How bad is the diesel price spike?
Diesel has been hit even harder than regular gasoline:
- Current price: $4.83/gallon nationally — up 28% since the war started
- Dollar increase: About $1.00 per gallon more than before February 28
- The spike is the largest sustained diesel increase since Hurricane Katrina in 2005
What does this mean per mile?
The math is brutal for truckers:
| Diesel price | Cost per mile (fuel only) |
|---|---|
| $3.80 (pre-war) | ~$0.65/mile |
| $4.60 | $0.79/mile |
| $5.00 | $0.85/mile |
| $5.50 | $0.94/mile |
For a driver running 2,500 miles/week, the difference between pre-war and current diesel is about $350/week more in fuel — or $18,000/year. (FreightWaves)
Who is hit hardest?
Small carriers and owner-operators are the most vulnerable. They can’t negotiate bulk fuel discounts, often can’t pass costs to shippers immediately, and were already dealing with low freight rates and a driver surplus. One trucking executive warned the fuel spike is “hitting fleets fast.” (Heavy Duty Trucking)
A Wisconsin trucker paid $642 to fill 100 gallons of diesel. “The price has to come down,” she said. (Spectrum News)
Are freight surcharges going up?
Yes. When diesel spikes, carriers raise fuel surcharges which get passed to shippers and ultimately consumers:
- Fuel surcharges are calculated weekly based on DOE diesel price data
- Some carriers are also raising base linehaul rates
- Shippers should expect 5-15% higher all-in freight costs in the near term
Tips for truck drivers
- Optimize routes to minimize empty miles
- Use fuel card discount programs (Comdata, EFS, RTS)
- Negotiate fuel surcharges into every load contract
- Idle less — anti-idle technology saves significant fuel
- Track fuel prices along routes and plan fills strategically
- Contact OOIDA (Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association) for advocacy and resources