For most U.S. truck drivers, diesel fuel has risen nearly a dollar per gallon in one week, with California paying the highest average price of $5.99.
Leaders of the trucking industry are warning the rapid increase will soon affect store prices, as they have no choice but to pass the cost to consumers.
“Our addiction to foreign energy sources not only empowers America’s most dangerous adversaries, but it’s also having a serious impact right now on our industry’s ability to keep costs down for our customers throughout the supply chain,” said Chris Spear, American Trucking Associations president and CEO, in a statement.
Spear called for the Biden administration and Congress to “get real about American energy independence.”
April Gregg brokers contracts with independent truckers in California, telling FOX 11 current contracts could not have anticipated or factored in the steep diesel cost increase. She said independent truckers would have no choice but to increase their rates after being hit hard at the pump.
“All the money is going into fuel, and I am not sure if they are all going to make it,” Gregg said. “Whether it’s moving cans of tomato juice or dirt from a washbasin to keep it clear, it’s all the same — someone has to do it, and if it costs more to do it, it’s you and me who end up making up the difference.”
Truckers are saying they could pay as much as $1,000 to fill up a tank by next week.
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Kevin Burch runs a fleet of 100 semitrucks for Martin Transportation Systems. He predicted consumers would see store prices go up within the next week or two.
“It definitely is passed on to the consumer in higher freight rates,” Burch told WCPO.
Burch said he is concerned the rising fuel costs will affect an already strained driver shortage.
“It’s going to be tough for the small independent owner/operators out there who are trying to move America’s goods,” Burch said. “They just might say, ‘You know what, I’m just going to park it for a few days, maybe a week, and see what happens rather than pay that big price.’”
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The rising costs add to the pressures placed on truckers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Everybody is, like, emotionally fatigued, you know,” said 16-year truck driver Ben Lee. “Everybody is trying to sort, trying to protect their mental health because it was rough. Then, you go right into this.”
