New Authority? No Problem. How OTR Is Changing the Fuel Credit Game for Every Carrier

If you’re a new carrier, you’re quickly learning the list of challenges that come with getting up and running. One of the toughest? Fuel. And for many carriers, the ability to access fuel credit can make or break those early days.

Traditionally, fuel credit has been out of reach for new carriers. Banks and fuel card providers demand credit checks, months of operating history, or upfront deposits. If you’re new, you’re often declined, leaving you to preload cash, juggle cards, or wait until invoices clear before fueling up.

But with the OTR Fuel Card with credit, there’s a new way forward: fuel now, pay later, even for brand new authorities. 

Why Fuel Credit Matters for New Authorities

Fuel isn’t optional. It’s your single biggest expense, and without easy access to credit, growth can get cut short before it even starts.

• Credit score hurdles: Traditional cards require personal or business credit checks. Many carriers don’t qualify.
• Authority age restrictions: Under six months of authority? Most providers say “no thanks.”
• Upfront deposits: Instead of offering credit, some programs force you to preload your own cash.
• Rigid terms & delays: If you do get approved, it’s often through third-party lenders with inflexible terms.

For new carriers trying to get established, these barriers make an already tough job even harder.

What Drivers Really Say About Fuel Cards

On forums like Reddit, truckers are blunt about what frustrates them:

• “Zero fees and massive discounts sound too good to be true.”
• “Most cards only give me 10–16 cents off. Others claim 40–50 cents, but you need to preload or deal with fees.”
• “I lost my discount because I didn’t buy enough fuel at Pilot.”
• “WEX is down again, app says ‘we cannot import your transactions.’”
• “As a single truck, I don’t have the bargaining power fleets get.”

Drivers are tired of empty promises, rigid requirements, and tech headaches.

How the OTR Fuel Card Changes the Game

The OTR Fuel Card with credit is built to eliminate those pain points. Instead of shutting out new carriers, OTR makes credit simple, accessible, and cash flow–friendly.

Here’s how it works:

• No credit checks. Your approval is based on your factoring relationship with OTR, not your FICO.
• Fuel credit before your first load delivers. Get access immediately after approval.
• Weekly billing. Your fuel bill comes once a week, payable directly from factored invoices.
• Cash flow relief. No preloading, no deposits, no waiting for long bank processes.

By factoring your loads and fueling with OTR, qualified carriers can unlock access to fuel credit right away. It’s straightforward, simple, and built to keep your wheels turning.

What Makes OTR Different

Most fuel card providers… OTR’s approach is different:

• Most providers require deposits or preload balances. OTR offers credit to qualified carriers with no preloads.
• Most providers reject new authorities under 6 months. OTR extends credit to both new and established carriers.
• Most providers rely on banks or third-party lenders. OTR funds in-house for faster, more flexible approvals.
• Most providers lock you into rigid terms. OTR keeps it simple: weekly billing aligned with factoring.

Nationwide Benefits, Same Trusted Card

The OTR Fuel Card has always offered savings and support that carriers rely on. Now, with credit added, it’s even stronger:

• Accepted at 2,500+ locations nationwide
• Average savings of $0.50/gal
• Largest savings on maintenance
• Backed by OTR’s industry-leading service team
• With the option of fuel credit for qualified carriers

The Bottom Line

Fuel credit shouldn’t be a barrier to running and growing your business. With OTR Solutions Factoring and the OTR Fuel Card, qualified carriers who both factor and fuel with OTR now have the ability to fuel now, pay later, without the red tape. 

It’s credit made simple, designed for trucking, and available from day one.