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

Video still of Volvo's Duane Tegels explaining the Volvo D13 diesel engine for EPA 2027 emissions
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeSeptember 16, 2026

How Volvo Updated Its D13 for EPA 2027 [Watch]

Volvo’s updated D13 promises lower emissions without sacrificing performance or fuel economy. Take a closer look at what changed inside the engine in this HDT Spotlight video.

Read More →
Collage of fuel options for trucks - renewable diesel, renewable natural gas, diesel, and electric
Fuel Smartsby StaffSeptember 15, 2026

Diesel Price Spike Shortens Payback for Natural Gas Trucks, Report Says

Energy Vision estimates fleets could recover the higher purchase price of an RNG-fueled Class 8 tractor in 1.3 to 2.8 years under current fuel-price scenarios.

Read More →
Illustration showing the Calstart, Forth, and Catalyst Mobility logos
Fuel Smartsby StaffSeptember 14, 2026

Calstart Becomes Catalyst Mobility, Reflecting Broader Focus

Calstart is now Catalyst Mobility, reflecting the nonprofit’s growing national role in clean transportation, including zero-emission trucks, infrastructure and incentive programs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration with oil wells, dollar bills, and a diesel fuel pump
Fuel SmartsSeptember 9, 2026

Record Diesel Prices Squeeze Trucking Fleets

Average U.S. diesel prices have climbed to nearly $6 a gallon, surpassing the 2022 record as tight refinery capacity and Middle East disruptions keep fuel costs elevated.

Read More →
A red engine part
SponsoredSeptember 9, 2026

How Fuel Delivery Shapes Engine Performance

Fuel delivery depends on more than what happens at the injector. For fleet, maintenance and technical professionals, looking at the full path from pump to injector can provide useful context for understanding engine performance.

Read More →
Port of Newark EV truck charging station.
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseSeptember 8, 2026

East Coast Port Launches $45M Electric Truck Push

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced millions in incentives for zero-emission drayage trucks, yard tractors, and new charging hubs near the port.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Fuel Smartsby StaffAugust 31, 2026

California Bill Could Shed Light on Electric Truck Prices

Why do battery-electric Class 8 trucks remain so expensive? A California bill headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom would give fleets and state agencies more visibility into what manufacturers charge.

Read More →
Illustration of Freightliner Cascadia on highway with engine cutaway
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeAugust 27, 2026

Detroit Opens Orders for EPA 2027 Engines

Detroit isn’t starting from scratch to meet EPA 2027 diesel emissions standards. Its Gen 6 DD13 and DD15 engines keep much of today’s platform while updating the fuel and aftertreatment systems.

Read More →
Group of people and zero-emission trucks during ceremony announcing a West Coast ZEV corridor.
Fuel Smartsby News/Media ReleaseAugust 26, 2026

Zero-Emission Truck Corridor Planned for West Coast

California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Baja California are coordinating plans for truck charging and hydrogen fueling from Canada to Mexico.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
YouTube thumbnail showing Kenworth T880e electric truck and KW marketing director Kyle Kimball.
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeAugust 25, 2026

A Closer Look at Kenworth’s Electric T880E Vocational Truck [Video]

Learn more about Kenworth's T880E battery-electric vocational truck at the Paccar Technical Center, including its range, applications, upfitting considerations, and PTO options, in this HDT Spotlight video.

Read More →