U.S. diesel rises to $6.529 a gallon, squeezing truckers’ margins

The national average price of on-highway diesel reached $6.529 per gallon on September 21, up 24.4 cents from $6.285 a week earlier, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The figures, released September 22, are the agency’s latest weekly diesel prices.

For an owner-operator buying 200 gallons, that weekly increase adds $48.80 to a fill-up at the national average price. The same purchase would cost $1,305.80 at the September 21 average, before accounting for any difference between the national figure and the price at a particular truck stop.

Where a driver fuels up makes a substantial difference. The EIA reported an average of $8.246 per gallon in California, compared with $6.177 on the Gulf Coast. Its published prices include taxes.

Higher fuel spending puts immediate pressure on the cost of a trip, particularly when a driver has already agreed to a freight rate. The EIA’s next weekly diesel price release is scheduled for September 29.