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Diesel hits $6.31 all-time high, crushing trucking margins

By Drooid · Sep 17, 2026, 11:33 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

U.S. Diesel Hits Record

U.S. diesel price reaches an all-time high of $6.31 per gallon, raising cost pressures.
J.B. Hunt CFO Brad Delco said diesel headwinds caused a $10 million loss.
Small truckload carriers and owner-operators report the biggest losses as diesel costs surge.
Shippers continue absorbing higher rates despite large carriers using fuel surcharge programs.
Farmers, construction firms and Republicans in farm states face diesel-driven cost pressures before midterms.

Summary

Reinke Blames Capacity

Anne Reinke, Intermodal Association of North America president, said English-language proficiency enforcement and driver-school crackdowns cut trucking capacity.
Reduced capacity is pushing shippers toward intermodal, with some moving 100 % of lanes to rail.
Norfolk Southern reported a 13.7 % year-over-year rise in intermodal volumes to 82,417 units in the week before Sept. 5.
J.B. Hunt intermodal president Darren Field said shippers use “mini-bid” deals to renegotiate rates outside the annual cycle.

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U.S. Diesel Hits Record

U.S. diesel price reaches an all-time high of $6.31 per gallon, raising cost pressures.
J.B. Hunt CFO Brad Delco said diesel headwinds caused a $10 million loss.
Small truckload carriers and owner-operators report the biggest losses as diesel costs surge.
Shippers continue absorbing higher rates despite large carriers using fuel surcharge programs.
Farmers, construction firms and Republicans in farm states face diesel-driven cost pressures before midterms.

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