When Paragon Mechanical switched to Car IQ they unlocked a more intelligent, controlled way to manage fleet fueling. Unlike their old card program, Car IQ doesn’t just report what happened after the fact—it uses pre-authorization checks to confirm the vehicle is at the pump, that it needs fuel, and how much it should be allowed to dispense. After fueling, post-transaction validation compares the fuel purchased to the vehicle’s tank size and consumption history—flagging any anomalies in real time.

The result? Smarter fueling, fewer mistakes, and total confidence at every transaction. Paragon Mechanical saw fuel costs drop by $0.19 per gallon, driven by automatic station optimization, vehicle-authenticated payments, and built-in fuel validation that ensured every gallon pumped made sense.

The Problem: Cards Were the Cost

To keep fuel expenses in check, Paragon Mechanical initially chose a merchant-branded fuel card program tied to a low-cost network. It was a strategic choice, one that helped ensure drivers consistently fueled at cheaper stations. But despite achieving some control over drivers, using physical fuel cards came with a high cost of its own.

Lost or stolen cards

Lost, stolen, and unreturned fuel cards required replacement, creating delays and extra work.

“We were getting constant calls from drivers who couldn’t remember their PINs. Sometimes we had to pause jobs just to get someone refueled.”

— Wes Craig, Safety Director

Forgotten PINs were a daily issue

Drivers constantly called in from the pump and office staff had to step in repeatedly just to get someone fueled and back on the road.

No visibility into spend

Fuel spend was treated as a rough estimate, with no ability to confirm whether company dollars were used appropriately or to detect misuse in real time.

The Shift: Smarter Payments, Instant Oversight

Car IQ removed the card entirely, replacing it with vehicle-based payments authenticated by real-time telematics. Drivers now fuel up using their vehicle and the Car IQ app—no PINs, no delays, no confusion.

Key changes included:

• $0.19 saved per gallon
  

  Car IQ’s Station Controls feature automatically blocks the top 10% most expensive fuel stations within a one-mile radius of a vehicle’s location. This ensures drivers are consistently redirected to nearby lower-cost options—no manual oversight needed. Paragon maintained the cost-conscious fueling strategy of their previous setup, but gained automation and assurance in the process.

• Driver call volume dropped significantly
  

  Since switching to Car IQ, Paragon’s operations team has seen a major reduction in fuel-related support calls. With no physical cards to lose and no PINs to forget, drivers fuel up faster and with less friction—freeing up time for both drivers and office staff to focus on the work that matters.

• Admin work reduced
  

  Car IQ’s intuitive dashboard gives Paragon complete control over their fleet’s fueling activity. Managers can instantly add or remove vehicles and users, configure permissions, and monitor fuel spend in real time—all without waiting on a third-party portal or navigating outdated card systems.

• Samsara integration
  

  Every fueling transaction is validated against Samsara’s live telematics data—confirming vehicle location, verifying tank levels, and ensuring that the right vehicle is at the right pump. This added layer of intelligence further reduces risk and gives Paragon even more confidence in every transaction.

The Outcome: Peace of Mind at Every Pump

Fueling used to be a constant source of operational noise, with Car IQ, Paragon finally has clarity. Every transaction is tied to a vehicle, validated automatically, and visible instantly. Drivers fuel quickly, admins stay in control, and the finance team no longer waits in the dark for a problem to surface months later.

“The best part of switching to Car IQ is the peace of mind. I don’t have to field driver calls constantly - Car IQ gave me time to focus on the work that actually moves the business forward.“

— April Mistretta, Office Manager