The average retail price of U.S. diesel jumped 4.4 cents to $3.122 a gallon last week, its highest level in more than 18 months, the U.S. Department of Energy reported.

Diesel rose to its highest level in more a year and a half, gaining 4.4 cents to $3.122 a gallon, the Department of Energy reported Monday.

The California Air Resources Board has directed its staff to come up with specific proposals by September to provide additional flexibility to help truckers ease the financial pain of complying with the state’s new truck regulations.

Nissan Diesel America has changed its name to UD Trucks North America Inc., part of a rebranding effort in conjunction with the company’s 25th anniversary.

The U.S. average price of diesel inched higher last week, rising 0.4 cent to $3.078 a gallon and keeping trucking’s primary fuel at over $3 a gallon for the fourth week in a row, the Energy Department reported.

The average price of retail diesel in the United States rose a half-cent last week to $3.074 a gallon, the Department of Energy reported, slowing a two-month run-up that has sent diesel over $3 for the first time since November 2008.

The U.S. average retail diesel price rose another 5.4 cents a gallon last week to $3.069, raising concern among fleet executives and analysts alike that the steady rise could dampen economic growth. 

Maine has adopted legislation that will eventually require heating oil to have the same low-sulfur content as diesel fuel used in trucks, a move some in the oil and trucking industries fear could raise demand and prices for trucking’s main fuel.