Editorial: A Trucking Fuel Update

It looks like the recent run of lower fuel prices is at an end. As we report on p. 1, the average price of a gallon of diesel fuel rose 2.2 cents last week to $3.844 after 11 weeks of declining or steady prices.

Gasoline, meanwhile, spiked 7.4 cents over the week, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, to a national average of $3.293.

While both fuels remain well below last year’s averages, the price jumps remind us of how vulnerable the trucking industry — and all U.S. consumers — remains to the whims of the petroleum markets.

These price increases show just how important alternative fuels may become to the nation’s transportation system, and we’ve prepared a comprehensive update to show you just where we stand as a nation in terms of fuels other than diesel and gasoline.

Included with this week’s issue of Transport Topics is our 36-page report on what’s been happening in the alternative-fuels sector since we joined American Trucking Associations in hosting the landmark Summit on Natural Gas in Trucking one year ago.

We assigned our staff to report on the progress that’s been made in developing fuels for the transportation market and, perhaps more importantly today, to get those fuels to market in places where your trucks will need them.

We’ve detailed the spread of fueling stations from various vendors around the country and provided details on where new outlets will soon be located.

Our reporters also provide some insight into why alternative-fuel vehicles still cost so much more than their diesel counterparts, and we help explain how long it will take fleets to benefit sufficiently from the lower fueling costs to cover the higher acquisition expenses of the equipment.

And we’ve talked to truck makers about when the prices for their natural gas-fueled vehicles are likely to come down.

We also show how investors are being attracted to some parts of the alternative-fuels sector and report on the new engines and tanks that are making their way to showrooms or are on the drawing boards.

While we’ve endeavored to write about the likely coming expansion of the alt-fuel market, we’ve also worked to show that diesel will continue to be the primary fuel of choice for over-the-road trucking for many years to come.

We hope our special report is useful to you and invite you to share with us your insights about the benefits and pitfalls you see in moving to alternative fuels.