Diesel fuel prices rose 5.8 cents to $4.034 a gallon — its first gain in six weeks — while gas prices rose for the first time in seven weeks. Gas prices rose 0.8 cent to $3.437 a gallon. The price had plunged 42.1 cents in the prior six weeks. The diesel fuel price decline leaves trucking’s main fleet fuel 7 cents over the same week a year ago, while gas prices are 13 cents higher than the same week last year. With all of the crazy ups and downs with diesel fuel prices and gas prices, they are basically within 15% of last year.
Monday’s diesel fuel gain is the biggest in three months, since it took a 6.3-cent hike on Aug. 27. The previous two weeks’ diesel fuel prices of less than $4 were the first below that level since mid-August. Diesel fuel had declined 17.4 cents in the previous five weeks from its $4.15 per-gallon average on Oct. 15, the highest price in more than four years.
With winter well on its way, increased demand for heating oil will put pressure on the price of diesel fuel and might make your fuel card go a little crazy for awhile. Make sure if your operations runs in the North or Canada that you are a wise fleet manager and putting in diesel fuel additive to prevent possible breakdowns. It is also very important that you store you diesel exhaust fluids ( DEF ) in a warm place. Don’t get frozen out with your fuel management.
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