Diesel Surge Squeezes Trucking Margins
Diesel prices near $5/gallon nationally, retracting spot van and reefer rates and pressuring truckers to negotiate surcharges.
The national average diesel price is currently $4.97 per gallon, a level not seen since late January 2023. This surge is attributed to refinery maintenance, increased demand, and geopolitical tensions. The rising fuel costs are hitting smaller carriers and owner-operators particularly hard, as they often lack the negotiating power to secure favorable fuel surcharges. This puts additional pressure on their already thin profit margins. Spot rates for van and reefer freight are declining, further exacerbating the financial strain on truckers. This combination of high fuel costs and lower rates creates a challenging environment for profitability.
