How are record high diesel prices affecting the trucking industry?

Increases in fuel prices depend on various global problems. Truck drivers can’t control this process, that is why the trucking industry has faced record high fuel prices. This complicates many workflows. Nobody likes when services become more expensive. So how does rising fuel prices affect us? Of course, if drivers pay more for fuel, they will have to raise the price of transportation. This leads to the fact that the price of goods will also increase.

Do you want to know how much the cost of diesel fuel has increased in the country? In just one month, the average cost of a gallon of diesel fuel in the US has risen by $1.50. This means that the average fuel price is about $4.91 per gallon. Of course, these figures vary from state to state. For example, in California, drivers pay no less than $6 per gallon. It really hurts private truckers. Many trucking companies and carriers have already begun to complain that this fact reduces their income.

Answering the question of how record high fuel prices are affecting the trucking industry we understand that, first of all, this has a strong and significant impact on expenses. How much did you use to spend on fueling your truck per week or per month? We calculated that the average truck driver used to spend $600 on truck fuel. Now they have to pay $900. Fuel costs used to be $1,600 a week, now they are about $2,000 a week. Can you imagine it? So instead of paying the usual $6,400 per month for fuel, a carrier has to pay $8,000.

For this reason, some private truckers now choose to work for other transport companies. They don’t want to be self-employed anymore and switch back to commercial driving. Many drivers believe that now this is the best and most profitable way for them.

Some owner-operators decided that they can ride it out and get through these tough times. Maybe they will just save money on something else. But this method may affect the quality of their delivery. Because if they start saving money on, for example, truck repairs or dispatch services, this may lead to damage of cargo, delivery delays, or other business problems.

In conclusion, we want to say that the trucking industry was already under pressure. But now it has increased. Ever since the beginning of COVID-19 and its restrictions, the trucking industry has had to survive. After that, many drivers left the industry and we faced a shortage of professional carriers. Now the number of orders for delivery is reduced, just because it is too expensive. But remember, this is all temporary. You shouldn’t forget that companies and supply chains will always need transportation services. Don’t give up! The industry has coped with the pandemic and its consequences or difficulties. That is why the increase in fuel prices should seem like a small thing. Remember what you have already been through. There were the worst periods. But it made you stronger and experienced! Yes, delivery and freight prices will rise. But we believe that each of us will withstand the impact. We must adjust and grow our business.