Fuel prices have become an increasing source of pressure for fleet operators across Canada. Ongoing global instability, supply concerns, and market volatility continue to affect what businesses pay at the pump, even when the disruption is happening far from home. For companies that rely on vehicles to keep operations moving, these shifts can have a direct impact on margins, planning, and day-to-day decision making.
To better understand what is driving these fluctuations and what fleet operators can do in response, we spoke with Andrea Decore, Head of Supply and In House Counsel at Fillip Fleet. With more than three decades of experience in the energy sector, including senior leadership roles at Suncor and Parkland Corporation, Andrea brings deep expertise in fuel markets, supply dynamics, and commercial strategy. In this interview, she shares her perspective on why prices continue to rise, how global forces affect Canadian fleets, and where businesses can find practical opportunities to reduce fuel related costs.
Q: Canada produces its own oil, so why are Canadian fuel prices still rising when the supply disruption is happening on the other side of the world?
It is one of the most common questions I get, and it is a fair one. The simple answer is that oil is a global commodity and Canada participates fully in that global market.
Even though we produce crude here at home, Canadian producers sell into the global market. That means domestic buyers, including our own refineries, must compete with world prices. When a conflict or supply disruption anywhere in the world tightens global supply, prices rise everywhere, including at Canadian pumps. It does not matter that the disruption is happening in the Middle East rather than Alberta.
The same logic applies to refined fuels such as gasoline and diesel, which also move across borders. Eastern Canada imports some of what it consumes, while Western Canada exports a portion of its supply. We are integrated into the global system, which means we are exposed to its fluctuations.
That reality is not going to change. What can change is how well equipped your business is to manage the impact. That is where the conversation becomes more interesting.
Q: Where do the biggest, least obvious savings actually come from?
Two areas consistently surprise fleet operators. The first is fraud, and the second is idle time.
The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners estimates that organizations lose approximately five percent of annual revenue to fraud. Fuel is one of the most common and easiest areas where this occurs in vehicle dependent businesses. Examples include personal fill ups, unauthorized transactions, and fuel purchased for purposes that are not related to legitimate business use. Most operators do not see it because their systems are not set up to detect it. After decades working in commercial fuel markets, I have seen that the businesses most exposed to fuel fraud are often the ones that assume it could never happen to them.
Idling is another significant factor. It is easy to overlook because it appears minor, such as an engine running while a driver grabs coffee or waits between jobs. Across an entire fleet, however, unmanaged idling can add up to thousands of dollars in wasted fuel each year. Unlike many other cost drivers, it is almost entirely within your control.
These may not be glamorous fixes, but they represent real savings that can be recovered quickly once the right systems are in place.
Q: What does having the right systems actually look like in practice?
It begins with visibility. You cannot manage what you cannot see. Fleet operators who rely on intuition or end of month fuel receipts will always be behind. Businesses that consistently reduce fuel costs track consumption by vehicle and by driver in real time.
From there, control becomes the next priority. Modern digital fleet cards, such as those offered by Fillip, allow operators to set precise purchase parameters. These controls determine how much can be spent and ensure that each transaction is tied to a specific vehicle. When combined with multi factor authentication, this approach significantly reduces the risk of fraud.
Fillip’s preferred partner network also gives clients access to savings and incentives that would be difficult to secure independently. These benefits may include volume based pricing, preferred service rates, and tools that integrate directly with existing fleet management systems. The partners in this network are strategically located so drivers can take advantage of them without adding extra distance or disrupting their routes. The savings opportunities are available, but businesses need the right structure in place to capture them.
Q: For a fleet operator who has not thought deeply about this before, what is the single most important mindset shift?
The biggest shift is to stop thinking about fuel as a fixed cost. While the pump price itself is outside your control, the total amount your business spends on fuel is highly manageable.
Driver behavior, purchase controls, and the partners and tools you use all directly influence your final fuel spend. Companies that actively manage these factors rather than simply paying the bill typically reduce total fuel costs by ten to twenty five percent.
In a market where prices are already elevated, that difference can determine whether a business absorbs rising costs or stays ahead of them.
Fillip Fleet works with fleet operators across Canada to help them take control of fuel costs through smarter purchasing tools, fraud prevention, and access to a preferred partner network. Contact Fillip to learn what may be possible for your fleet.
