EFS (T-Chek) Fuel Card Review: Is it the Right Fuel Card for Your Business?

The EFS (T-Chek) fuel card is a long-standing option in the trucking industry, designed for fleets that need broad truck stop acceptance, spending controls, and tools that go beyond basic fuel purchasing. It’s best suited for large over-the-road fleets that want cash pricing at truck stops, volume-based discounts, and added capabilities like driver settlements and cash access.

In this EFS fuel card review, we’ll break down how the card works, where it’s accepted, how discounts and fees are structured, and what controls and reporting tools you get with the platform. We’ll also cover the key pros and cons and provide alternative fuel cards so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your business.

EFS Fuel Card: Overview

What Is the EFS Fuel Card?

The EFS (T-Chek) fuel card is a fleet fuel and payment solution designed primarily for mid-to-large trucking companies, especially fleets running over-the-road operations. EFS and T-Chek are the same fuel card. EFS acquired T-Chek in 2012, and EFS itself was later acquired by WEX in 2016. Now under WEX, EFS is one of WEX's OTR fuel card programs that goes beyond basic fuel purchasing by combining fuel payments, cash access, driver settlements, and advanced fraud controls into a single platform.

The EFS fuel card allows fleets to purchase fuel at cash pricing at in-network truck stops while maintaining tight controls over when, where, and how drivers can spend. Fleet managers can set purchase limits, restrict locations and products, require driver and vehicle prompts at the pump, and issue one-time cash advances or MoneyCodes when needed.

EFS also stands out for its robust reporting and compliance tools, including detailed transaction reports, fuel audit and reconciliation, and IFTA fuel tax reporting. With added fraud protection features like two-factor authentication at the pump, real-time alerts, and optional telematics-based monitoring through SecureFuel, EFS is built for trucking fleets that need high visibility and control over fuel spend.

Where Is the EFS Fuel Card Accepted?

The EFS fuel card is accepted at more than 16,000 truck stops across North America, covering nearly every major truck stop chain. That means most trucking companies can use EFS at the locations their drivers already fuel. You can find locations using the EFS locations map.

EFS Fuel Card Discounts

The EFS fuel card is built for larger trucking fleets (50+ trucks) and offers custom discounts for each customer, usually tied to monthly fuel volume. EFS also charges the cheaper cash pricing at in-network locations, which can run 10-20¢ per gallon below the posted credit price. If you want your exact discount and rate details, you’ll need to talk with an EFS account executive.

EFS Fuel Card Fees

Like its discounts, EFS fuel card fees can vary based on your specific customer agreement. To get exact fee details, you’ll need to contact an EFS account executive.

EFS Fuel Card Controls and Reporting

Controls

• Dynamic Prompt: Requires the driver to log into the WEX CardControl app to generate a one-time authorization code that must be entered at the pump before fueling.
• Authorized fueling locations: Control where cards can be used by adding/removing approved locations.
• Purchase limits: Set purchase limits and customize limits at the individual card level.
• Product limits: Choose which non-fuel item categories a fuel card has access to.
• Custom policy prompts: Use card prompts such as driver ID, unit number, hubometer, and more that validate the sale at the point of purchase and capture additional data before fueling is authorized.
• One-time cash advance: Create a one-time cash advance or remove cash access when needed.
• Cash/ATM access: Employees can access cash through thousands of ATM and participating debit retailers.
• Overrides: Perform overrides when a legitimate purchase needs an exception.
• MoneyCodes: Fleet managers can issue MoneyCodes to pay for items and services drivers need.
• Telematics-based fraud controls (SecureFuel): Combine truck telematics and card transaction data to flag suspicious activity and report driver proximity and tank level after fueling.

Reporting

• Real-time alerts (SecureFuel): Triggers alerts when purchase irregularities are detected using telematics and transaction data.
• Transaction report: See detailed transactions by account, card, driver, vehicle, etc.
• Rejected transaction report: See declined authorizations and reasons why they were declined.
• Enhanced transaction report: Create a custom transaction report by choosing the data you want to include and how it’s organized in your report columns.
• Fuel Audit & Reconciliation: Discount reconciliation, individual transaction verification, driver compliance reporting, benchmarking/competitive analysis, and more.
• Fuel tax reporting: Capture and prepare IFTA, IRP, and individual state fuel tax reports.
  
  

Pros and Cons of the EFS Fuel Card

Pros

• Accepted at almost any truck stop
• Robust fuel card controls and reporting platform
• Extra tools for OTR drivers such as cash advances, money codes, and ATM access

Cons

• EFS is built for larger operations, so the platform can be excessive for smaller trucking fleets
  
  

EFS Alternatives

If you want to compare other fuel card options similar to EFS, check out the best fuel cards for trucking companies.

One strong alternative is the Voyager fuel card, which offers:

• Accepted at 97% of fuel stations
• No monthly card fees, account setup fees, late fees, or extended network fees
• Trustpilot rating: 4.8/5
• Free fraud loss coverage