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In the era of high diesel prices, trucking executives can no longer treat fuel as a passive expense. Managing fuel spend should be viewed as a controllable business process, and fleet executives need to shift from simply purchasing to fuel management.
That's according to Tim Hampton, senior vice president and general manager, fleet at WEX, a payment solutions company that provides fleets with data tools to manage fuel costs.
Hampton shares his advice on how to change the mindset around costs and how to use fuel data as a business advantage, even for small motor carriers with a low margin for error.
—Interview by Shefali Kapadia, edited by Bianca Prieto
What are you seeing right now in terms of how the trucking industry is coping with high diesel prices? Is the panic starting to level off?
Fuel prices are still putting major pressure on trucking businesses, especially independent owner-operators and small fleets, where fuel is one of the largest operating expenses. However, spot rates have risen considerably since the start of the year, which is helping some carriers absorb higher fuel costs by improving revenue per mile. As a result, the continued focus is on tighter cost control and operational discipline.
Fleets and drivers recognize this isn’t a short-term disruption. Fuel volatility has become an ongoing business challenge, increasing demand for fuel savings tools, fuel cards and better data visibility. We’ve seen that firsthand. For instance, in March, new signups for the 10-4 by WEX app rose 317% compared to February. Fleets are actively looking for ways to save money trip by trip.
The industry is also shifting from viewing fuel cards as simple payment tools to using them as strategic tools that create more accountability and predictability around fuel spending.
How is technology helpful for trucking companies right now when navigating high diesel prices?
The broader shift we’re seeing is from fuel purchasing to fuel management. Technology is becoming essential because fleets and operators can’t afford to treat fuel as a passive expense anymore. The companies and drivers managing this environment best are using technology to actively control fuel spend, improve visibility and guide driver behavior more proactively.
Fraud prevention is another critical area. Fuel fraud remains a real risk, especially in a tight market.
Do you think small carriers are at a greater disadvantage than large trucking companies when it comes to absorbing higher costs from fuel?
Independent owner-operators and small carriers definitely face more pressure because they typically have less purchasing power and less margin for error than larger fleets. They typically don’t get the benefits of fuel surcharges, which puts them at a disadvantage. A spike in diesel prices can impact cash flow very quickly.
That said, the gap today is increasingly about access to tools and processes rather than just size. Larger fleets have traditionally benefited from negotiated pricing, standardized fueling strategies and dedicated fuel management resources. But technology is helping smaller operators become much more competitive.
What's your number one piece of advice to small business trucking executives to stay afloat while diesel prices are high?
My biggest piece of advice is to treat fuel as a controllable business process, not just an unavoidable expense. Every gallon matters in 2026, and the fleets performing best are the ones actively managing fuel spend every day.
That starts with understanding where fuel dollars are going and building consistent fueling practices. Use tools that help track spending, identify savings opportunities and enforce fueling policies consistently. Fuel cards today offer much more than payment processing. They provide purchase controls and monitoring tools, reporting, fraud protection and access to discounts that can meaningfully improve margins.
The importance of a card program on a closed-loop network cannot be overstated. Introducing an open-loop network exposes a fleet to unauthorized purchases not related to fuel or truck maintenance. The lack of product-level controls to dictate diesel-only transactions exposes a significant internal fraud risk.
Ultimately, success comes from having a more disciplined approach to fuel spend that includes using discounts, regularly reviewing fuel data and making informed decisions to improve efficiency over time.
(Photo credit Tim Hampton)
The Inside Lane’s Take
Small carriers have always had less margin for error on fuel than the big fleets. What's changed is that the tools to close that gap—real-time price visibility, purchase controls and fraud protection—are no longer out of reach. The question isn't whether you can afford to manage fuel more actively. At these prices, you can't afford not to.
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The Inside Lane is curated and written by Shefali Kapadia and edited by Bianca Prieto.
