Truck drivers from Miami to Charlotte are sounding the alarm as diesel prices climb to more than $6 per gallon, a jump of over 70% from a year ago. “Fuel prices are going up, the rates are not going up,” said Miami‑based driver Suave Dorsett, noting that the higher cost is hitting his pocket hard.
Rising fuel costs strain small operators
Many owners‑operators say the spike is forcing them to trim routes and consider pulling rigs off the road. Dorsett, who has been behind the wheel for nine years, reported seeing diesel at $7.40 per gallon while traveling through Ohio. He warned that smaller companies could be the first to buckle, creating a “domino effect” that would eventually affect larger carriers and consumers.
Louisiana driver Tyler Rinaldi, who hauls hazardous materials for an LTL carrier, confirmed that weekend routes have already been reduced. “When they start cutting routes and trying to limit the expenses on what routes they send out, that takes away from the people that work in the company’s pockets,” he said, adding that fewer trips mean less money coming home to his family.
Avante Jackson, an 11‑year veteran from Charlotte, echoed the concern, noting that putting most of his profit into the tank leaves little to keep his business afloat. “If I’m putting all of my profit in the tank, at the end of the day, what do I have left to keep the doors open?” he asked.
Trump administration’s response
President Trump has publicly predicted that oil prices will fall “like a stone” once the conflict with Iran ends. He has also pressed European partners to release emergency diesel reserves. The G7 agreed to release 100 million barrels of oil and fuel products from pledged emergency stockpiles over four months, including a substantial diesel release in the first 20 days.
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said the President signed an executive order that will quickly cut diesel costs and put money directly back into the pockets of American truckers, saving them over $100 each time they refill. “The President wants to see prices at the pump fall and continues to take historic action to ease temporary disruptions,” Rogers added.
Industry data and historical context
The American Transportation Research Institute reported that trucking fuel costs surged 53.7% in 2022, driving a 21.3% jump in overall operating costs to a record $2.25 per mile. The current spike mirrors that 2022 crunch, when diesel reached a then‑record $5.82 per gallon amid the pandemic and the Ukraine war.
Despite the challenges, the administration’s push for additional supply and the decision not to impose a diesel export ban aim to stabilize the market. Trump emphasized that the temporary price increase is a small price to pay for preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
What drivers want
Truckers urged the President to remember the essential role they play in keeping America moving. “We truly are the backbone of America, we keep America moving,” said Jackson. “Think about the little guys out here each and every day and help bring fuel prices down.”
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
