Diesel volatility bites fleets
Diesel prices keep climbing and are pressuring fleet margins, prompting carriers to rethink fuel buying—surveys show fleets are considering bulk or contract purchases to manage risk. That fuel squeeze is slowing commercial vehicle financing and stressing smaller fleets with higher delinquencies and deferred purchases. (ccjdigital.com) (fleetowner.com)
Wholesale U.S. diesel sales price was $5.401 per gallon for the week ending March 30, 2026, according to Federal Reserve (FRED). (fred.stlouisfed.org) Weekly movement slowed nationally at 2.6 cents, but California retail diesel surged past $7.00 per gallon in the most recent reporting period, per Commercial Carrier Journal. (ccjdigital.com) A FleetOwner survey published this month reports many fleets are actively reconsidering fuel procurement — including bulk buys and fixed contracts — as a primary risk-management response to higher fuel costs. (fleetowner.com) Market-level stress shows up in credit performance: 60+-day delinquencies on equipment ABS spiked in May 2025, with KBRA’s Equipment Loan & Lease Index up roughly 34 basis points month‑over‑month, flagging strain in transportation-backed pools. (missionfinancialservices.net) Lenders have tightened underwriting for truck loans and lease programs, increasing manual reviews and turning away some owner-operators who previously qualified under automated approvals, according to specialist lenders and industry analysts. (sandhusranleasing.com) Industry analysts and fleet publications warn small and regional fleets are showing higher delinquency risk and are deferring vehicle purchases, while larger, fuel-efficient carriers are positioned to gain share as marginal operators scale back, per FleetOwner and C.H. Robinson market commentary. (fleetowner.com)
