Fuel tax relief is coming—but not everywhere

Plus: Class 8 orders up 126% | Kenworth's Freedom 250 truck designs

Insane diesel prices are crushing trucking businesses in California and beyond, and some states are looking to temporarily stop fuel taxes. We have the latest on the situation, plus tips to curb fuel consumption in the near term.

And a look at why an AI assistant for small fleets and owner-operators hasn't quite caught on as much as expected.

First, though, check out this trucker's video for a good laugh. Dogs might be our best friends, but no one ever said they're patient!

⬇️ $5.608

AVG. COST OF DIESEL PER GALLON IN U.S. AS OF 04/13, DOWN -0.035¢

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

ROADSIDE READS

Pump prices. This article breaks down the measures and actions in various states to pause fuel taxes.

Lessons learned. What can cargo theft incidents teach us? This supply chain expert shares 7 lessons to be gleaned.

What happened to Bubba? A look at the AI assistant for small fleets, and why it has yet to take over the trucking industry.

America turns 250. Check out photos of Kenworth's snazzy truck designs, celebrating the nation's 250th birthday coming up this summer.

INDUSTRY VOICES

Calif. fleet owners struggle as diesel prices keep ticking up

“Where we’re trying to avoid buying fuel is here in the state of California." — Greg Dubuque, Liberty Linehaul West

Dubuque is a third-generation trucker and general manager of a Los Angeles-based trucking company. Diesel prices in California are hovering above $7.50 per gallon, almost $2 more than the national average.

As a result, he's instructed drivers to plan their routes with fuel in mind, avoiding buying in California when possible, and called up some shippers to renegotiate prices.

Why this matters: With diesel at record highs in many parts of the country, route planning is more important than ever. Trucking firms with interstate or OTR operations that strategically plan where drivers fill up could save costs—separating themselves from the fleets that simply wait for prices to eventually go down. (Los Angeles Times)

FAST LANE

"Coaching driver behavior from harsh braking or idling can really improve consumption in the very near term."- Jennifer Vander Zanden, COO of Breakthrough

As oil prices and diesel costs continue to rise, fleets are looking for ways to save. While new equipment could help, that's a longer-term change. Zanden goes through some immediate and short-term adjustments that fleets can deploy. (HDT Talks Trucking)

ROAD REPORT

Trucking purges jobs in multi-year trend

The latest numbers are in, and the trucking industry shed 800 jobs in March, continuing a multi-year tightening of capacity. Since 2023, the industry has eliminated almost 115,000 jobs.

Why this matters: DOT regulations could force out even more drivers, but these numbers are a clear sign of the market's supply-demand imbalances. Fewer drivers and carriers could mean higher rates for those still trucking along—but it could also create even more difficulties for fleet owners hiring drivers. (Land Line Media)