DOCK 01FUEL
Factoring companies with fuel cards: fuel the trip before the load pays
Fuel is the first bill of every load and the biggest one you pay before delivery. Fuel advance factoring puts part of the load's pay in your hands at pickup, and a factor's fuel card can cut what you pay at the pump. Here is how both work, and what to check before you count on them.
MONTHLY INVOICES
Get a quote with fuel optionsWe refer carriers to RTS and may be paid for referrals.
DOCK 02TIMELINE
Fuel advance factoring on one load
EXAMPLE load: $2,400 linehaul, 650 miles. The factor allows a fuel advance at pickup once the rate con is in, then pays the rest of the advance at delivery.
Pickup
+$500
Rate con uploaded; fuel advance sent.
Fuel stop 1
-$240
Fill up on the fuel card.
Fuel stop 2
-$180
Top off before the delivery city.
Delivery
+$1,660
BOL uploaded; advance paid minus the $500 already sent.
Broker pays
+$168
Reserve released, minus the factor's fee.
EXAMPLE amounts: a 90% advance and a 3% fee on $2,400. Fuel advance limits, fees and timing are set by each factor.
What a fuel advance is, and what it is not
A fuel advance is part of a load's pay sent to you before delivery, usually after the factor has the rate confirmation and the broker is approved. It covers fuel for the trip so you are not paying from your own pocket and waiting.
It is not extra money. The fuel advance is subtracted when the factor pays the rest of the advance at delivery. Some factors charge a fee for it; some build it into the factoring rate. And if the load is cancelled after you got the advance, you will need to pay it back.
DOCK 03FUEL CARDS
Fuel cards that work with factoring companies
All five factors we compared offer some fuel program. These are the claims each one makes on its own site (checked October 2026). Savings depend on where and when you fuel.
- RTS
- Says it offers fuel savings at 4,000+ truck stops.
- OTR Solutions
- OTR Fuel Card, advertised with deep discounts for all carriers.
- Apex Capital
- Apex Fuel Card, advertised with an average saving of 49 cents per gallon.
- Bobtail
- Bobtail Mastercard, advertised with savings of up to $3.00 per gallon at 1,000+ locations.
- Triumph
- A discount fuel program for carriers.
SOURCE:RTS, freight factoring page (partner's own claims), OCT 2026;OTR Solutions (own site), OCT 2026;Apex Capital Corp (own site), OCT 2026;Bobtail (own site), OCT 2026;Triumph (TBK Bank, SSB, own site), OCT 2026
Choosing between factoring companies with fuel cards
Do not pick a factor for its fuel card alone. The factoring rate applies to every invoice; the fuel discount only applies to the gallons you buy at the right stations. A card that saves a lot per gallon is worth little if its stations are off your lanes, and a lower factoring rate can be worth more than any card.
Run the numbers on a normal month: your gallons at in-network stations times the realistic discount, against the difference in factoring fees between the quotes. Then add the convenience: a fuel advance at pickup that lands fast, and a card your drivers can use without calling the office.
Fuel advance
Cash early from this load's pay
Solves timing: fuel before the load pays
Fuel card
A discount at the pump
Solves price: less per gallon over time
What to check on a factoring fuel card
- Where the discount applies
- Only at certain chains or truck stops? Check them against your lanes.
- How the discount is figured
- Off the pump price, off a retail-minus price, or as cost-plus. The same cents-off can mean different savings.
- Fees
- Card fees, transaction fees, or fees at out-of-network stations.
- Who pays the bill
- Is fuel paid from your factored invoices, a credit line, or your bank account?
- Driver controls
- For fleets: limits per card, fuel-only purchases and reports per truck.
- What happens if you leave
- Some cards are tied to the factoring contract and stop working when you switch factors.
Plan the fuel before you take the load
A fuel advance helps you pay for fuel. It does not make a low-paying load worth running. Work out the trip's fuel cost first, then judge the rate against it.
Fewer empty miles, less fuel
The cheapest gallon is the one you never burn deadheading. Our dispatchers plan the next load before you deliver.
DOCK 04FAQ
Fuel questions
Q-01What is a fuel advance in trucking?
A fuel advance is part of a load's pay sent to you before delivery, usually once the factor has the rate confirmation and the broker is approved. It covers fuel for the trip. It is deducted from the rest of the advance when you deliver, so it is early access to your own pay, not extra money.
Q-02Do factoring companies offer fuel cards?
Many do. Several large trucking factors advertise fuel cards with discounts at the pump; RTS, our partner, says it offers fuel savings at 4,000+ truck stops. Compare where the discount applies, how it is calculated and what fees come with the card before you choose a factor for it.
Q-03How much of a load can I get as a fuel advance?
Each factor sets its own limit, usually as a share of the load's rate or a dollar cap, and it may depend on the broker and your history with the factor. Ask for the limit, how quickly it is sent after you upload the rate con, and whether it is available for every broker.
Q-04Do fuel advances cost extra?
Sometimes. Some factors charge a flat fee or a percentage for each fuel advance; others include it in the factoring rate. Ask for it on the fee schedule. A fuel card discount can offset an advance fee, but only if you fuel where the discount applies.
Start the next trip with fuel money
Ask RTS about fuel options in your factoring quote.
We refer carriers to RTS and may be paid for referrals. Rates and terms come from the factoring company, not from us.