OTR Solutions is rolling out a new way for truckers to buy diesel on terms: fuel credit that’s underwritten by the freight they’ve already hauled. The company’s “self-backed” model is embedded in the existing OTR Fuel Card and uses a carrier’s factored receivables—not personal credit scores—to set a line, with approvals issued without hard credit checks and repayment handled via weekly billing or directly from factored invoices. The approach aims to pull new authorities and thin-file operators into the fuel credit market without deposits or bank intermediaries.
Why this matters now: fuel remains a carrier’s largest cash expense, and it’s still expensive. As of the week of September 22, the U.S. on‑highway diesel average ticked up to $3.749 per gallon, with the West Coast near $4.52, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. AAA’s daily reading on September 25 put the national diesel average at $3.689. Shaving even a few days between fuel purchases and settlement can meaningfully ease working‑capital strain for small fleets.
For carriers, the mechanics are straightforward: if you factor with OTR, you’re automatically evaluated for a credit line on the fuel card; once approved, you can fuel immediately—even to pick up a first load—and settle on a weekly cadence or via your factored payouts. Tying underwriting to verified receivables aligns fuel spend with freight cash flow, which can reduce declines and eliminate the need to juggle multiple payment methods at the pump. OTR says it directly funds and approves the credit rather than handing decisions to a third‑party bank.
The competitive angle is subtle but significant. Traditional fuel credit often hinges on time-in-business, FICO thresholds and deposits—barriers that slow the path from authority to first revenue miles. By moving the decision to where the proof-of-work lives (approved invoices), OTR is effectively turning diesel into a net-terms expense synchronized with settlement. For a one‑truck operation burning roughly 1,200 gallons a month, a weekly pay‑later cycle can keep several thousand dollars of working capital in reserve—cash that can be redirected into tires, maintenance or a second truck during peak weeks.
There are trade‑offs. Eligibility is tied to factoring with OTR Solutions—an intentional design choice that lets the company monitor receivables and automate repayment but may not fit carriers who prefer other factors or self‑billing arrangements. Still, for startups and very small fleets squeezed by today’s input costs, lowering the friction to access revolving fuel credit could be the difference between bidding on a load or sitting out a lane.
The move also underscores a broader shift in trucking fintech: embedding financial products where operational data already lives. If fuel credit can be reliably right‑sized to the book of business—and collected at the point of settlement—carriers get simpler cash management and fewer surprises, while providers reduce risk without leaning on consumer credit files. In a market where diesel has hovered in the mid‑$3s nationally this week and remains above $4 in some regions, that kind of alignment is more than a convenience; it’s a resilience strategy.
Sources: FreightWaves, OTR Solutions, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), AAA Gas Prices
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