FleetCor and its CEO agree to pay $100 million after FTC findings of hidden fees, unauthorized charges, and misleading fuel-savings claims.
Punjabi Trucking USA | September 18, 2026
Fuel cards are supposed to help trucking companies save money, but a major Federal Trade Commission (FTC) case shows why owner-operators and fleet owners must carefully examine what their fuel cards are actually costing them.
FleetCor Technologies, now known as Corpay, and its CEO, Ronald Clarke, have agreed to pay $100 million to resolve an FTC administrative action over hidden fees, unauthorized charges, and misleading fuel-savings claims.
The FTC originally sued FleetCor in 2019, alleging that the company attracted small-business customers with promises of fuel discounts and favorable fee arrangements, then imposed additional charges that customers had not knowingly authorized.
Federal courts later ruled against FleetCor, finding that the company imposed hidden or unauthorized fees and misrepresented fuel savings and related charges.
According to the FTC, tens of thousands of customers, overwhelmingly small businesses, were harmed by the practices.
A Serious Warning for Trucking Companies
Fuel is one of the largest operating expenses for owner-operators and small fleets. Even a few cents per gallon can significantly affect profitability.
But what good is a fuel discount if unexpected transaction fees, administrative charges, or other costs eat away at those savings?
A fuel card promising a 10-cent-per-gallon discount may sound attractive, but actual savings could be much lower once you include all fees.
Punjabi Trucking USA urges fuel-card users to take these precautions:
- Review every monthly statement for unexpected charges.
- Request a complete written fee schedule before signing up.
- Calculate actual fuel savings after deducting all fees.
- Watch for new charges introduced after the first few billing cycles.
- Compare multiple fuel-card providers before committing.
- Keep records and dispute unauthorized charges in writing.
Could Customers Receive Refunds?
The proposed $100 million settlement is intended to provide financial redress to harmed business customers. Individual refund amounts and eligibility requirements have not yet been announced.
Former and current FleetCor customers should retain their billing records and monitor FTC announcements for updates.
Publisher’s Message
Owner-operators and small trucking companies work too hard to lose their profits through hidden fees and misleading savings promises.
Fuel-card providers should compete through genuine discounts, transparent pricing, and reliable service—not complicated billing practices that make it difficult for customers to understand what they are paying.
Our message to the trucking community is simple: Don’t just look at the advertised fuel discount. Look at your actual savings after every fee.
Your fuel card should help your business save money, not quietly drain your profits.
