Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Diesel Forecast to Average $3.76 in 2014

A new forecast is calling for lower fuel prices, due in large part to lower prices for crude oil.

Evan Lockridge
Evan LockridgeFormer Business Contributing Editor
October 10, 2013
Diesel Forecast to Average $3.76 in 2014

Credit: DOE/EIA

2 min to read


A new forecast is calling for lower fuel prices, due in large part to lower prices for crude oil.

Credit: DOE/EIA

The U.S. Energy Department’s Energy Information Administration’s new Short-Term Energy Outlook projects diesel, which averaged $3.97 per gallon in 2012, will average $3.93 per gallon this year and $3.76 per gallon in 2014. The new forecast is three cents lower for 2013 and six cents lower for next year, compared to the previous prediction.

Ad Loading...

EIA’s forecast for regular gasoline is an average of $3.34 per gallon in the fourth quarter of 2013. The annual average regular gasoline retail price, which was $3.63 per gallon in 2012, is expected to be $3.52 per gallon in 2013 and $3.40 per gallon in 2014.

Part of this is due to the expectation of lower crude oil prices. Brent crude oil spot prices have fallen from a recent peak of $117 per barrel in early September to $108 per barrel at the end of the month, as some crude oil production restarted in Libya and concerns over the conflict in Syria moderated.

EIA expects the Brent crude oil prices to continue to weaken, averaging $107 per barrel during the fourth quarter of 2013 and $102 per barrel in 2014.

Ad Loading...

Projected West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices should average $101 per barrel during the fourth quarter of 2013 and $96 per barrel during 2014.

Global consumption is expected to grow by 1 million barrels per day in 2013 and by another 1.2 million barrels per day in 2014, with China, the Middle East, Central & South America, accounting for much of the consumption growth.

Despite the increase in demand, this is expected to result in less demand for crude from OPEC member nations while non-OPEC supply growth is North America is expected to increase by 1.4 million barrels per day and 1.1 million barrels per day in 2013 and 2014, respectively, due to continued production increases in U.S. onshore tight oil formations and from Canadian oil sands.

More Drivers

American flag in background with photos of military truck and Freedom Haulers ad graphic
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJuly 30, 2026

Trump Administration Looks to Put More Veterans Behind the Wheel

The Freedom Haulers program pulls together existing and expanded programs at several federal agencies to recruit veterans to drive commercial heavy-duty trucks and cut the red tape for them to get a CDL, training, and employment.

Read More →
Equipmentby Jim ParkJuly 30, 2026

Putting Mack’s Command Steer to the Test

A test drive of Mack’s Command Steer active steering system evaluates how it can make truck driving easier and less tiring.

Read More →
Truck driver behind the wheel with illustration overlaid of someone handing out cash
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJuly 28, 2026

Competition Heating Up for Truck Drivers

New report reveals rising driver hiring costs, the return of sign-on bonuses, growing AI advantages, and the operational factors shaping driver retention.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Line of gray semi trucks with Fraley & Schilling logo
Safety & ComplianceJuly 15, 2026

How Fraley & Schilling Improved Logbook Compliance by Over 50%

Fraley & Schilling needed a way to close a compliance workflow gap in its ELD system without adding more work from driver training, reminders, and back-office follow-ups. It found the answer in a custom driver app.

Read More →
Volvo American Truck Simulator.
Driversby News/Media ReleaseJuly 8, 2026

Volvo Goes Gaming

Volvo has roared into American Truck Simulator with two new flagship trucks.

Read More →
Two black men in safety vests walking together laughing in a truck fleet yard
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJuly 6, 2026

What the Best Fleets to Drive For Teach About Driver Retention

Survey fatigue, AI-powered routing, owner-operator expectations, and the decline of social media all emerged as themes from this year's Best Fleets to Drive For program.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Podcast thumbnail showing Jane Jazrawy, the words "When Drivers Tune Out," and a line drawing of a truck.
DriversJuly 2, 2026

Driver Retention Lessons From the Best Fleets to Drive For

What separates trucking's best workplaces from the rest? Jane Jazrawy shares the biggest lessons from this year's Best Fleets to Drive For program on driver retention, communication, AI, and workforce trends on the HDT Talks Trucking podcast.

Read More →
Man standing beside tractor-trailer in sepia tone with the words "Farewell CDL" superimposed on top
Driversby Jack RobertsJuly 1, 2026

Farewell, CDL: Why I'm Giving Up My Commercial Driver's License

After more than 20 years as a CDL holder, HDT Executive Editor Jack Roberts is letting his commercial license expire. Not because he wants to — but because trucking's nuclear verdict crisis has made the risks of public-road test drives too great for editors, manufacturers, and everyone involved.

Read More →
HDT Talks Trucking thumbnail with photo of Jane Jazrawy and the text,, "When Drivers Tune Out"
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJune 24, 2026

How Top Trucking Fleets Improve Driver Retention [Video]

What do healthy snacks, optimized routing, and just picking up the phone have in common? They're all strategies the Best Fleets to Drive For are using to retain truck drivers.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Trucker Path Cargo Net theft overlay.
Driversby News/Media ReleaseJune 23, 2026

Trucker Path Adds Verisk CargoNet Theft Data to Navigation Platform

Trucker Path’s new cargo theft risk overlays give drivers and fleets visibility into high-risk areas, stolen commodity trends, and theft hotspots.

Read More →