TCS Blog

Trucker loyalty should be rewarded, and fuel rewards programs at many truck stops do just that. Most major truck stop chains offer points, discounts, and credits on fuel, showers, food, drink, and other amenities for filling up at their locations. TCS Fuel Card clients can enjoy great discounts on diesel right at the pump at more than 1,500 in-network discount locations across the country. And they can participate in truck stop rewards programs while using the TCS Fuel Card. We give you all the details on the fuel rewards programs our in-network partners offer.

EFS money codes have been an integral part of the trucking industry for decades. Trucking companies and owner-operators frequently use EFS money codes for EFS check payments in their day-to-day business. This transportation and logistics payment method is solidly engrained…

Truck tires are directly linked to diesel fuel economy. That’s a huge connection since both fuel and tires are two major expenses for hard-working truckers hauling loads. How you maintain those tires, as well as what kind of tires you…

Truck maintenance, specifically truck repairs, takes a huge chunk out of a trucking company’s annual budget. Next to fuel and purchasing a truck, it is the costliest aspect of running a trucking business. Repairs and maintenance swallow up about 10 percent of overall expenses, according to Truck Driver Institute. We’re talking about 12 cents per mile and $15,000 annually for airline/hoses, alternators, wiring, and brakes.

Truckers can celebrate Earth Day every time they transport the daily goods we use. How? With a SmartWay Certification. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay Certification recognizes the commitment of freight carriers, shippers, and logistics companies to improve fuel efficiency, reduce carbon footprint, optimize freight efficiency, and assume environmental responsibility. Getting SmartWay certified means you care about the planet, and it also makes you more attractive to customers. Learn how to get a SmartWay Certification and what the criteria is that you must meet.

Nobody likes to sit in traffic. The word alone makes everybody cringe. But for truckers, sitting in traffic means they’re losing money. So, the best thing to do is avoid high congestion highways that spell a revenue loss for hard working men and women hauling loads. The American Trucking Research Institute (ATRI) put together their list of the worst traffic bottlenecks in the country for 2023. We give you the top 10, a few highlights from ATRI’s top 100 traffic bottlenecks reports, and helping driving tips if you and your rig get caught idle on the highway. 

Phishing is the most common type of cybercrime with an estimated 3.4 billion spam emails sent every day. In fact, nearly half (45%) of all emails sent in 2021 were identified as spam. These are fraudulent attacks that threaten the livelihood of businesses and individuals. So how do you protect yourself from phishing? How do you avoid becoming a cybercrime victim? We have a list of tips and best practices for you so that you aren’t the latest target of cyber criminals. We also tell you how the TCS Fuel Card works hard to combat cybercrime. 

It’s IFTA time for truckers. Quarterly reports for the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) are a four- times-a-year requirement for trucking companies and owner-operators. If you haul loads from state to state, you file IFTA reports. Get the deadline dates and learn how the TCS Fuel Card can make filing easier.

Fuel prices in 2022 affected owner-operators and trucking companies hauling loads every day. So, it’s no surprise that trucking industry professionals responding to the ATRI (American Transportation Research Institute) Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry 2022 survey unanimously chose fuel prices as the #1 ranking issue. They also chose three counterstrategies to help control rising fuel prices. In addition, there was a first-ever issue in the rest of the Top 10 and a few other unexpected results. We give you a summary breakdown of the ATRI report.

Fuel card skimming and fraud are both on the rise across the country. That means TCS Fuel Card clients need to be vigilant every time they pump diesel. Because security is our top priority, we put together tips to avoid card skimming right at the truck stop. We also offer a few points on what we see as the common signs of fuel card fraud. To protect yourself, we explain the TCS Fuel Card security controls and our Cardless Fueling feature at TA®, Petro Stopping Centers®, and TA Express®. There you don’t need a physical card at all, so it eliminates the risk of card skimming and fraud.