What is the Love's Express Credit Card? Alternatives for business fuel cards

The Love's Express Credit Card is a commercial fuel card designed for trucking and transportation businesses looking for simplified expense management through Love's Travel Stops network. This card provides fuel cash pricing, fleet management tools, and RFID cardless fueling technology.

If you're exploring commercial fuel card alternatives, there are various different fleet programs you can look into. These include business credit cards with advanced spend controls like Ramp that also provide fuel savings, specialized commercial networks such as Comdata and CFN focusing on truck stop coverage, or universal fleet solutions that prioritize geographic flexibility over brand-specific benefits.

Here's what you need to know about Love's Express Credit Cards and alternative commercial fuel solutions to help your business choose the right payment solution for your transportation operations.

What is the Love's Express Credit Card?

The Love's Express Credit Card works as a commercial fuel account that centralizes vehicle expense management while providing access to fuel cash pricing across Love's Travel Stops nationwide network. This card cuts the traditional markup differences between cash and credit fuel pricing to deliver cost savings on every gallon purchased while maintaining credit payment flexibility for cash flow management.

The program focuses on cost reduction through several key features. Businesses get fuel at cash prices regardless of credit payment terms, avoiding the typical 5-10¢ per gallon premium charged for credit card transactions at most fuel locations. The system includes no application fees, transaction charges, or annual account maintenance costs, with cards and RFID tags provided at no charge for qualifying accounts.

Account security works through customizable purchase policies that let fleet administrators set up product limits, restrict fueling networks to specific locations, and put in customized driver prompts for transaction verification. The system supports RFID cardless fueling technology that cuts physical card requirements while providing enhanced security through vehicle-specific identification and automated transaction processing.

Real-time reporting capabilities provide transaction visibility through fully customizable reports based on company requirements. Fleet managers can monitor driver fuel stops 24/7 for security purposes, view available credit balances, and access detailed purchase information organized by driver, vehicle, location, or time period.

Love's network coverage and limitations

Love's Express Credit Card acceptance works exclusively through Love's Travel Stops network, covering over 550 locations strategically positioned along major interstate highways and commercial transportation corridors throughout the United States.

They continue to expand coverage through new location developments, though certain regional areas may have limited accessibility compared to more established markets. The exclusive network approach creates operational limitations for businesses that need fuel access outside Love's coverage areas, requiring backup payment solutions for routes with limited Love's presence. You should verify adequate network density along your typical operational routes before committing to network-restricted programs.

Understanding commercial fuel card networks

Commercial fuel card programs work through different network approaches that significantly impact operational accessibility and cost management for transportation businesses. Understanding these network differences helps businesses pick the best fleet card that aligns with their operational requirements and geographic coverage needs.

Truck stop networks

Truck stop networks focus exclusively on commercial vehicle accommodation through facilities designed for large vehicle access, adequate parking availability, and professional driver amenities. These networks typically offer fewer total locations but make sure every participating site can properly serve commercial vehicle operations with appropriate infrastructure and services.

Universal acceptance networks

Universal acceptance networks maximize geographic coverage through inclusion of retail gas stations, convenience stores, and diverse fuel retailers regardless of commercial vehicle accommodation capabilities. While providing broader location access, these networks often include sites unsuitable for truck operations, creating potential accessibility challenges for larger commercial vehicles.

Brand-specific networks

Brand-specific networks concentrate on single-company locations that maintain consistent pricing policies, service standards, and operational procedures across all participating sites. These networks typically offer enhanced benefits for exclusive usage while limiting operational flexibility for businesses that need diverse fueling options.

Hybrid networks

Hybrid networks combine multiple fuel retail brands and independent operators to provide balanced coverage between geographic accessibility and operational suitability. These programs often negotiate volume pricing across participating merchants while maintaining reasonable commercial vehicle accommodation standards.

So, which network should you choose?

Match the network to how you operate:

• If you run heavy trucks on interstate corridors, favor a truck-stop or hybrid model for access, flow rates, and diesel pricing
• If your vehicles are light-duty and mostly urban or suburban, universal acceptance keeps detours to a minimum
• If your routes already skew toward a single brand and you value predictable on-brand discounts and maintenance perks, a brand-specific program can work well

For mixed fleets or regional coverage where you need both retail convenience and commercial access, pick a hybrid. Try to map your last 60 days of fuel stops and choose the option that covers at least 90% of them with minimal detours, then confirm the net cost after fees and realistic rebates.

Key considerations for choosing the right commercial fuel card

Choosing the right fuel card for your business means looking at your operational patterns, network coverage needs, and administrative requirements specific to transportation businesses. You should analyze your typical route structures against participating station locations to make sure you have practical accessibility during daily operations, particularly focusing on geographic coverage in your primary operating territories.

Here are the main factors to consider when picking commercial fuel cards:

Network infrastructure quality

Network infrastructure quality is a critical factor for commercial operations, as standard gas stations often lack adequate truck parking, diesel fuel availability, or proper turning radius accommodation for large vehicles. Programs focused on truck stops and commercial fueling locations provide operational advantages over universal acceptance networks that include unsuitable retail locations.

Cost structure analysis

Cost structure analysis should look at total program economics including monthly fees, transaction charges, discount rates, and additional service costs. Many programs offer volume-based fee waivers or enhanced benefits based on monthly fuel consumption levels, making accurate volume projections essential for proper cost comparison between different options.

Driver amenities and services

Driver amenities and support services impact operational efficiency through reduced out-of-pocket expenses and improved driver satisfaction. Programs offering shower access, reserved parking, meal options, and maintenance services can provide significant operational value beyond pure fuel cost savings, particularly for long-haul operations that need extended road time.

Fleet size requirements

Fleet size significantly influences program value propositions, as smaller operations often benefit from simplified billing arrangements with minimal administrative overhead, while larger fleets can use volume-based pricing structures and sophisticated management tools to get operational efficiencies.

Top alternative commercial fuel card solutions

Before choosing a fuel card, decide what matters most to your operation: truck-stop infrastructure and negotiated diesel pricing, universal acceptance for mixed routes and light-duty vehicles, or tighter spend controls with cleaner accounting.

We've outlined a few alternative gas card options to help you choose: Ramp for a business credit card with universal Visa acceptance and detailed spend management, Pilot Flying J (Axle Fuel Card) for a truck-stop network with driver amenities, Comdata for commercial corridors, WEX for broad acceptance and program tooling, and CFN for wholesale-style pricing in western markets.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

1. Ramp Business Credit Card

Ramp offers a business credit card that provides fuel savings averaging 5¢ per gallon while delivering flat cashback on most business purchases. The card features universal Visa acceptance, letting businesses fuel anywhere Visa is accepted while maintaining comprehensive transaction tracking including odometer readings and VIN numbers for fleet oversight.

Beyond the card itself, Ramp's spend management platform provides automated receipt processing, real-time policy enforcement, and seamless accounting software integration that gets rid of manual reconciliation work for finance teams. You can restrict cards to fuel-only purchases, get immediate alerts for policy violations, and access detailed reporting organized by driver, vehicle, or operational requirements.

However, Ramp requires $25,000 minimum bank balances and you must pay the full monthly balance as it is a charge card.

2. Pilot Flying J (Axle Fuel Card)

Pilot Flying J operates the Axle Fuel Card through their network of 950 travel centers and One9 Fuel Network partners, delivering discounts averaging 27¢ per gallon at participating locations. The program targets commercial transportation operations with truck-specific infrastructure including diesel lane capacity, reserved parking options, and driver amenities during mandatory rest periods.

The card works with businesses ranging from single-truck operators to large commercial fleets with flexible credit requirements and quick approval processes. However, network coverage remains concentrated along major trucking corridors, and maximum savings may require enrollment in specific pricing programs that may involve volume commitments.

3. Comdata Fleet Cards

Comdata specializes in long-haul trucking operations through their network of 8,000+ truck stops and commercial fueling sites positioned along major transportation routes across North America. The program focuses on volume-based savings reaching 8¢ per gallon at partner locations while providing purchase authorization systems and FleetAdvance analytics for operational visibility.

Comdata serves established trucking companies with consistent high-volume fuel needs through advanced authorization parameters and commercial networks. However, their feature complexity and volume requirements may make the program less suitable as a small business fleet card, and the focus on commercial trucking may not work for mixed fleet types or light-duty vehicle operations.

4. WEX Fleet Cards

WEX operates an extensive fuel network covering approximately 95% of U.S. locations, prioritizing maximum geographic accessibility for unpredictable routing requirements. Their program structure advertises savings potential reaching 15¢ per gallon within preferred merchant partnerships, plus 3¢ per gallon at non-participating sites, though actual benefits vary considerably based on merchant cooperation and program participation levels.

WEX works for businesses that need ultimate routing flexibility and broad merchant acceptance for varied operational requirements. However, savings realization depends on utilizing specific merchant partnerships that may not align with operational routing patterns.

5. CFN Commercial Networks

CFN targets western United States commercial operations through 3,000+ specialized fueling locations designed exclusively for heavy-duty trucks and construction equipment. Their pricing works through either cost-plus arrangements providing wholesale rate access or retail-minus structures offering fixed discount percentages based on operational preferences.

CFN serves construction companies, equipment operators, and specialized hauling businesses that need diesel-focused solutions and equipment-specific fuel products. However, their geographic concentration has coverage gaps outside western regions.

Key takeaways

Love's Express Credit Card provides commercial transportation businesses with focused fuel expense management through a truck stop network designed for commercial vehicle operations. The benefits of using their fuel program depend on whether your operations align with Love's Travel Stops network coverage, which concentrates on major interstate highways and commercial transportation corridors throughout the United States.

If you need maximum geographic flexibility or operate outside primary Love's coverage areas, you may benefit more from business credit cards that focus on simple gas savings like Ramp that integrate broader business oversight capabilities for fuel.

Optimize your fuel management with the Ramp business credit card

Most transportation businesses don't overspend on fuel because they drive more. They overspend because they can't clearly see who bought what, where, and when across their operations. The Ramp business credit card pairs everyday corporate spend management with detailed fleet oversight while providing savings averaging 5¢ per gallon.

Ramp also captures detailed transaction data including odometer readings and VIN numbers while offering flat cashback rewards on all business expenses, not just fuel purchases. Companies benefit from automated receipt processing, real-time policy enforcement, and seamless accounting software integration that gets rid of manual reconciliation work for finance teams.

If your business operates multiple vehicles or spends $1,000+ monthly on fuel, Ramp can provide the control and transparency traditional fuel programs often miss, helping you reduce waste and account for every dollar while earning consistent returns across all business spending categories.

Explore how the Ramp business credit card works as a powerful fleet card and spend management software with universal acceptance, detailed controls, and no personal guarantee.

Information about third-party card providers is based on publicly available sources and may change over time. Details have not been independently verified or endorsed by the providers themselves.