Drivers React to Record High Diesel Prices
GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) The latest AAA Fuel Prices report shows diesel fuel hitting a record high of $6.23 a gallon nationwide.
It is much more in California where stations have neon signs showing diesel above $8.
That is a record, too.
In addition to global conflicts, California fuel costs are impacted by higher state environmental standard, and higher taxes paid at the pump.
About 70 percent of all diesel is used for transportation.
Many drivers filling up with diesel are shocked.
"When I bought this van in 2020, diesel was cheaper than regular gas and I can remember going on road trips to Idaho and paying $1.99 for diesel, so paying almost $8 a gallon now and paying almost $160-175 to fill up is insane," said Forrest Cook.
One tanker truck driver from Fontana broke down at a popular diesel station in Goleta.
While a mechanic was making repairs, he said he sometimes delivers diesel to local stations.
An Amtrak bus driver ffilled up with diesel on what appeared to be a pre-paid card.
Workers on another truck paid almost $500 to fill up and then had to put fuel in a second, smaller, vehicle carried on the back of the truck.
An agricultural driver said he fills up at the yard. He appeared relieved that it wasn't his own dime.
Lane Farms owner John Lane said he is not planning to raises prices but he can understand if competitors do.
"We are going to try to keep them close to the same as we have had in the past couple of years being that we have our own pumpkins and we are just going to kind of eat the diesel price, we don't really have any big diesel trucks hauling in all the time, we are hauling with our own trucks which are diesel. but we are just going to absorb the price right now and see how it works out," said Lane.
Lane Farms pumpkins sales begin on Sept. 26 off Walnut Land in Goleta Valley.
It's next to a Shell station where diesel is $8.05 a gallon.
Your News Channel will have more reaction to diesel prices tonight on the news.
