Research shows that drivers could have frequently purchased fuel at a lower price 54% of the time, according to electronic payment solutions company, Comdata. Further research shows that the average spread of fuel prices within three adjoining zip codes can be as much as 28 cents per gallon. So, how can drivers be encouraged to make smarter fuel decisions?

FleetAdvance from Comdata helps fleets manage fuel purchases with real-time insight. The system allows fleet managers to set fuel price thresholds and purchasing criteria, receive immediate text or e-mail alerts when drivers do not comply with set thresholds, and track fuel purchasing performance and savings via a dedicated portal.

“FleetAdvance demonstrates our commitment to payment innovation in the fleet industry, providing additional value to what is already the most trusted fuel transaction,” said Randy Morgan, executive vice president for Comdata.

A Visual Review of Fuel Purchases

Here’s how the new system works:

1. A driver swipes a Comdata Card at the pump. The exact location of the swipe is identified and compared to other fuel locations within a preset geography.

2. Once the retail price and the fleet’s unique net price are determined, the swipe is scored.

3. If the score is lower than a set threshold, an immediate alert is sent via text message or e-mail. Scores are also stored for additional, future analysis.

Fleet managers can also view fuel purchases fleetwide via the FleetAdvance dashboard. A color-coded system ranks driver performance, providing the ability to monitor specific transactions.

And, a ticker scrolls across the bottom of the screen, similar to those used on sports networks for game scores, which shows total fuel spend and total fuel savings in real-time, along with other key industry data.

“Comdata introduced real-time fuel management to the fleet industry in 1981 and again revolutionized the industry with the one-card solution in 2000,” Morgan said. “With FleetAdvance, we are once again setting a new standard for successful fuel transactions in the transportation industry.”