Diesel at $6.48 per gallon pushes truck drivers to spend $3,500 a week on fuel, forcing some to quit

It's safe to say that truck drivers around the country are feeling the impact of record-breaking diesel prices.

As of Sept. 19, diesel stood at $6.48 per gallon nationwide, according to AAA. And per GasBuddy, the highest prices can be found in Washington, Hawaii and California, the latter which has seen diesel top $8 per gallon.

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Diesel is needed to fuel trucks that transport food to your local supermarket, vehicles to out-of-state dealerships and your latest retail purchase to a local distribution center, plus much more. The American Trucking Associations estimates that trucks moved 73% of the nation's freight by total weight in 2024.

However, high diesel prices — thanks in part to geopolitical conflicts like the U.S.-Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine War — can strain the supply chain and increase operating costs for logistics companies and freight operators. Ultimately, the prices consumers pay for goods also go up.

Some owner-operators are calling it quits

While the entire trucking industry is feeling the pinch, it's possible that owner operators — drivers with their own trucks in business for themselves — are feeling it the most.

One owner operator, Yahathan, told WALB 10 News that he has cut down on loads because of the distances he has to travel. Owner-operators like himself have had to be extra careful about managing fuel spending of late.

"I feel that diesel for truck drivers, you know, it shouldn't go up at a high rate because we make the world go 'round," he said.

Vatissa Rhodes, whose weekly fuel bill has nearly doubled, said in an interview with ABC affiliate KATU 2 that she is contemplating selling her truck and working for someone else.

"I'm actually already looking to drive for another company to park my truck," she said. "My paycheck has been cut maybe about a third."

On cross-country trips, Rhodes would spend anywhere from $1,700 to $2,000 a week on fuel. Now, it's at least $3,500, she told the outlet. She has been running her own business for six years, as a means to grow her savings and reinvest in her company. But the venture has instead landed her in debt, with each year being more difficult than the last.