THE UK fleet fuel card market is set to expand by about 300,000 cards in the next four years as companies become more cost-conscious and operators increasingly penetrate the small fleet market, according to a new report.

MarketLine International's report 'UK Fleet Fuel Cards' - the latest in its UK Fleet Management report series, which also comprises: 'Fleet Management Company profiles', 'Fleet Accident and Risk management' and 'Fleet Maintenance Management and Operational Support' - reveals that fleet fuel cards are 'an essential budgetary and monitoring tool for today's fleet manager'.

Since 1992 the number of fleet fuel cards in circulation in the UK has increased by 6.6% annually to a peak last year of 1.33 million. However, the report claims that the total will reach 1.64 million by 2002.