What happened
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Aug. 25 update shows the national average retail price for on-highway diesel reached $5.652 per gallon for the week of Aug. 24. That was 19.8 cents higher than the previous week’s $5.454. EIA surveys retail outlets, including truck stops and service stations, and publishes the cash self-service pump price including taxes.
What drivers should do
Owner-operators and small carriers should update each lane’s fuel estimate before accepting or quoting a load. Recalculate fuel cost using realistic loaded and deadhead miles, the truck’s actual miles per gallon and the current pump price. Read the rate confirmation and contract to see whether a fuel surcharge is included, which diesel benchmark and base price are used, how often the amount resets and whether the surcharge is paid on all miles or only loaded miles. A higher gross rate can still produce a lower margin if fuel and empty miles rise faster.
Why this matters to our community
Leased owner-operators should review the lease rather than assume the carrier will pass through the full surcharge. Keep fuel receipts, compare the settlement statement with the agreed formula and ask for a written explanation of any deduction. Uzbek-speaking drivers should know these English terms: fuel surcharge, base fuel price, benchmark, pass-through, loaded miles, deadhead, miles per gallon and settlement statement. This article is operational education, not a prediction of next week’s price.