Did you receive a "free" fuel card only to find a lien (UCC-1) filed against your trucking company? You are not alone.
Based on hundreds of consumer reports and BBB complaints, here is the pattern many truckers experience.
You receive a call offering a fuel card with "great discounts." They might say they just want to send you information or a card to try out.
Even if you never activate the card or sign a factoring agreement, they may file a UCC-1 Lien against your company, claiming they extended you a "Credit Line."
When you try to get factoring elsewhere, you are rejected because of the lien. FleetSmarts allegedly demands a fee (often $500+) to release your business.
"Credit lines and weekly payments help motor carriers deliver loads before they have to pay for their fuel."
"They held my business hostage with a lien I never agreed to. I couldn't factor my loads and almost lost my truck."
Be extremely careful if a sales rep says they are sending a card "just in case" or "just to try." Accepting the card may trigger the lien filing.
Many carriers report finding a UCC-1 filing (a public notice of debt) on their business record without ever having signed a contract or borrowed money.
When you ask to cancel, they may demand an "administrative fee" or a "termination fee" to remove the lien, even if you never used their service.
I told them NO. They sent the card anyway. Two months later, my factoring company called saying they couldn't fund me because FleetSmarts had a lien on my accounts receivables. They wanted $500 to remove it.
Owner-Operator
Texas
They claim to help carriers, but they just trap you. I never signed a contract. They used a recorded phone call where I said 'yes' to receiving information as proof of a contract.
Small Fleet Owner
Illinois
Beware of their 'Weekly Payments' slogan. The only thing they did was freeze my payments from other brokers by filing a UCC. It took weeks to sort out. Stay away.
Independent Carrier
Florida
* Stories based on patterns found in public BBB complaints and online forums.
Check UCC Filings: Contact your Secretary of State to see if FleetSmarts (or Blue Water Capital) has filed a lien against you.
Demand Proof: Request a copy of the signed contract authorizing the lien. If they cannot produce it, demand immediate removal.
File Complaints: Submit formal complaints to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and your state's Attorney General Consumer Protection division.
Share Your Story: Don't let them hide. Post your review on Google and trucking forums to warn others.
Have a story to share or need guidance? Reach out to us directly.