If you are a company driver for most of the large general freight companies like Swift, Schneider, Pam, US Express, etc. they pay for the fuel and most likely get any surcharge that they charge to the customer.
I've heard of some companies that require you to fuel at their various terminals even if it takes you out of route, but the majority it seems gives you a fuel card and probably has a list of preferred fuel locations like Pilot, Flying J or whatever.
Also most of these training companies require a year of service in exchange for the training. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it can be if you get stuck with a bad trainer or a company that wont give you the miles.
If your looking at getting training on your own you might check into WIA(Workforce Investment Act, when I used it back in 1997 it was called job training partnership act). It is a program that pays for training and is what I used to get my CDL. I went to my local Work One office (unemployment office) and signed up and they paid for a 4 week course at Sage which is a very good school and has a 1 student per truck policy.
http://www.sageschools.com/sage-programs.htm check um out. If they have a school close to where you live you can go to class 1 full day for free just to check it out and probably get to ride in the truck too. When I went back for my refresher they were giving "tour rides" to prospective students.
anyways good luck on whatever you chose
Edit: I forgot to mention that .28 is on the low side for newbies. If you have a decent MVR and criminal history and attend a PTDI certified school and graduate with a CDL you should have your pick of decent companies that pay practical route miles of at least .30 per mile. There is also the local option with LTL companies like Old Dominion where you start at around $15 an hour and are home every night. Or if you prefer OTR I heard JB Hunt is again taking recent grads and depending on where you live start you out at .42 per mile after your training.
