u/AutoTransport101

Diesel prices are getting brutal for anyone moving cars right now. As of September 28, the national average is about $6.45/gallon, according to AAA, with the EIA reporting a weekly average of $6.53 for September 21. That’s a huge jump from roughly $3.69 a year ago.

In California, diesel fuel prices are averaging at $8.39 which makes the state the highest in comparison to the rest of the country.

California is experiencing the highest diesel fuel rate prices in the country.

The bigger question is: when does it come back down?
The EIA currently expects diesel to average around $5.55 in Q4 2026 and $4.40 for 2027. They expect oil supplies and inventories to gradually recover during 2027, but the diesel market could remain tight well into next year.

So there probably isn't going to be a quick fix. If the EIA's outlook holds, 2027 is when we could start seeing meaningful relief but getting back to the $3-$4 diesel that carriers were used to isn't something anyone can count on yet.

• EIA diesel price data
• EIA Press Release (09/09/2026)
• EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook
• AAA fuel prices

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOKSIeCD3qU

https://www.facebook.com/7NewsDC/videos/a-major-federal-crackdown-on-the-trucking-industry-is-underway-with-officials-ta/1391253432384860/

This man founded the roots of an entire industry:

• Alexander Winton - Wikipedia
• Who was Alexander Winton
• Cleveland History: Alexander Winton
• Pushing the Auto Transport Industry Forward
• The History of Auto Transport
• Evolution of Car Shipping

Here's a message from Secretary Sean Duffy

https://hasselsvensson.se/Bilder/Plymouth/1957/LASTBILS.jpg

• 38,926 inspections.
• 69,446 violations.
• 13,273 out-of-service orders.
• 25,008 carriers inspected.

If Your Violation Is Wrong, You Have a Real Way to Fight It.

• https://www.freightwaves.com/news/13273-trucks-got-parked-during-blitz-week-if-your-violation-is-wrong-you-have-a-real-way-to-fight-it

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/super-dispatch-diesel-price-volatility-strains-auto-transport-margins

Everybody talks about rates until diesel jumps a buck and a half and suddenly carriers are expected to haul cars coast to coast on hope and caffeine. This FreightWaves piece breaks down how fuel volatility is squeezing auto transport margins hard right now. Diesel’s sitting way higher than last year, but load prices haven’t kept up, which means carriers are eating a good chunk of the increase just to keep wheels moving. Problem is, fuel’s already one of the biggest costs in this business, and when prices swing this fast, small carriers feel it first. Ain’t a lot of room for error when tires, insurance, repairs, and fuel all decide to get expensive at the same time.

Check out national gas prices by state here: https://gasprices.aaa.com