I really think it will depend on the tree and if it is bare-root or was container grown.
If planting a container grown fruit tree, I would think a fertilization the first year would be very beneficial. Container trees are often grown in a soil free growing media that often dries out quickly. While light in weight, the nurseries producing them have to water very frequently to keep the roots moist. This results in a lot of leaching. I would definitely fertilize a tree planted the first growing season from a container!
Fertilize a newly planted bare-root tree? It depends on the roots. Normally I do but I like to plant them in spring (April) and then fertilize early-mid June with a liquid fertilizer at 1/2 the suggested rate. I don’t fertilize at planting time on bare-root as they have lost so many roots in the digging process from commercial bare-root nurseries that it would be easy to over fertilize. At least I feel waiting 40-60 days from planting and yet fertilizing no later than June 15th would help in the first years growth. I guess it would depend on your soil too and how well rooted the bare-root fruit tree was when it arrived from the nursery of purchase.
Yes granular fertilizer is a salt and can burn if applied too heavy (tree dessicates from lack of available water). That is why I prefer to use a liquid fertilizer the first year on newly planted trees and resort to using a granular product after the first year (because it is a cheaper way to fertilize). Just my thoughts on what seems to be working for me!