Breaking Down the Fleet Card Advantage
Fleet cards, also known as fuel cards, are specialized payment instruments designed for businesses to manage fuel and maintenance expenses for their vehicles. Unlike traditional credit cards, fleet cards offer detailed reporting and controls tailored to fleet operations. For instance, the Sunoco Business Fleet Card allows businesses to save up to 6¢ per gallon at over 5,000 Sunoco locations, with no setup, card, or annual fees.
Key benefits of fleet cards include:
Expense Tracking: Fleet cards provide detailed transaction data for every purchase, enabling businesses to know who spends what, where, and when. This level of detail aids in budgeting and identifying spending patterns.
Spending Controls: Businesses can set spending limits by driver or card, control use by location, amount, time/day, and more. Driver PINs at the pump add an extra layer of security.
Administrative Efficiency: Automatic fuel accounting and expense tracking reduce the need to collect employee fuel receipts. Online and mobile account management streamline administrative tasks.
The Power of GPS Integration
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology has become a cornerstone in modern fleet management. GPS devices installed in vehicles transmit real-time data about their location, speed, and other performance metrics. When integrated with fleet cards, GPS offers several advantages:
Real-Time Vehicle Tracking: Managers can monitor the exact location of each vehicle, ensuring that drivers are on their assigned routes and schedules.
Enhanced Driver Performance: By analyzing GPS data, businesses can identify behaviors such as speeding, excessive idling, or unauthorized use, allowing for targeted driver training and policy enforcement.
Operational Efficiency: GPS data helps in route optimization, reducing fuel consumption and wear and tear on vehicles. It also assists in dispatching the nearest vehicle to a job site, improving response times.
Combining Fleet Cards with GPS: A Synergistic Approach
Integrating fleet cards with GPS tracking creates a robust system that offers unparalleled control and insight into fleet operations. This combination allows businesses to:
Verify Fuel Purchases: Cross-referencing fuel card transactions with GPS data ensures that fuel purchases align with vehicle locations, deterring fraudulent activities.
Monitor Fuel Efficiency: By analyzing fuel consumption data alongside GPS-tracked routes, businesses can identify inefficiencies and implement corrective measures.
Streamline Reporting: Integrated systems provide comprehensive reports that combine financial data from fleet cards with operational data from GPS, facilitating informed decision-making.
Sunoco offers premium GPS vehicle tracking as an upgrade for fleet card customers. This integration taps into fuel card data for additional insights, allowing businesses to confirm the time vehicles spend at job sites, know where vehicles are in real time, improve driver safety and performance, and identify speeding, excessive idling, or after-hours use as it happens.
Implementing Fleet Cards and GPS Integration
To effectively implement this integrated approach:
Assess Business Needs: Determine the size of your fleet, typical routes, fuel consumption patterns, and specific challenges faced in operations.
Choose the Right Fleet Card: Select a fleet card that aligns with your fueling locations and offers the desired controls and reporting features. Sunoco provides options like the Sunoco Business Fleet Card for maximum savings and the Sunoco Fleet Universal Card for broader acceptance.
Integrate with GPS Technology: Partner with a GPS provider that offers seamless integration with your chosen fleet card, ensuring compatibility and ease of use.
Train Staff: Educate drivers and administrative personnel on the functionalities and benefits of the integrated system to ensure compliance and maximize utility.
Monitor and Optimize: Regularly review reports and data analytics to identify trends, address issues, and implement strategies for continuous improvement.
