FleetCor and CEO Ronald Clarke agreed to a $100 million payment resolving Federal Trade Commission litigation. The settlement follows years of court action over hidden charges involving commercial fuel cards. Harm reached tens of thousands among small-business customers seeking lower operating costs. Regulators say promised savings disappeared beneath undisclosed billing practices.
Federal regulators accused FleetCor, which now operates as Corpay, of imposing unauthorized fees totaling hundreds of millions. Investigators found improper late penalties despite timely remittance or company barriers that prevented payment. Officials cited misleading claims about gas savings, fraud controls, plus card-related expenses. Those practices harmed operators across the United States, according to a 2019 complaint.
Hidden Fees Emerged Later
Regulators found FleetCor often waited several billing cycles before adding many charges. Delayed timing made extra costs harder for customers to notice. Invoices omitted fee disclosures, pushing account holders toward separate management reports. Even those documents obscured some amounts among unrelated details or excluded them entirely.
“FleetCor deceived its small business customers by promising fuel savings that never materialized,” Christopher Mufarrige said. He directs FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. Agency officials also criticized hidden and unauthorized charges. Settlement terms channel restitution toward harmed account holders.
In 2023, one federal district court granted summary judgment to the FTC on every count. Its ruling found hidden charges and false representations involving savings, fees, plus fraud-control features. Permanent injunction terms barred FleetCor from billing without informed consent alongside clear disclosures. That order also prohibited deceptive fuel-card claims or hiding material information behind hyperlinks.
Court Decisions Set the Terms
During 2026, a federal appeals court upheld every judgment against FleetCor and affirmed its permanent injunction. Judges sustained all but one count involving Clarke. The panel vacated restrictions concerning him. Under proposed settlement terms, both respondents agreed not to oppose renewed limits covering that executive.
Consent provisions require FleetCor and Clarke to provide $100 million for business customer redress. FTC commissioners accepted this package by a 1-0-1 vote. Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson recused himself. Officials plan Federal Register publication before opening a 30-day public comment period.
After comments close, commissioners will decide whether to finalize the order. Agency officials have not announced individual eligibility requirements, payment amounts, or distribution dates. Future violations could trigger civil penalties reaching $53,088 each. Customers awaiting restitution details should watch official FTC updates.
Why It Matters
Fuel-card fees directly affect carrier margins, cash flow, and trust in essential payment tools. This case offers transportation professionals lessons for invoice reviews, vendor oversight, plus contract controls.
Click here for more articles on cargo theft and freight fraud by Phil Brink.
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