Updated May 2026 · Owner-Op Strategy · 8 FAQs Answered
Outgo Fuel Card Strategy: How to Beat Apex's Fuel Card with 3rd-Party Cards (2026)
Outgo's flat-fee factoring saves $50-$150 per invoice vs Apex's percentage rate. Apex bundles a fuel card. Outgo doesn't. The fix is simple: Outgo for factoring plus a standalone fuel card (Comdata, EFS, Pilot Pay) — and you net more than staying with Apex bundled. Here's the math and the recommended setups.
Affiliate disclosure: We earn a commission if you sign up through our link at no cost to you. This does not influence our recommendations.
Outgo by DAT does not bundle a fuel card. Apex Capital does, with a $0.05-$0.15/gallon discount. The Outgo strategy in 2026 is to pair Outgo's flat-fee factoring ($20-$35 per invoice) with a standalone Comdata, EFS, or Pilot Pay card — and use DAT One fuel partner discounts on top. The combined cost is typically $700-$1,200 per month lower than staying with Apex bundled.
The Outgo fuel card gap (and why it's not actually a problem)
Outgo by DAT charges a flat $20-$35 per invoice. Apex Capital charges 1.5%-3.5%of invoice value. On a $5,000 invoice, that's Outgo at roughly $30 vs Apex at $75-$175 — a per-invoice gap of $45-$145 before you factor in anything else.
Apex bundles a fuel card with a typical $0.05-$0.15 per gallon discountat their partner network. Outgo doesn't. That's the "Outgo gap" people raise when comparing the two services side by side.
Here's why the gap doesn't actually matter: if you save $45-$145 per invoice with Outgo (vs Apex) and independently sign up for a third-party fuel card saving roughly $0.10 per gallon, you net more total dollars than staying with Apex bundled. The fuel card discount Apex bundles is not exclusive — Comdata, EFS, Pilot Pay, TCS, and WEX all offer comparable per-gallon savings to any owner-operator who applies directly.
Bottom line
You're not giving up the fuel discount by leaving Apex. You're just unbundling it — and pocketing the factoring savings on top.
The standalone fuel card options for Outgo carriers
These five fuel cards are the ones Outgo carriers most commonly pair with the flat-fee factoring. Each is fully independent of Outgo — you apply directly to the fuel card provider, get approved, and run the card alongside your Outgo account.
Comdata
Network: Pilot Flying J, Love's, TA/Petro, plus 8,000+ stations
Avg discount: $0.05 – $0.15 per gallon
Best for: OTR owner-operators crossing multiple states — broadest network coverage
EFS (Element Fleet Solutions)
Network: Strong corporate fleet network, common with brokers and shippers
Avg discount: $0.04 – $0.10 per gallon
Best for: Carriers with broker accounts already inside the EFS ecosystem
Pilot Pay
Network: Pilot Flying J focused, instant rebates at the pump
Avg discount: Instant rebates plus loyalty stacking
Best for: Carriers who fuel almost exclusively at Pilot/Flying J locations
TCS (Trucker Cash Solutions)
Network: Growing nationwide network, app-driven price comparison
Avg discount: Transparent live pricing, no markup
Best for: Tech-forward owner-operators who want app-based fuel routing
WEX (Wright Express)
Network: Major fleet card — strong on corporate fuel network coverage
Avg discount: $0.03 – $0.08 per gallon plus fleet reporting
Best for: Mid-size fleets (5+ trucks) wanting fleet-card reporting
Approval and discount tiers vary by provider and applicant credit. Quoted discount ranges are typical owner-operator results as of 2026 — confirm with each provider during your application.
The DAT-native option: DAT One fuel discount partners
DAT offers fuel discount partnerships baked directly into the DAT One platform. Carriers using DAT One already see these partner deals inside the load board interface — fuel networks, rebates, and discount programs DAT has negotiated for its carrier base.
Because Outgo is owned by the same parent (DAT Freight & Analytics), using Outgo plus DAT One stacks two ecosystem benefits: flat-fee factoring savings plus DAT fuel partner discounts. This is the strongest single argument for the "Outgo plus DAT ecosystem" combo over Apex's single-vendor bundle. You're not just unbundling — you're joining a stack where each piece reinforces the others. If you already pay for DAT One, leaving the DAT fuel partner deals on the table while staying with Apex is leaving real money on the table.
Ready to unbundle?
Sign up for Outgo, then apply for a Comdata or EFS card. Total setup time: under one week.
Math: Outgo + Comdata vs Apex bundled
Scenario: 1 truck, 10 invoices per month at $5,000 average ($50,000/mo gross), 2,000 gallons of fuel per month at $4.20/gal national average.
Apex Capital (bundled)
Factoring: $50,000 × 2.5% = $1,250/mo
Fuel discount: $0.10 × 2,000 gal = -$200/mo
Net cost:
~$1,050/mo
Outgo + Comdata (unbundled)
Factoring: 10 × $30 = $300/mo
Comdata discount: $0.08 × 2,000 gal = -$160/mo
Net cost:
~$140/mo
Monthly savings
~$910/month
= roughly $10,920 per year with Outgo + Comdata vs Apex bundled
Math assumes Apex at 2.5% midpoint, $0.10/gal Apex fuel discount, Outgo at $30/invoice flat, Comdata at $0.08/gal. Confirm actual rates with each provider — your average invoice size and fuel volume change the result. Savings grow as invoice value or gallons climb. Use the factoring rates calculator to model your numbers.
How to set up Outgo + 3rd-party fuel card
- 1
Open your Outgo factoring account
Apply at outgo.dat.com with your MC number, operating authority, and bank info. Outgo issues your Notice of Assignment (NOA) on approval, so you can drop it into broker carrier packets the same day. No long-term contract, no fuel card bundle pressure.
- 2
Pick a standalone fuel card
Comdata is the most universal default — broadest network, $0.05-$0.15/gallon average discount, accepted at Pilot, Flying J, Love's, TA, and Petro. If you run regional with corporate brokers, EFS is a strong alternative. Pilot Pay is the right pick if you live in the Pilot/Flying J network.
- 3
Apply to the fuel card provider directly
Fuel card applications are separate from Outgo. Apply through the provider's site with your MC number, business bank account, and a credit check. Approval takes 2-5 business days. The fuel card account is fully independent of your Outgo factoring account.
- 4
Use Outgo for factoring, the fuel card for fuel
Once both accounts are live, run loads normally. Factor invoices through Outgo (flat $20-$35 per invoice). Buy fuel with your Comdata or EFS card (per-gallon discount applied automatically at participating stops). Two ledgers, but one strategy.
- 5
Track combined savings monthly
Tally your factoring cost (Outgo) plus your fuel discount (third-party card). Compare against what Apex bundled would have cost on the same invoice volume and fuel gallons. Most owner-ops see Outgo plus Comdata net out $700-$1,200 per month cheaper than Apex bundled.
When Apex's bundled fuel card actually wins
Being honest: the Outgo plus standalone-card strategy isn't universally better. Apex's bundle wins when all three of these are true:
- →You fuel almost exclusively inside the Apex partner network — every stop on your route is an Apex network station.
- →Your average invoice is under $3,000. The percentage-cost gap (Apex 2.5% = $75 vs Outgo $30 = $45 saved) shrinks at lower invoice values.
- →You don't want to manage two vendors. The convenience of one statement, one login, one support number is worth real money to you.
Mid-size fleets running 5-25 trucks with heavy Apex network fuel usage sometimes pick Apex bundled for the convenience trade. For everyone else — owner-operators, 1-4 truck operations, anyone running mixed networks — the Outgo plus standalone fuel card strategy wins on the math.
If you're still weighing the call, read the Apex vs Outgo head-to-head comparison and the full Apex Capital review with fuel card details before committing.
Outgo fuel card strategy FAQ
Does Outgo offer a fuel card discount?
Not directly. Outgo by DAT does not run a proprietary fuel card discount program as of 2026. Instead, Outgo carriers pair the flat-fee factoring with a standalone fuel card — Comdata, EFS, Pilot Pay, TCS, or WEX — and access DAT One fuel partner discounts through the DAT ecosystem. The net cost is typically lower than Apex Capital's bundled fuel card plus percentage factoring.
Can Outgo recommend a fuel card?
Outgo does not officially recommend a specific third-party fuel card, but DAT One subscribers can access fuel discount partner deals through the DAT platform. The most common pairing for owner-operators is Outgo factoring plus Comdata for the broadest fuel network coverage (Pilot, Flying J, Love's, TA/Petro). Mid-size fleets often pick EFS or WEX for fleet-card reporting features.
Is Comdata better than EFS for an Outgo carrier?
For most owner-operators running OTR routes, Comdata wins on network breadth (Pilot Flying J, Love's, TA, Petro) and average discount of $0.05-$0.15 per gallon. EFS is stronger for fleets that already use brokers or shippers tied to the EFS network or that need detailed fleet reporting. If you run multi-state OTR, default to Comdata. If you operate regionally with corporate accounts, EFS is competitive.
Do I need a fuel card to use Outgo?
No. Outgo factoring works independently of any fuel card — you can run it with your existing card (or no card at all). The Outgo plus third-party fuel card combo is a strategy to match or beat Apex Capital's bundled offer. Many Outgo carriers simply use whichever fuel card they already had before switching from Apex or RTS.
How much can I save with Outgo plus Comdata vs Apex bundled?
Typical owner-operator scenario: 10 invoices per month at $5,000 average, 2,000 gallons of fuel per month. Apex bundled lands around $1,050 net cost per month (factoring minus fuel discount). Outgo plus Comdata lands around $140 net cost (flat-fee factoring minus Comdata discount). Net monthly savings: roughly $910 per month, or about $10,920 per year. Savings grow with higher invoice volume.
When does Apex's bundled fuel card actually win?
Apex's bundled fuel card can be the better pick if all three are true: you run exclusively inside the Apex fuel partner network, your average invoice is under $3,000 (the percentage cost gap shrinks), and you do not want to manage two separate vendors. Mid-size fleets running 5-25 trucks with heavy Apex network fuel usage sometimes prefer the convenience trade.
Can I get fuel discounts inside DAT One when using Outgo?
Yes. DAT One subscribers get access to fuel discount partner programs baked into the DAT ecosystem. Because Outgo is also owned by DAT Freight & Analytics, using Outgo plus DAT One stacks the flat-fee factoring savings with DAT fuel partner discounts — the strongest case for the Outgo plus DAT ecosystem combo against Apex's single-vendor bundle.
How do I apply for Comdata or EFS as an owner-operator?
Both Comdata and EFS accept owner-operator applications directly. You apply through the provider's website with your MC number, operating authority, business bank account, and credit history. Approval typically takes 2-5 business days. The fuel card is independent of your Outgo factoring account — you manage them separately but use the savings together.
Unbundle and save: Outgo + your own fuel card
Outgo by DAT: flat fee per invoice, no contract, same-day funding. Pair with Comdata or EFS for your fuel discount. Carriers switching from Apex bundled average around $910/month in savings.
Affiliate disclosure: We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Reviewed by Don Grazio · UC Bureau Compliance Lead
Don has 12+ years working with motor carriers on FMCSA compliance, including new entrant audits, MCS-150 filings, BMC-91 insurance setups, and ELD compliance. UC Bureau researches FMCSA regulations (49 CFR Parts 380–399) directly with carriers across the U.S. and Canada. Content is fact-checked against current federal regulations. UC Bureau is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Transportation or FMCSA — we provide tools and guides to help carriers stay compliant. Learn more about UC Bureau →