Fuel card agency The Fuelcard People is expecting a surge in business as operators look to soften the blow of the upcoming fuel duty rise. Following Alistair Darling's Budget announcement that fuel duty will rise 2p/litre from September, The Fuelcard People says operators will be forced to consider driving down overheads.
"These price increases will make people begin shopping around and look for ways to reduce costs. You can't avoid the fuel duty but our job is to help customers realise there is an alternative to relying on standard diesel prices," says the firm's general manager Steve Clarke.
According to Clarke, business interest increased steadily ahead of the 1.84p/litre rise in duty on 1 April. A company spokesman adds: "This has to spell the end for the 'no discount' fuel card. Companies not using a decent fuel card have to realise they can find cheaper prices by looking around."