Payment infrastructure designed for transit realities
On-time vendor payments, automated payroll, federal grant compliance. Everything transit operations actually need.
Three Core Benefits (Large Feature Cards)
Automated Vendor & Fuel Payment Processing
Pay fuel suppliers, parts vendors, maintenance contractors on time—every time. Upload bulk payment files for 50+ vendors simultaneously. Zero transaction fees on eligible wallet payments.* Automated recurring payments for regular suppliers. Never delay a critical repair because of payment processing bottlenecks.
Impact
Process 50+ vendor payments in 10 minutes instead of 4 hours
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Federal Grant Tracking & Compliance
Tag every payment to specific grant programs—FTA 5307, 5310, 5311, or state DOT funding. Track spending against grant allocations in real-time. Generate compliance reports for federal and state audits with one click. Automatic segregation of grant vs. operating funds.
Impact
Audit-ready documentation without manual tracking
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Driver & Staff Payroll Management
Process driver payroll, maintenance staff wages, administrative salaries with complete automation. Handle union pay scales, overtime calculations, shift differentials. Credit card payment option during cash flow gaps between grant reimbursements. Same-day processing capability for urgent situations.
Impact
Payroll processed accurately and on-time, regardless of reimbursement timing
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Every payment method transit operations need.
Fuel & Parts Vendor Payments
Pay fuel suppliers, parts vendors, tire companies via ACH, wire, or check. Bulk processing for multiple vendors. Automated recurring payments for regular fuel contracts. Zero fees on eligible wallet payments.*
Maintenance Contractor Payments
Pay mechanics, body shops, engine specialists, detailing services. Individual or bulk contractor payments. Automated 1099 generation for tax compliance. Virtual card payments for specialty repair vendors.
Driver & Staff Payroll
Process driver wages with complex pay structures—hourly rates, overtime, shift differentials. Support union pay scales. Credit card payment option bridges cash gaps during grant reimbursement delays. Automated recurring payroll.
Facility & Operational Expenses
Automate depot rent, utilities, insurance, cleaning services, security. Set up recurring payments. Pay by credit card to extend cash flow during reimbursement cycles. Complete expense tracking for budgeting.
Federal & State Grant Remittances
Process local match payments to federal grants. State DOT funding documentation. Complete audit trails for grant compliance. Automatic fund segregation between grant and operating sources.
Corporate Client Billing
Send payment links to corporate clients for shuttle services, charter contracts, advertising revenue. Accept ACH, credit card, or eCheck. Automated recurring billing for monthly contracts.
Three steps to efficient transit payment operations.
Connect Your Systems
Link your transit agency bank accounts—operating account, grant accounts, payroll account. Integrate with your transit management software or accounting system. Configure approval workflows for purchasing thresholds.
Set Up Payment Automation
Upload vendor lists with payment terms. Configure driver payroll with union pay scales. Tag payment categories to grant programs. Set up recurring payments for regular suppliers and facilities.
Process & Track Everything
Upload bulk vendor payment files—everyone paid simultaneously. Process payroll with automated calculations. Generate grant compliance reports instantly. Track every transaction against budget allocations in real-time.
Connect Your Systems
Link your transit agency bank accounts—operating account, grant accounts, payroll account. Integrate with your transit management software or accounting system. Configure approval workflows for purchasing thresholds.
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Set Up Payment Automation
Upload vendor lists with payment terms. Configure driver payroll with union pay scales. Tag payment categories to grant programs. Set up recurring payments for regular suppliers and facilities.
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Process & Track Everything
Upload bulk vendor payment files—everyone paid simultaneously. Process payroll with automated calculations. Generate grant compliance reports instantly. Track every transaction against budget allocations in real-time.
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Features built for transit operations.
Federal Grant Compliance & Tracking
Tag payments to FTA Section 5307 (Urban), 5310 (Elderly/Disabled), 5311 (Rural), CMAQ, or state programs. Automatic local match calculations. Real-time spending tracking against grant allocations. Prevent over-budget transactions automatically.
Multi-Level Approval Workflows
Configure approval chains matching your procurement policies. Operations manager submits → Finance reviews → Transit director approves → Controller processes. Dollar thresholds trigger appropriate approval levels. Complete audit trail for every payment.
Bulk Vendor Payment Processing
Upload CSV files with 50+ monthly vendors. System validates data, checks for duplicates, processes simultaneously. Track payment status for every vendor. Zero transaction fees on eligible wallet payments.*
Union Payroll Compliance
Support complex union pay structures. Multiple pay scales by seniority and classification. Automatic overtime calculations per union rules. Shift differential tracking. Benefits deduction management.
Fleet Maintenance Tracking
Link payments to specific fleet assets. Track maintenance spending by vehicle number. Monitor vendor spending patterns. Identify cost anomalies across your fleet.
Budget vs. Actual Reporting
Real-time comparison of planned vs. actual spending. Grant allocation tracking. Operating budget monitoring. Department-level expense reporting. Export reports for board meetings and grant compliance.
Solutions tailored by transit operation type.
Public Transit Agencies
Operation Profile: Federal grant funding, complex procurement rules, union labor, fixed-route service.
Zil Money Solution:
- Federal grant tracking and compliance reporting
- Multi-level approval workflows for procurement
- Union payroll with complex pay structures
- Bulk vendor payment processing
- Complete audit trails for FTA examinations
Regional Bus Systems
Operation Profile: Multi-county service areas, state and federal grants, large driver workforce, fuel expense heavy
Zil Money Solution:
- State DOT and FTA grant segregation
- Bulk fuel vendor payment automation
- Large-scale driver payroll processing
- Multi-location depot expense tracking
- Farebox revenue and grant funding reconciliation
Commuter Rail & Light Rail
Operation Profile: Capital-intensive infrastructure, specialized maintenance, mixed funding sources, contractor-heavy workforce
Zil Money Solution:
- Capital project payment tracking
- Specialized contractor payments (signal, track, electrical)
- Infrastructure maintenance vendor management
- Bond funding and operating budget segregation
- Engineering consultant payment processing
Private Charter & Shuttle Services
Operation Profile: Corporate clients, flexible operations, simpler compliance, competitive pricing pressure
Zil Money Solution:
- Corporate client billing with payment links
- Simple driver payroll processing
- Fuel and maintenance vendor automation
- Credit card rewards on operational expenses
- Clean accounting for tax preparation
Paratransit & Demand-Response Services
Operation Profile: FTA 5310 grants, social service agencies, smaller fleets, specialized insurance
Zil Money Solution:
- FTA 5310 grant compliance tracking
- Social service agency invoicing
- Small fleet maintenance vendor payments
- Specialized insurance premium automation
- Volunteer driver stipend processing
Smart strategies for transit cash flow challenges.
The Grant Reimbursement Gap Challenge
The Reality
Federal and state grants reimburse on 30-90 day cycles. Fuel vendors need payment weekly. Drivers need payroll bi-weekly. Maintenance can’t wait for reimbursement approval.
The Solution
Pay operational expenses with business credit card through Zil Money. Extend cash flow 30-45 days while waiting for grant reimbursements. Critical breathing room during funding cycles.
Real Impact
Pay vendors on day 1 → Submit for reimbursement → Grant funds arrive day 45 → Card bill due day 60 → 60-day operational runway.
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The Wallet Strategy for Transit
The Approach
Receive farebox revenue, advertising income, and corporate contracts to Zil Money Wallet. Use wallet balance to pay vendors and contractors with zero transaction fees on eligible payments.*
Why It Matters
50 vendors × $4 bank fee = $200 monthly wasted. Zero fees on eligible wallet payments* = $2,400 annually saved. Every dollar matters in tight transit budgets.
Real Value
Annual savings can fund additional service hours or fleet maintenance.
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The Credit Card Rewards Strategy
The Opportunity
Pay operational expenses—fuel, parts, insurance—with business credit card. Earn 1.5-2% cash back or travel rewards on hundreds of thousands in annual operational spend.
The Calculation
$500,000 annual fuel spend × 2% rewards = $10,000 annually earned. That’s funding for additional driver training, facility improvements, or technology upgrades.
Important Note
Credit card processing fees apply, but value from rewards plus cash flow extension often exceeds the cost.
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Integrates with transit management systems.
Transit Management Software
Compatible with Trapeze, INIT, Clever Devices, RouteMatch, TripSpark. Sync payroll data, maintenance schedules, vendor invoices. Eliminate duplicate data entry between systems.
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Accounting & ERP Systems
QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, Tyler Technologies, Oracle integration. Automatic transaction categorization by grant source, department, expense type. Real-time budget tracking.
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Payroll Processing Systems
Connect to your existing payroll software or use Zil Money’s payroll capabilities. Support for union pay structures, overtime rules, benefits deductions. Automated tax withholding and reporting.
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Banking Connections
Connect accounts from 22,000+ financial institutions. Support multiple accounts—operating, payroll, grant accounts. Real-time balance monitoring across all accounts.
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Built-in compliance for federal transit funding.
FTA Grant Program Support
Section 5307 (Urban)
Track urbanized area formula grant spending. Local match calculations. Operating vs. capital expense segregation.
Section 5310 (Elderly/Disabled)
Specialized transportation funding tracking. Social service agency coordination payments. Complete documentation for program compliance.
Section 5311 (Rural)
Rural area formula grant management. Intercity bus service payments. Non-urbanized area expense tracking.
Section 5337 (State of Good Repair)
Capital asset replacement payment tracking. Preventive maintenance expense documentation. Asset condition reporting integration.
Compliance Documentation
Complete audit trails for every payment. Automatic tagging to grant sources. Exportable reports formatted for FTA requirements. Vendor payment documentation with grant coding. Local match percentage tracking and reporting.
Security standards for public sector transit operations.
SOC 2 Type II Certified
Independently audited security controls. Annual verification meeting government standards. Enterprise-grade protection for all payment and operational data.
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Bank-Grade Encryption
256-bit AES encryption for all payment information. PCI DSS compliant card processing. Employee and vendor financial data completely secured.
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FDIC Partner Banks
Banking services through FDIC member banks. Operating and grant funds protected by federal deposit insurance.
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Government Procurement Compliance
Support state and local procurement regulations. Dollar threshold approval routing. Vendor documentation management. Complete payment history for audits.
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Common questions about transit payment management.
Everything transit operations need to know about Zil Money.
Tag each payment to your specific grant program (FTA 5307, 5310, 5311, state DOT). System tracks spending against grant allocations automatically. Generate compliance reports for federal audits with one click. Automatic local match calculations. Real-time visibility into grant budget vs. actual spending.
Yes. Upload a CSV file with your monthly vendors—fuel suppliers, parts vendors, contractors. System validates data and processes all payments simultaneously. Zero transaction fees on eligible wallet payments.* Track payment status for every vendor in real-time.
Configure approval chains matching your procurement policies. Set dollar thresholds—$500, $5,000, $25,000. Payments automatically route to appropriate approval levels. Operations manager → Finance director → General manager. Complete audit trail for every approval.
Absolutely. Support complex union pay structures with multiple classifications, seniority levels, overtime rules, shift differentials. Automated calculations based on your union contract terms. Benefits deductions integrated. Tax withholding managed.
Use your business credit card to pay vendors through Zil Money. Extend cash flow 30-45 days while waiting for federal or state reimbursements. Critical for maintaining operations when grant payments delay. Credit card processing fees apply.
Receive farebox revenue, corporate contracts, and advertising income to your Zil Money Wallet. Pay vendors from wallet balance—zero transaction fees on eligible ACH payments.* Pre-fund operations to eliminate per-transaction costs.
Yes. Integration available with major transit management platforms—Trapeze, INIT, Clever Devices, RouteMatch. Sync payroll, maintenance, and vendor data. API available for custom systems.
Complete audit trails for every payment automatically maintained. Exportable reports formatted for FTA requirements. Payment coding by grant source included. Vendor documentation organized. Ready for Triennial Reviews, State Management Reviews, or annual audits.
Transparent pricing for transit operations.
Eligible Wallet Payments:* $0 transaction fees
Core Platform: Free to start
Same-Day ACH: Standard processing fees apply
Credit Card Payments: Standard industry rates (earn rewards + extend cash flow)
Wire Transfers: Standard fees apply
Check Mailing: $1.25 per check via USPS
Bulk Payment Processing: Same low rates regardless of volume
Real-World Transit Impact
Regional System Example
50 monthly vendors × $4 bank fee = $200/month
Zil Money Wallet: $0 in fees*
Annual Savings: $2,400
Savings can fund: 120 hours of additional service or driver training
Small Agency Example
25 monthly vendors × $4 bank fee = $100/month
Zil Money Wallet: $0 in fees*
Annual Savings: $1,200
Savings can fund: Fleet maintenance tools or safety equipment
*Zero transaction fees on eligible ACH payments made through Zil Money Wallet only. Credit card processing, same-day ACH, wire transfers, and check mailing have associated fees. Complete pricing at zilmoney.com/pricing.
✓ Federal Grant Compliance Built-In
✓ $100B+ Transaction Value Processed
✓ SOC 2 Type II Certified
✓ FDIC Partner Banks