Story perspectives

Diesel Hits Record $6.35, Raising Truck Fuel Costs

By Drooid · Sep 17, 2026, 2:57 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

GasBuddy chief Patrick De Haan reported U.S. diesel hit a record $6.35 per gallon.
Truck driver Lewie Pugh said each $1 diesel rise adds about $400 to a truck’s fuel cost.
Nebraska farmer John Bartman reported diesel over $6 per gallon costs his farm $1,800 daily.
Nebraska Farm Bureau president Mark McHargue warned removing sales-tax exemptions could raise farmers’ input taxes by 170 %.

History

Historical Context

In October 1973 OAPEC, the Arab arm of OPEC, imposed an oil embargo on the United States after the Yom Kippur War. The embargo pushed U.S. gasoline prices from 38.5 cents in May 1973 to 55.1 cents by June 1974, prompting rationing and odd-even purchase rules. The crisis spurred Nixon’s creation of a federal energy office, a precedent cited as policymakers address today’s diesel price spike.

1 of 2

Story summary

GasBuddy chief Patrick De Haan reported U.S. diesel hit a record $6.35 per gallon.
Truck driver Lewie Pugh said each $1 diesel rise adds about $400 to a truck’s fuel cost.
Nebraska farmer John Bartman reported diesel over $6 per gallon costs his farm $1,800 daily.
Nebraska Farm Bureau president Mark McHargue warned removing sales-tax exemptions could raise farmers’ input taxes by 170 %.

1 / 2