Story perspectives

Kentucky Diesel Hits Record $6.38 Gallon as Costs Rise

By Drooid · Sep 26, 2026, 6:15 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

AAA reports Kentucky diesel fuel prices reached $6.38 per gallon, a record high.
Owner-operator Kenneth Howard paid $860 for 130 gallons for his 300-gallon tank.
Kentucky Trucking Association president Rick Taylor said contract drivers may bear fuel costs despite surcharge provisions.
Howard said many truckers are skipping lower-paying freight, potentially passing costs to shoppers.
Howard warned a winter blend change could raise diesel prices further.

History

Historical Context

The 1973 Arab oil embargo, launched by OAPEC in October, sent world crude from $3 to nearly $12 a barrel—a 300 % jump that spiked U.S. gasoline to 55 cents per gallon and drove freight costs up 70 %. Nixon’s price-control response and the ensuing strategic-reserve debate echo today as Kentucky diesel reaches $6.38 per gallon for truckers like Kenneth Howard and Rick Taylor.

1 of 2

Story summary

AAA reports Kentucky diesel fuel prices reached $6.38 per gallon, a record high.
Owner-operator Kenneth Howard paid $860 for 130 gallons for his 300-gallon tank.
Kentucky Trucking Association president Rick Taylor said contract drivers may bear fuel costs despite surcharge provisions.
Howard said many truckers are skipping lower-paying freight, potentially passing costs to shoppers.
Howard warned a winter blend change could raise diesel prices further.

1 / 2