NATIONWIDE — Diesel prices have hit the highest level ever recorded in the United States, with the national average reaching $6.51 per gallon and drivers across the country reporting that the costs are eating deeply into their earnings, threatening their livelihoods, and in some cases pushing them to consider leaving trucking altogether.
The national average has climbed more than 73% since earlier this year, driven in part by global supply disruptions. GasBuddy petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan cited the war in Iran and Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure as contributing factors tightening global diesel supply. Georgia hit a record $6.35 per gallon, while California’s average reached $8.42. Some drivers report seeing prices as high as $12 per gallon in parts of California. Ohio is at $6.54, Indiana at $6.53, and Kentucky at $6.20.
What Drivers Are Saying
The numbers are staggering at the pump. At a TA Travel Center in Florence, Kentucky, diesel was selling for $6.45 per gallon. Texas driver Eddie Adams watched 58 gallons ring up to $375 during a stop there. “I had a friend of mine yesterday that got fuel — $948. That’s crazy,” Adams said.
Owner-operator David Borman said the increases are hitting him directly. “It’s eating right into my weekly take-home. Right into it. And it’s hard,” he said. Borman noted that fuel surcharges help offset some costs but don’t cover everything, and owner-operators feel the pain most acutely because they pay for fuel out of pocket while also covering all other operating costs.
Carl Knapp, who has been driving since 1974, said a full fill-up now costs him $1,300. He leases his truck and trailer for $2,300 a week including insurance. “Once the fuel prices come out, there’s very little left. It’s getting to a point where it’s not worth it,” Knapp said. His 52-year career in trucking may be nearing its end.
Driver Kayla Freeman put it plainly: “If they stay this high, if they go up even higher, and if I can’t turn a good profit within a few months, then I might look at something else.”
Terry Rutledge said high prices are taking an additional $800 to $1,000 out of his weekly earnings on top of spending over $1,000 each fill-up.
Edward Harris, who has driven trucks for more than two decades, said he has never seen prices this high. “6, 7 dollars a gallon. 7 dollars if you go up near Chicago or even higher if you go out near New York. It all depends on where you are,” he said.
The Impact on Consumers
Julia Doherty of Cincinnati-based Total Quality Logistics said drivers are spending roughly $300 more per fill-up compared to just a couple of weeks ago. She warned the effects will eventually reach consumers. “Seventy percent of all things in the U.S. are moved on a truck. So rising diesel prices directly correlates to prices rising in goods,” Doherty said. A shipment from Cincinnati to Denver that typically costs around $5,000 could now run closer to $5,400.
Fresh food may be among the most vulnerable. “Things like fresh meats, produce, those need to move and they need to move quickly,” Doherty said. “So you can’t sit out and play the waiting game on diesel prices.”
A Possible October Strike
Social media discussions about a potential trucker strike or protest on October 1 have been circulating. Several drivers told reporters they had heard about it, though they were divided on whether to participate. Borman said he opposes a shutdown, arguing it would ultimately hurt consumers. A spokesperson for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association told Yahoo News they had no knowledge of any organized strike.
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has called on the Trump administration to ban U.S. diesel exports to ease prices for American farmers and truckers. A White House official told Scripps News the administration is not currently considering an export ban or other restrictions.
Interviews courtesy of local media.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
