2026 BENCHMARKING REPORT
Top Technology Trends in Fuel Delivery
You Already Have the Tech. How Well Are You Using It?
Welcome to the 2026 Top Technology Trends in Fuel Delivery Benchmarking Report, brought to you by Cargas. Results from our seventh annual Tech Trends Survey are in, and we’re excited to share the findings with you.
The data across all of our surveys is clear: fuel dealers have a solid technology foundation. Adoption of core operational systems is high, along with customer-facing tools and tank monitors. With the basics in place for most of the market, the question is no longer, “Do we have the tools we need?” but rather, “Are we getting the most out of the tools we have?”
This report dives deep into the survey results for fuel dealers looking to benchmark their technology use. You’ll gain insights about where your peers are embracing technology, where there are still opportunities, top challenges and investments for 2026, and what fuel dealers really want from their tech.
Top Takeaways
Short on time? Review the top findings from the report at a glance in our infographic.
2026 Tech Trends: By the Numbers
The Foundations: Where the Industry Stands Today
Technology Adoption Overview
Number of responses: 116
Four out of five respondents have solutions in place for payroll/HR and credit card processing, and three-quarters have an accounting/GL system and an office suite. Digital customer experience tools and tank monitors are also widely used, while tools focused on analytics and automation are less common. Although only 36% of respondents list AI tools as part of their tech stack, 80% reported using AI in some capacity.
Key Insights
The data shows that most companies already have a strong tech foundation. That means your advantage no longer comes from having tools that your competitors don’t—it comes from how well your systems work together and automate everyday tasks. Ask yourself:
The Digital Customer Experience
Self-Service Features Offered
Number of responses: 116
Fuel dealers are aware of customer expectations and consistently offer self-service tools. A majority of respondents provide online bill pay/autopay and online delivery and service requests. Many also offer online options for new customer signup, budget plan management, and account management
Online Tools vs. No Online Tools
Number of responses: 116
Only a small number offer no online self-service tools. If you’re not online yet, you’re part of a shrinking minority
Customer Portal/Mobile App Usage by Fleet Size
Number of responses: 116
Company size affects the ability to offer customers the tools they’re looking for. The largest companies are nearly twice as likely to provide a customer portal as the smallest companies. This finding suggests that as businesses grow, they rely more on self-service tools to reduce call volume and create a consistent customer experience.
Key Insights
Fuel dealers are well past the point of asking, “Should we go online?” They’re already there. Now it’s about elevating the customer experience. Ask yourself:
Tank Monitors are Mainstream
Tank Monitor Usage by Fleet Size
Number of responses: 116
Tank monitors are widely used, with 80% of respondents listing them as part of their tech stack. In addition, the larger an organization is, the more likely it is to be using monitors.
Why Aren't You Using Tank Monitors?
Number of responses: 16
Of those not using tank monitors, 50% say they don’t need them because of the nature of their businesses—for example, serving a small geographic region or focusing on cylinder exchange. And 38% list cost as a barrier to investment.
Reasons for Using Tank Monitors
Number of responses: 116
The top reasons for using tank monitors include managing tanks with variable usage, reducing runouts, and improving delivery efficiency. In addition to delivery operations, nearly 60% mention customer satisfaction as a reason to invest in tank monitors. Only about half of respondents report using tank monitors to improve forecasting accuracy, suggesting that tank monitor data primarily serves as an alert system rather than a planning tool.
Key Insights
Are your tank monitors just an alert system, or are they fully integrated into the delivery process? Ask yourself:
Spreadsheets Still Rule
Tools Used for Data Management/Reporting
Number of responses: 116
Nearly everyone generates reports and tracks KPIs, but the methods are still fairly traditional. Most respondents are using reporting tools built into their existing systems. But, when it comes to consolidating data from multiple sources, about 46% report using spreadsheets compared to only 17% using business intelligence tools and 11% using AI for data analysis.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Tracked
Number of responses: 116
Respondents look at a variety of metrics. Most prioritize financial results, then add customer metrics such as satisfaction and retention to the mix.
Key Insights
Almost all survey respondents are tracking something, but nearly half are still consolidating information manually rather than using BI or AI to automatically integrate data from different systems. Fuel dealers have an opportunity to go beyond tracking metrics to answering key business questions, but data management is critical. Ask yourself:
How Do You Stack Up?
Use our Benchmarking Report Card to measure your organization against the metrics defined in this report.
AI is in the Building
AI Usage vs. Formalized AI Tools
Number of responses: 116
80% of respondents have used AI tools to perform at least one task at work, but only 36% list AI as part of their tech stack. This data indicates that while AI use is common for individuals, it isn’t formalized into company practices.
AI Use Cases
Number of responses: 116
Currently, respondents most commonly use AI as a writing/communications assistant. Emerging use cases include data analysis, research, and chatbots.
Key Insights
The industry is clearly exploring what AI can do, and AI use will continue growing. But right now, AI is not part of the industry’s operational systems. There’s a huge opportunity for embedded AI tools that can enhance the software fuel dealers already have. In the meantime, ask yourself:
Challenges & Investment Priorities
Top Operational Challenges
Number of responses: 116
Finding and retaining employees and managing costs are top concerns for respondents. In addition, about 20% struggle to get their software systems to work together, and 13% feel they don’t have the resources to implement potentially useful tools.
Top Investment Priorities
Number of responses: 116
In 2026, respondents plan to prioritize spending on physical assets, safety, customer acquisition, and employees. About one in three respondents is specifically budgeting for technology upgrades, especially self-service tools.
Top Technology Challenges
When respondents answered an open-text question about what they wished their technology could do better, several themes emerged.
Key Insights
Staffing and cost management are putting the most pressure on fuel dealers, and they’re investing accordingly. Only one in three respondents is planning for technology investments, yet tech could play a key role in alleviating the industry’s most significant pain points. Operational systems that can increase the productivity of each employee or each truck/van can help fuel dealers navigate staffing shortages and rising costs.
Growth & Consolidation
Customer Acquisition Channels
Number of responses: 116
New business is coming from multiple places. While relationship-driven growth through referrals is at the top of the list, digital channels like websites and social media are nearly as universal. And about one in three respondents is using acquisition as a growth strategy.
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Activity
Number of responses: 116
Consolidation plays an important role in this market. About one in five respondents acquired another company in the past year, and one in three plan to invest in acquisitions this year.
Key Insights
Technology can support or hinder new business growth. If you’re looking at an acquisition in 2026, ask yourself:
What's Next?
Fuel dealers are well past the basic tech adoption stage. Their core systems are in place, and a majority use tank monitors and tools that support a digital customer experience. What comes next relies largely on getting more out of the systems already in place. Four opportunities stand out.
Methodology
The information in this report comes from an online survey of fuel dealers across North America. The survey was conducted in September through October 2025 and distributed via email and digital advertising.
The survey had 203 respondents who use a range of software and other technologies to support their businesses, with 116 complete responses.
Note that the results reflect the respondents and do not provide a perfect picture of the entire industry.
Respondents' Roles
Number of responses: 116
Nearly three-quarters of respondents are leaders, holding an owner, executive, or management-level role.
Fleet Size
Number of responses: 116
About 45% of respondents are small businesses with a fleet size of 1–10 trucks, while the next-largest segment is enterprise businesses with more than 40 trucks.
Company Headquarters
Number of responses: 116
Most survey respondents operate in the Northeast and Southern United States.
2026 Benchmarking Report Card
How Do You Stack Up?
Use the checklist below to compare your organization to the benchmarks defined in the 2026 Tech Trends report.
| Focus Area | Industry Benchmark | Your Status | Questions to Consider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Business Systems |
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Do our core systems talk to each other, or are we re-keying data between them? |
| Digital Customer Experience I |
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What are the top 3 reasons customers call us? Could they handle all 3 entirely online? |
| Digital Customer Experience II |
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Is our customer portal/app easy to use? Do we promote it, or is it just “there”? |
| Tank Monitors |
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Is our monitor data fully integrated into forecasting and ticket pulls, or are we just reacting to low-level alerts? |
| Reporting & Analytics I |
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Do our reports actually answer our biggest questions? How much time do we spend consolidating data versus analyzing it? |
| Reporting & Analytics II |
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Where could integrated dashboards or AI save us time on recurring analysis? |
| AI |
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Are we using AI as individuals only, or are we building company-wide practices and guidelines around AI use? |
| Challenges & Investment |
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Have we considered how technology could help us address our labor and cost concerns by maximizing productivity? |
| Growth |
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Could our systems absorb a new acquisition quickly, with clear reporting by location? |
Let’s Chat
Is Cargas Energy the right fit for you? Contact us to learn more.