Fleet managers
Do fuel cards and telematics stop fuel theft?
By The Work Truck Fuel Vault, Sarasota, Florida · Updated October 2026
Short answer
Partly. Fuel cards stop unauthorized purchases at the pump, and telematics can flag sudden fuel-level drops. Neither physically protects fuel already in the tank. Fleets get the best results by pairing card controls and data with a locked fill on every truck.
A layered approach
- 1Fuel cards: driver PINs, product restrictions, and gallon limits.
- 2Telematics: fuel-level alerts and MPG exception reports.
- 3Locked fill: armored door so the tank can’t be siphoned or contaminated.
The gap
Most fleet fuel loss reports focus on the pump. Overnight siphoning at yards and homes is invisible to card programs until the truck is empty.
Related questions
Will a locking door affect telematics fuel sensors?
No. It mounts over the filler area and does not touch the sending unit or wiring.
Learn more
More answers
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