up with pockets full of toll receipts. Using a fuel card can cut out a lot of administrative headaches, but not all cards cover tolls.
Administrative savings are fundamental. Nobody wants the hassle of dealing with a handful of paper receipts from each driver, when they could have a single weekly invoice that covers the whole fleet.
This becomes even more important when you try to reclaim VAT. Whole books have been written about the European 6th Directive, but it all boils down to a simple reality. If your drivers buy fuel within the EU, you can reclaim the 17.5% VAT — if you have been invoiced directly for it. Choose the right 6th Directive-compliant fuel card and the administration is quick, simple and assured. Otherwise, prepare yourself to battle with bureaucracy, with the very real likelihood of wasting your time and losing your money.
Remember, a fuel card is supposed to save you money and management time. The fuel management headaches will linger, though, if you have problems keeping track of what you are spending. So, look into the service levels on offer. Can you access your up-to-date account details 24/7, via the Internet? If not, consider what that tells you about the provider. Whichever card you pick, you should assume that, sooner or later, you will want to talk to somebody. Find out whether you will be ringing a random anonymous voice in a call centre, or talking to the dedicated account manager who knows all about you. It makes a difference.
Ask about security features, ask about reporting options, ask lots of questions. Pick a card — but don’t pick just any card.
Apply Now to start saving now with an Abbey Fuelcard, simply call our team on 0845 073 0873, or email: sales@abbey-fuelcards.co.uk or apply online