Fleet
Why fuel network coverage matters for UK fleets
For UK logistics fleets, where drivers refuel can affect the cost and efficiency of everyday operations. Congestion, roadworks, and road incidents can force drivers to change their routes, making it useful to have suitable refuelling sites nearby.
The Esso network now includes more than 1,400+ sites across the UK, making it the largest branded fuel network in the country. For fleets, the expansion gives drivers more options when routes change, helping them refuel without making unnecessary detours.
More sites give drivers more refuelling options
Fleet routes rarely go exactly to plan. Congestion, roadworks, and motorway incidents can all force drivers to change course. If there is no suitable fuel stop nearby, a driver may need to travel further to refuel.
Those additional miles add to fuel costs and driver time and can contribute to delivery delays. A limited fuel card network can make the problem worse by restricting where drivers can stop.
The Esso Card™ network includes more than 1,400 Esso sites, with reciprocal access to selected BP and Shell sites. This gives drivers access to a combined network of more than 3,600 sites across the UK.
A wider network gives drivers more choice when their planned route changes. Instead of travelling further to find a suitable refuelling point, they can choose from more sites across major routes and regional areas.
That can help reduce unnecessary mileage and the costs that come with it. The annual cost of operating a 44-tonne heavy goods vehicle (HGV), excluding fuel, now exceeds £160,000, according to the Road Haulage Association (RHA) Cost Movement 2025. For high-mileage fleets, even small amounts of additional mileage can add to the overall cost of running a vehicle.
Helping fleets manage fuel costs
Where drivers refuel can also affect how much a fleet pays for fuel. Fuel prices can vary significantly between locations. The AA reported differences of up to 25p per litre between urban centres and motorway service areas in 2025 (Source: The AA 2025 Motorway service areas).
For a 300-litre HGV fill-up, a 25p difference adds £75 to the cost of a single tank.
For fleets operating on margins of between 3% and 5%, as reported by the RHA, these additional fuel costs can have a noticeable impact. They can be harder to recover when fuel surcharges are based on national average prices.
If a driver pays more than the national average because they need to refuel at a higher-priced location, the fleet may have to absorb the difference.
The Esso Card™ by WEX provides fixed weekly pricing across Esso fuels. This gives fleet managers a consistent fuel price to work with each week, rather than leaving them to manage differences between individual locations.
It can help fleets:
- Plan fuel spend: A fixed weekly price makes fuel expenditure easier to forecast.
- Avoid motorway surcharges: The price applies across Esso fuels, without additional motorway surcharges.
What the Esso network expansion means for UK fleets
The expansion of the Esso network to more than 1,400 sites gives UK fleets more choice when it comes to refuelling.
For drivers, that means more options when congestion, roadworks, or incidents change a planned route. For fleet managers, the wider network works alongside fixed weekly pricing and transaction data to provide greater visibility of fuel costs and spending.
Together, these features can help fleet operators manage fuel as part of their wider operating costs, while giving drivers more flexibility when plans change.
The Esso Card™ by WEX gives fleets access to the expanded network and fixed weekly pricing, bringing these benefits together in one fuel card.
Whether you are already using a fuel card or looking for one for the first time, the Esso Card™ by WEX can give your drivers more choice on the road while helping you keep greater control of fuel costs.
