Washington, June 11, 2026, 08:04 EDT
Diesel prices at U.S. pumps moved lower again, dropping to $5.210 a gallon in the new Energy Information Administration survey. Truckers get some relief after sharp climbs earlier in the spring. The June 8 average was down 14 cents on the week but still sits $1.739 above this time last year.
The EIA diesel price is key for freight fuel surcharges, a standard tool for carriers to pass fuel costs on to shippers. FreightWaves reported that this latest drop is the fifth week in a row prices have fallen. Some traders are warning about “tank bottoms,” meaning inventories are nearing the bare minimum for normal fuel system operations. FreightWaves
Diesel prices are lower, but not much. AAA said the national average for diesel was $5.279 on Thursday, off from $5.303 the day before and $5.394 last week. That’s still well above the $3.513 price from this time last year.
Supply is tighter. U.S. crude stocks dropped by 7.2 million barrels to 426.5 million in the week ended June 5. Distillate inventories, including diesel and heating oil, edged down to 102.1 million, according to EIA data. Refinery runs increased to 95.3%. “Refinery utilization does not get much higher than that,” John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital, told Reuters. Reuters
Diesel prices have eased, but truckers and haulers say costs remain high. “The market may be dealing with this all summer,” trader Sam Hudson told RFD-TV. Even with the pullback, fuel prices are still a problem for ag and freight operators. RFD-TV
Quick reversals are possible after the recent drop. Reuters said high diesel costs have already pressured Midwest farmers and held up some planting. Patrick De Haan at GasBuddy said “any setback in negotiations” could bring prices back up fast. Reuters
Policy battles in Washington are heating up. The BUILD America 250 Act cleared the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in May by a 62-2 vote, according to Land Line. The bill includes $750 million for truck parking, ensures restroom access for drivers, and sets rules on lease-purchase deals seen as predatory.
Freight-market conditions are changing. RXO pricing executive Corey Klujsza told FreightWaves Today spot brokerage is taking on a “911” role as shippers use the spot market when primary carriers reject their loads. For contract freight, shippers use a routing guide, which is their ranked list of carriers. FreightWaves
Global fuel inventories keep flashing warning signs. Singapore’s onshore oil product stocks dropped to 34.41 million barrels in the week to June 10, Reuters said, putting them at the lowest point since July 2013. Diesel and jet fuel remained near three-month lows. Analysts at Sparta Commodities flagged that key storage hubs are close to minimum operating levels.
Carriers are seeing lower weekly diesel costs right now. The question is if this dip shows a real easing cycle or if it’s only a short pause while the market stays tight.
