Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Diesel Falls to Lowest Average Cost in 4 Years

The price of oil has stabilized over the past week, but is still at its lowest level in years, while fuel prices show no signs of letting up from their dramatic declines.

Evan Lockridge
Evan LockridgeFormer Business Contributing Editor
December 22, 2014
Diesel Falls to Lowest Average Cost in 4 Years

 

2 min to read


The price of oil has stabilized over the past week, but is still at its lowest level in years, while fuel prices show no signs of letting up from their dramatic declines.

New U.S. Energy Department figures show the average cost for on-highway diesel is down 13.8 cents over the past week to $3.281 per gallon, its lowest level in four years. This is 59.2 cents less than the same time a year ago and compares to a high for the year of $4.021 in March.

Ad Loading...

Prices fell over the past week between 4.2 cents in New England for an average of $3.425, also the highest priced part of the country, to as much as 17.9 cents in the Midwest to $3.294. Compared to a year ago prices in the different parts of the country are down between 51.5 cents to as much as 65.5 cents less.

Trucking’s main fuel is the least expensive in the Gulf Coast region at $3.175, down 15.3 cents over the past week.

The result of this big drop has been billions of dollars in savings for the trucking industry, $350 to $375 million dollars annually for each one-cent decline, according to the American Trucking Associations.

Ad Loading...

Meantime, the cost of crude oil moved lower on Monday, falling $1.87 to $55.26 per barrel, following a rally on Friday that pushed prices 5% higher. Compared to last Tuesday’s opening price it is down just 14 cents.

It’s estimated the more than 50% decline in oil prices in the second half of this year and the consequential fall in gasoline prices has also led to a $125 million windfall for consumers, according to the investment banking firm Goldman Sachs, enough for it to label the drop a “middle class tax cut.”

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
Safety & ComplianceJuly 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 →