Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Average Diesel Cost Falls to Near 5-Year Low

The average cost of on-highway diesel continues falling in most of the country, declining another 3.5 cents over the past week.

Evan Lockridge
Evan LockridgeFormer Business Contributing Editor
February 2, 2015
Average Diesel Cost Falls to Near 5-Year Low

 

2 min to read


The average cost of on-highway diesel continues falling in most of the country, declining another 3.5 cents over the past week.

The latest U.S. Energy Department survey price is $2.831 per gallon, $1.12 less than the same time a year ago and at its lowest level in nearly five years. The weekly drop is the 12 consecutive one, though the average price diesel has fallen most of the weeks since being above $4 in February and March of last year.

Ad Loading...

Prices continued falling in all the different parts of the country over the past week, except in New England, where it added 1 cent for an average of $3.028, but still nearly $1.13 less than the same time in 2014.

All other parts saw prices fall between 1.7 cent in the Gulf Coast region to $2.769 per gallon, to as much as 5.6 cents in the West Coast region at $2.886 per gallon.

Prices range between a low of $2.765 in the Midwest, down 3.9 cents from a week ago, to as much as $3.041 in the Central Atlantic states, a 3.7 cents decline during the same time.

Ad Loading...

Meantime, the average price of gasoline posted a weekly increase of 2.4 cents, hitting $$2.068 per gallon. The price is $1.224 less than compared to the same time last year.

Regionally, prices increased more than 9 cents in the Midwest region, while recording just a 1 cent hike in the Gulf Coast region. All other parts of the country saw week-to-week declines.

Gasoline ranges from a low of $1.86 in the Gulf Coast region to a high of $2.328 in the West Coast region.

As for the mother of these fuels, crude oil, its price increased both on Monday and over the past week. It gained $1.33 in New York trading during the first weekday in February, closing at $49.57 per barrel, its highest level in nearly a month. Compared to last Tuesday’s opening price it is up more than $4 as drillers reportedly shut down nearly 100 oil rigs in U.S. fields last week.

An anticipated report showing a buildup of U.S. crude oil stocks helped ease concerns of a strike by union workers at nine U.S. refineries that started on Sunday. About 3,800 people are on the picket lines in what is described as the largest strike by refinery workers in 35 years after contract talks between representatives of the United Steel Workers and Shell Oil fell through as they try and hammer out a new contract covering some 30,000 refinery workers at more than 60 locations. Shell is serving as the lead company in talks with the union.

More Fuel Smarts

EquipmentJuly 23, 2026

Cummins Adjusts 2027 Engine Rollout After EPA Proposal

The engine maker will gradually introduce its new Model Year 2027 diesel engines while continuing to offer current models during the transition, citing the EPA's proposed emissions rule changes.

Read More →
Four men in suits on the National Mall with giant video screen showing capitol building in the background
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeJuly 10, 2026

EPA Proposal Could Ease 2027 Truck Costs and Buying Uncertainty

The proposal doesn't change the tougher NOx standard, but it would revise key implementation requirements that manufacturers say have driven up costs and complicated fleet purchasing decisions.

Read More →
Illustration showing Paccar MX engine with sketch illustration of DEF fill tank in background
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeJuly 7, 2026

Cummins, Paccar Ease DEF Derates After EPA Guidance

Updated diesel engine software gives truck operators more time to address emissions-system issues while staying compliant with EPA emissions standards.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration with wrenches in background with "Maintenance in the Messy Middle: Biodiesel" text and NACFE Run on Less logo
Maintenanceby Jack RobertsJuly 2, 2026

Maintenance in the Messy Middle Part 3: Biodiesel

Biodiesel can reduce emissions, improve fuel-system lubricity and use existing diesel infrastructure. But NACFE’s Messy Middle maintenance report says fleets must actively manage storage, cold-weather operation, filters and oil drain intervals to avoid problems.

Read More →
thermo king heavy duty trucking
SponsoredJuly 1, 2026

Enhance Fleet Performance with High-Efficiency Auxiliary Power Units

Drive sustainable cost savings while increasing driver comfort during short- and long-haul logistics operations.

Read More →
Illustration with wrenches in background with "Maintenance in the Messy Middle: Renewable Diesel" text and NACFE Run on Less logo
Maintenanceby Jack RobertsJune 29, 2026

Maintenance in the ‘Messy Middle’ Part 2: Renewable Diesel Fuel

NACFE's latest Messy Middle Powertrain Service & Maintenance report says renewable diesel gives fleets an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions without changing trucks, fueling infrastructure or maintenance practices. But technicians still need to understand several important operational differences.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration messy middle maintenance diesel with wrenches in background
Maintenanceby Jack RobertsJune 26, 2026

The Diesel Engine Enters NACFE’s ‘Messy Middle’

NACFE’s new Messy Middle Powertrain Service & Maintenance report says keeping modern diesel engines running now depends as much on software, diagnostics and data as traditional mechanical service.

Read More →
Illustration showing DEF tank and Detroit engine
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeJune 18, 2026

DTNA Software Update Gives Truckers More Time Before DEF Derates Take Effect

The changes reflect EPA guidance aimed at reducing downtime caused by emissions-system faults while maintaining compliance requirements.

Read More →
Illustration of exhaust aftertreatment system on an AI-inspired blue background and a green fuel pump nozzle in the foreground.
Maintenanceby Deborah LockridgeJune 15, 2026

New Agentic Predictive Maintenance Report Demonstrates How Degraded Aftertreatment Systems Waste Fuel

Questar analyzed a large mixed-class fleet and discovered it was wasting as much as $30 in fuel per vehicle, per day, because of mechanically degraded aftertreatment systems.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Amazon electric cargo bike on New York City street
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeJune 15, 2026

New York City's Microhub Project is Delivering Results

Trucking, last-mile delivery companies, and environmental advocates like what they are seeing so far with New York's microhub program.

Read More →