Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Diesel Prices Fall After Six Weeks of Hikes

Diesel prices finally dropped after a month and half straight of weekly increases, according to the latest numbers from the Energy Department.

by Staff
January 17, 2017
Diesel Prices Fall After Six Weeks of Hikes

 

2 min to read


Source: EIA

Diesel prices finally dropped after a month and half streak of weekly increases, according to the latest numbers from the Energy Department.

The average price of on-highway diesel fuel fell by 1.2 cents last week, settling at 2.585 per gallon at the pump. The price is now 47.3 cents more expensive than it was in the same week a year ago.

Ad Loading...

Prices were down in all regions of the U.S. with the largest decrease coming to Gulf Coast region at 1.9 cents for the week. The lease change was observed in the Midwest, where prices dropped by 0.6 cents in the same period.

Gasoline prices were also down for the week, with the national average price of regular gasoline falling 3 cents last week to $2.358 per gallon. The price is currently 44.4 cents more expensive than it was in the same week of 2016.

Prices fluctuated significantly based on the region, with a particularly large decrease in prices hitting the Midwest at 6.1 cents. Prices were actually up in the Rocky Mountain region, increasing 0.5 cents for the week.

Ad Loading...

Crude oil prices were up on Dec. 17 but lost some of the gains when a new report suggested that U.S. shale oil production would ramp up in February, according to a MarketWatch report.  

Prices climbed when a Saudi oil minister said that the recently negotiated agreement to curb oil production in OPEC countries would rebalance the oil market by the year’s end.

However, the resulting oil prices gains have caused U.S. oil production to ramp up again as it becomes profitable enough for the U.S. shale oil to make a comeback, hindering a full rally.

More Fleet Management

Headshot of Adam Buttgenbach with a Pepsi-branded Tesla Semi in the background
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 18, 2026

Adam Buttgenbach’s Approach to Electric Trucks: Start With Where They Fit

HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Adam Buttgenbach helped PepsiCo build one of North America’s largest EV fleets by focusing on where electric trucks make operational sense.

Read More →
Deen Albert in collared shirt superimposed on background showing a Grand Island Express blue tractor pulling a trailer, plus the HDT Truck Fleet Innovators 2026 logo
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 17, 2026

Deen Albert: Let Automation Do the Math, People Make the Decisions

HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Deen Albert makes sure people are still at the heart of operations at Grand Island Express, even while adopting artificial intelligence tools. AI-assisted dispatch helped boost revenue 25% with the same number of trucks.

Read More →
Illustration of computer screen with Trimble Arc Agent screen
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 14, 2026

Trimble’s New AI Agent Takes Aim at Fleet Back-Office Busywork

Arc Agent works across Trimble TMS products to automate repetitive tasks such as freight orders, maintenance, invoices, fuel costs and more.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photos of three men and two women with HDT Truck Fleet Innovators 2026 logo
Fleet ManagementCover Storyby Deborah LockridgeAugust 13, 2026

How HDT’s 2026 Truck Fleet Innovators Are Rethinking Fleet Operations

Meet five trucking leaders who are challenging assumptions, solving operational problems, and putting innovative ideas to work.

Read More →
Graph showing how contract rates and spot rates converged in July
Fleet Managementby StaffAugust 12, 2026

Tight Trucking Capacity Pushes Rates Higher Even as Freight Volumes Fall

“Spot rates moving ahead of contract rates have historically signaled a tightening market, but we haven’t seen a capacity-driven market quite like this one,” said DAT's Dean Croke.

Read More →
Line graph showing container import volumes
Fleet Managementby StaffAugust 7, 2026

Import Cargo’s Early Peak Season is Winding Down

There was an early start to peak season this year at the nation's gateway ports, as retailers brought in merchandise ahead of tariff changes in late July and responded to other supply chain uncertainties,

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Blue infographic with graphs illustrating cargo theft trends in the second quarter of 2026
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 6, 2026

Fewer Cargo Thefts, Bigger Losses: Criminals Target Higher-Value Loads

CargoNet says organized theft rings are stealing fewer shipments but choosing more valuable freight, including metals and technology, resulting in record losses.

Read More →
Illustration of a chalkboard with a hand drawing an arrow curving away from a partially erased straight arrow with the words "Embracing Change," the Heavy Duty Trucking Logo and the "cover feature" graphic.
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 1, 2026

How Innovative Trucking Leaders Turn Change Into an Advantage

As the pace of change accelerates in trucking, the fleets that adapt best have more than the latest technology. They have cultures that embrace improvement.

Read More →
Illustration of past due invoices with red X on top with background of a truck at a loading dock
Fleet ManagementJuly 27, 2026

Freight Broker Bonds Just Got Harder to Get. Here's What That Means for Your Fleet.

When it gets harder for a freight broker to prove they are financially sound, the ones who cannot clear that bar get pushed out of the market. And those are exactly the brokers who used to leave motor carriers holding the bag.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of cable bridge crossing Detroit River
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeJuly 23, 2026

Long-Awaited Canadian Border Bridge to Open in Detroit

For trucking, the bridge opening should offer immediate improvements in efficiency and reliability, with new customs facilities, expanded inspection capacity, and direct freeway-to-freeway connections.

Read More →