OTR Solutions is shifting the playbook on fuel finance. The company on Sept. 25 rolled out a credit-backed version of its OTR Fuel Card that bases eligibility on a carrier’s factoring relationship rather than a traditional credit score — a design aimed squarely at brand‑new authorities and small fleets that struggle to secure fuel lines when they need them most.
Here’s what changes: carriers that factor with OTR are automatically considered for a credit line, with no hard credit checks or multi‑day underwriting. Once approved, they can “fuel now, pay later,” settling weekly or by routing repayment through factored invoices. The program also removes the upfront deposits that have historically kept newer entrants on the sidelines. In short, OTR is underwriting against freight receivables it already services, not against thin or non‑existent consumer credit files.
Why it matters: fuel is the largest variable cost in trucking, and it comes due days or weeks before brokers pay. That timing mismatch forces many small carriers into expensive workarounds or rationed miles. By tethering credit to receivables already flowing through its factoring platform, OTR is trying to smooth that cash‑flow valley without adding new gatekeepers. For a one‑truck operator picking up a first load, being able to fuel on approval — rather than waiting for a bank’s decision — can be the difference between rolling and parking.
OTR’s product framing is as much about simplicity as access: a single card tied into the company’s existing toolkit, weekly consolidated billing instead of a stack of ad‑hoc payments, and real‑time approval that reflects the loads OTR already sees. For carriers, that can cut reconciliation headaches and reduce the risk of overdrawing cash accounts between invoices. For OTR, it creates a tighter loop between its factoring book and fuel spend, potentially improving visibility into customer risk and repayment behavior.
The move also turns up the competitive heat. Fintechs and fuel networks have spent the past two years courting small fleets with prepaid cards, discount apps and “no credit check” options. OTR’s twist is to extend revolving credit — not just discounts — to virtually any carrier it factors, effectively bundling working capital for fuel with the promise of faster invoice collection on the back end. That’s a more complete liquidity bridge than simple prepaid or cash‑secured cards, and it could nudge rivals to pair fuel programs more tightly with payments or factoring.
Details carriers will care about: OTR says eligibility covers both new and existing factoring clients, approval is handled in‑house rather than by a third‑party bank, and the pay‑later model is structured around weekly cycles — a cadence that aligns more naturally with over‑the‑road operations than monthly card statements. The company also emphasizes immediate utility: once approved, drivers can use credit to fuel up for the very next pickup.
What to watch next: how credit limits are set and adjusted as receivables fluctuate; whether weekly billing truly lightens back‑office load versus daily card sweeps; and how many brand‑new authorities qualify in practice. For small carriers comparing options, the homework is the same as always — confirm the discount network you actually run, understand how repayments hit your factored settlements, and model worst‑case cash flow if a broker pays late. In a tight‑margin market, those mechanics matter as much as the headline promise of “no credit check.”
Sources: FreightWaves, OTR Solutions, FreightCaviar
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