Fuel Bills Stagger Trucking

img src="/sites/default/files/images/articles/printeditiontag_new.gif" width=120 align=right>The trucking industry paid an estimated $465 million more for its motor fuel last week than in the corresponding week of 2002, thanks to the high prices commanded by diesel and gasoline.

According to the Department of Energy, the average price of a gallon of diesel in the nation rose to a new record last week, $1.709, while the gasoline average was $1.658, high but below the record of $1.713 set in May of 2001.

“The cost of fuel is putting a shadow over things, but we intend to maintain as long as we possibly can,” said Dan Reed, director of administrative services and safety for P&B Transportation Inc. of Apollo, Pa. “A lot of trucking companies, especially smaller ones, have to forget about making a profit and think about just staying alive.”

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