As 2025 rolls into 2026, many truck parts distributors and truck repair facilities are reviewing their financial performance — examining inventory turns, labor costs, pricing pressure and overall margins. One expense category, however, is often overlooked or misunderstood: credit card processing fees.
For many businesses in the truck parts and service industry, payment processing quietly became one of the largest controllable costs on the P&L last year. As more transactions move to card-based payments — whether at the counter, over the phone or through invoicing systems — fees can add up quickly.
Rising interchange rates, evolving card brand rules and complex pricing structures make it difficult for operators to clearly understand what they’re paying and why.
Unlike fuel costs or payroll, payment processing expenses are rarely reviewed strategically. Statements are dense, terminology is inconsistent, and fees are often spread across multiple line items. As a result, businesses may be overpaying without realizing it — sometimes by a meaningful amount.
[RELATED: What distributors and repair shops need to know about credit card fees]
The challenge is compounded by the unique operating environment of truck parts distributors and repair facilities. Mixed ticket sizes, B2B invoicing, fleet transactions, counter sales and card-not-present payments all influence how transactions are classified and priced. When payment programs aren’t structured with these realities in mind, inefficiencies tend to follow.
This is why industry-specific experience matters when evaluating payment costs. As founder and president of American Payments Group, I understand how payments intersect with day-to-day operations is critical.
I’ve spent more than 16 years now processing. Reddit cards for truck parts distributors, repair facilities, and other heavy-duty aftermarket businesses. What we see time and again is payment processing is treated as a fixed cost, when in reality it’s one of the few areas where structure and strategy can make a real difference — without disrupting how a business operates.
Industry organizations have increasingly encouraged members to take a closer look at this often-overlooked expense.
As the preferred payment processing partner of HDA Truck Pride, American Payments Group works with HDA Truck Pride members and its TSEs to help them better understand how payment costs show up on their financials and whether their current setups truly align with their transaction mix and risk profile.
Importantly, reviewing processing costs doesn’t necessarily mean changing how customers pay. In many cases, it starts with a clearer understanding of payment flows, compliance requirements and how pricing structures impact the bottom line.
Small, compliant adjustments can sometimes result in meaningful savings over time.
As businesses plan for 2026, it’s worth asking a straightforward question: Do you really know what credit card processing cost your operation in 2025 — and whether those costs were fully optimized?
For many truck parts and service operators, taking a closer look at this line item can be both informative and eye-opening.
