Diesel prices in Washington reached a new all-time high of $6.67 per gallon Wednesday, surpassing a record of $6.53 that was set just last week.
The price surge comes as fuel costs in the state continue to rank among the highest in the country.
According to AAA, the average state price for a gallon of diesel has nearly doubled since last month.
Washington currently has the second-highest fuel prices in the United States, creating significant financial strain for independent truckers.
Small-business owners are reporting immediate impacts on their operations and personal livelihoods.
Jay Camacho, a trucker who hauls vehicles for dealerships and wrecking services, said he is struggling with his truck’s fuel efficiency under heavy loads.
“About six to eight [miles per gallon]. So yeah, when it’s heavy, just burn gas a lot faster,” Camacho said regarding his truck’s mileage. Camacho expressed uncertainty about when the financial pressure might ease. “They say it’s going to go down, but we don’t know when,” Camacho said.
To manage the high costs, some truckers have limited their fuel purchases to what they can immediately afford, such as 50 gallons at a time, rather than filling their large tanks completely.
Some have attempted to increase their service rates to offset the rising fuel costs, but they reported that customers are often unwilling to pay the higher prices.
Additionally, others expressed concern that the situation could worsen as the summer months approach, noting that prices typically increase by another dollar during that season.
Rey Trevino, an oil and gas expert with Pecos Country Operating LLC, said the high prices are partially caused by the limited number of refineries located within Washington.
“Everything has to be trucked in for Washington,” Trevino said. “So that means anything from your gasoline to your diesel as well is trucked. And that costs even more to get it to you guys.”
While Trevino said he is optimistic that fuel prices will eventually decrease, many local drivers remain skeptical about a near-term drop in costs.
The Trump administration has considered several strategies to lower fuel costs, including tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Other potential actions include easing government regulations on petroleum products to encourage lower pricing at the pump.
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