When looking for a new fuel card several different factors need to be taken into account when making the choice.

Where can my drivers use the cards?
Having a service station that you can use when you need it is vitally important. It would be counter productive driving longer routes just to use one specific type or brand of service station.

Service station choice is based on location of the site in 55% of cases. Most drivers will only ever use a very small selection of sites. This is the reason why there is so much emphasis on cross acceptance of cards in numerous brands. For example, TOTALCARD can be used at the following service station networks; TOTAL, BP & SHELL. Therefore, when looking at a fuel card you should request mapping analysis to understand the nearest service stations to your locations.

Should I look for management information?
Yes absolutely. Taking on a fuel card should be easy at every step, have easy access to information, and then being able to understand these numbers by running reports is vital - especially in order to measure abnormal usage. Understanding your information is a key factor in areas such as fraud detection and prevention, correcting bad habits that may have been established by drivers or the poor performance of a vehicle. On-line access to your account so you have the full information you require should be a standard offering from any serious fuel card provider.

Are fuel cards secure?
Selecting a fuel card that is PIN verified takes a large step towards ensuring security. PIN authorization in the fuel card sector has become a major feature/benefit in recent years since TOTALCARD first introduced this in 2005. You should also make sure that you have the ability to contact the card provider 24/7 to stop lost or stolen cards.

Understand your fuel card supplier.
Is it easy to order new cards? How long does it take for the cards to arrive? Can I get new cards quickly in an emergency? How do I go about cancelling a card? Can I select what can be bought using the fuel card? When do I get my monthly report? When are the invoices sent out?

Finally, you need to make sure that you are happy with the relationship you have with your fuel card supplier. With the cost of fuel being one of the largest overheads businesses in the UK now face, effective and efficient management of your fuel costs is vital. Dedicated account management professionals that are there to answer your questions when you need them answered is essential.

Click here [1] to find out more about the TOTALCARD