Would you rather have free fuel or free food for life?

The comments rolled in fast, and drivers definitely had opinions. Some leaned toward saving thousands on fuel, while others saw the long-term value in cutting down food costs—especially after retirement or if the company already covers fuel.

Here’s what drivers had to say.

The Case for Free Fuel

For many truckers, fuel isn’t just an expense—it’s the cost of doing business. That’s why so many drivers jumped at the chance for free fuel.

Billy Klepi summed it up simply:
“Bro I get 13 to the gallon. I’m taking that free gas. My truck thinks it’s free, so I’ll take it free.”

Jason Lawrence broke it down with some serious math:
“A gallon of diesel weighs about 7 pounds, and I average seven mpg. I’m losing roughly $4 in fuel every 7 minutes. So, I would rather have the free fuel than free food because I’m not consuming $34.40/hour in food.”

Randy Paiz added some perspective:
“Would I pay $20 for each meal or $1000 every time I fuel? No brainer there.”

Others saw fuel as a tool for making money or gaining flexibility:

• Phil Maddalena: “Fuel—my truck can make me money to buy food.”
• Cory Clark: “Fuel, definitely. I can go without food for a better part of the day, and free fuel will most definitely free up funds for food.”
• Gustavo FigueroaZapata: “Fuel, ’cause I’ma make money off of that.”

And a few offered creative workarounds for skipping the grocery store:

• Bubba Bubbah: “Fuel. We could hunt.”
• Robert Schaffer: “Fuel. I can shoot something to eat.”
• Lisa Oscar: “Fuel. You can grow food.”

The Case for Free Food

Not everyone is paying for fuel—especially company drivers or those planning for retirement.

Joshua Warner made it clear:
“I’m a company driver, so I’ll take free food. That’d cut my expenses down nicely.”

Rafael Pardo agreed:
“Food, because I’m a company driver and about to retire. I’m going to spend more money on food than gas.”

Mike Andrus added:
“Food, because I need food after I retire. The company pays for the fuel, so yeah, that’s not important.”

Some just liked the comfort of always having a meal covered:

• Bill Mancini: “Free food! I’m not planning on dying in this truck!”
• Billy Wilson: “Food, because I hate leaving the house.”
• Andrew Young: “My food bill is MUCH higher than my fuel bill.”

Others saw food as more essential to survival:

• Alicia Bonneville Hays: “You can’t consume fuel. You can survive without driving anywhere if necessary.”
• Paul Richards: “Food.”
• Terry Davies: “Food.”
• Jennie Brinker: “Food.”

Company Drivers vs. Owner-Operators

It’s clear that whether you’re a company driver or an owner-operator plays a significant role in how you answered.

Company drivers leaned heavily toward food since their fuel was already covered, but owner-operators saw free fuel as a serious financial win.

This question also brought out some creative and humorous responses. Jackie Lee joked:
“I would rather have the free fuel. If I got free food, I would eat it all and gain 1000 pounds! HAHA!!”

Can’t Choose? Some Want Both

A few people couldn’t decide.

• Harley Courtney said: “Both.”
• Julia Wojdacz agreed: “Both!”
• Rennie Thiessen: “BOTH … LOL”
• Timothy Eakles: “May I have both please and thank you?”

So… What Would You Choose?

Whether you’re team free fuel or food forever, one thing’s clear — truck drivers know how to think things through. These everyday choices aren’t just about dollars; they reflect what matters most to drivers balancing long hours, tight budgets, and life on the move.

Want to weigh in on questions like this and connect with thousands of other drivers who get it? Join the Truck Drivers USA Facebook community conversation — your place to swap stories, get support, and stay in the know.

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How Traffic Jams Disrupt Delivery Timelines

Heavy traffic can derail even the best-planned schedules. Popular freight bottlenecks, such as the notorious I-95 and SR 4 junction in Fort Lee, New Jersey, are long-standing trouble spots for truckers. Delays in these areas lead to missed deadlines, rescheduled routes, and unsatisfied clients. Staying ahead of these bottlenecks is crucial for dependable deliveries.

The Fuel Inefficiency of Congested Roads

Stop-and-go traffic isn’t just frustrating—it’s costly. Frequent idling and slow speeds hike up fuel consumption. Data from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) shows that road congestion added a staggering $108.8 billion in trucking costs during 2022. Beyond straining the wallet, these inefficiencies also increase carbon emissions, underlining the environmental impacts of highway gridlock.

The High Safety Risks of Congested Conditions

Traffic congestion is more than an inconvenience; it’s a safety hazard. Crowded highways packed with sudden stops, erratic lane changes, and unexpected accidents raise the likelihood of collisions. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), crashes and breakdowns worsen congestion and put all vehicles at risk. Awareness and caution are critical for navigating such conditions.

Pro Tips for Truck Drivers to Alleviate Traffic Hassles on the Busiest Highways

While challenges are inevitable, proactively planning your trips can help lessen the burden of congested highways. Here are four strategies to keep you moving and safe:

1. Leverage Real-Time Traffic Technology – Equip your rig with GPS devices or apps that provide live updates on road conditions. By identifying construction zones, accidents, and bottlenecks early, you can detour to safer, faster routes.
2. Choose Strategic Driving Hours – When possible, align your schedule to avoid rush hours. Early morning or late-night driving through urban centers typically sees lighter traffic, saving both time and fuel.
3. Rely on Truck-Specific Navigation Systems – General GPS tools might not offer routes optimized for large vehicles. Use navigation tools specifically designed for truckers. These programs consider weight, size restrictions, and road regulations to create tailored and safer routes.
4. Stay Updated with Traffic Alerts – Keep checking for live reports, whether through apps, radio, or trucking forums. Understanding the causes of gridlock and staying flexible with your route can greatly enhance productivity.

Get Ahead of the Traffic Curve

America’s busiest highways will always pose challenges, but adaptability is key. With the right tools and strategies, truck drivers can overcome the hurdles of traffic, ensuring on-time deliveries and safer roads for everyone.

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According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the national average price is $3.726 per gallon, down from $3.758 on May 27 and $3.789 on May 20. The Gulf Coast boasts the lowest average price at $3.450 per gallon, followed by the Midwest at $3.592. On the other hand, California has the highest average price at $4.968 per gallon.

The EIA attributes the decline in demand for distillate fuels, used primarily in trucking and home heating, to a slowdown in manufacturing and an unexpectedly mild winter, with daily demand dropping to 3.67 million barrels.

Additionally, the supply of renewable fuels is abundant, according to the EIA.

Source: The Trucker

The post U.S. Diesel Prices Drop for Eight Consecutive Weeks appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

“Additional refinery capacity that came online in late 2022, combined with additional capacity expansions expected to come online in 2023, will also contribute to rising supplies of both gasoline and diesel fuel internationally, further contributing to lower prices globally in 2023 and 2024,” according to the EIA). “We also estimate that U.S. refiners will continue to produce gasoline, even as prices decrease, to meet higher global demand for diesel fuel.”.

According to concrete data, number 2 diesel concluded 2023 with an average price of $3.972 per gallon. In January 2022, prices hovered around $3.724 per gallon, reaching a peak of $5.754 in June 2022 and starting 2023 at $4.576.

While diesel prices at the pump align with the EIA’s projections, the cost remains nearly double the $1.998 recorded in February 2016. If the federal agency’s forecast holds, truck diesel is anticipated to slightly decrease to approximately $3.70 per gallon in 2024.

Despite the usual correlation between diesel and passenger vehicle fuel costs, the two appear somewhat out of sync. Diesel experienced fluctuations, dropping to $3.802 in June 2023 before rising to $4.563 in September. Industry observers, including GasBuddy, express optimism that prices will decrease and stabilize.

However, the ongoing crisis in the oil-rich Middle East introduces an element of uncertainty that could impact truck transportation costs.

“After 13 straight weeks of decline, average gasoline prices have edged higher due to optimistic comments from the Fed on cutting interest rates in 2024, coupled with Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, boosting concerns of a disruption to global shipping, including oil shipments,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “For now, the price of gasoline has already jumped but could ease slightly this week ahead of the New Year. For now, I’m optimistic that we may still have a chance of seeing the first $2.99 national average since 2021 sometime before spring arrives.”

The U.S. achieved another record high for crude oil production at 13.3 million barrels per day. In the prior administration, such production records led to the nation becoming a net exporter, often associated with the concept of “energy independence” and low gasoline and diesel prices. If these metrics persist, barring further energy disruptions, truckers may experience some relief in the months ahead.

Source: TruckersReport

The post Diesel Prices Could Remain Low Throughout 2024, EIA and GasBuddy Report appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

When excluding volatile categories like food and energy, however, core prices only rose by 4.3%, the smallest increase in nearly two years.

This suggests that price pressures are gradually easing, although it is still far from the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%. Gas and diesel prices were the main culprits behind the monthly inflation increase, accounting for over half of the rise.

The average price of a gallon of diesel fuel in the U.S. currently sits at $4.540, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). This is a slight increase from previous weeks.

Despite these differing figures, the decrease in core prices indicates that inflation is being brought under control, although at a slower pace than earlier this year. The Federal Reserve monitors core prices closely as they provide a better indication of future inflation trends.

It is widely expected that the Fed will not increase interest rates at its upcoming meeting. However, the possibility of another rate increase later in the year, possibly in November or December, is still on the table due to a slightly faster increase in core prices in August compared to July.

The latest report suggests that while inflation decreased rapidly in the spring and summer, future declines will be more gradual. In June, inflation dropped to 3% from a peak of 9.1% in June 2022. Economists believe that some of the factors that previously lowered prices, such as lower gas prices and improved supply chains, have already had their impact and are no longer as influential.

“We’re getting to the stage where we’ve basically had all the low hanging fruit in terms of disinflation,” said Blerina Uruci, an economist at T. Rowe Price. “The progress on core inflation over the coming months is going to be slow and it’s going to be uneven.”

In August, consumer prices experienced the largest monthly increase in over a year, with a jump of 0.6%. Gas prices saw a significant spike of nearly 11%, although they have since stabilized. The average nationwide price at the pump remains unchanged from a month ago at $3.85, according to AAA.

When excluding food and energy, core prices only rose by 0.3% in August compared to July, showing a slight increase from the previous two months’ 0.2%.

Energy costs specifically rose by 5.6% in August, marking the biggest monthly increase since June 2022. Auto insurance prices also surged, rising 2.4% last month and 19.1% compared to a year ago. The rise in new car prices over the past two years has contributed to higher insurance and repair costs.

After experiencing significant declines for two months, airfares spiked by 4.9% in August compared to July. On the other hand, used car costs decreased by 1.2% for the third consecutive month, while hotel prices also fell by 3% for the third straight time.

Grocery prices rose by 0.2%, putting a strain on many households’ finances. However, the rate of increase in food costs has slowed down, with a 3% rise compared to the previous year, which is much lower than the double-digit increases seen last year.

Although prices are increasing at a slower pace, it’s evident that Americans are still feeling the impact as costs for food, rent, automobiles, and appliances remain considerably higher than they were two years ago.

Francesca, a resident of Falls Church, Virginia, who chose not to disclose her last name, expressed her concern about the rising prices, particularly when she fills up her car with gas and sees the increase in her grocery bill.

“We’re not buying crazy things, like caviar, just the basics,” she said, referring to her weekly food shopping. “And it’s like $150,” compared to a tab of closer to $100 before the pandemic.

Federal Reserve officials are beginning to believe that inflation is being brought under control, however, Chair Jerome Powell has cautioned that it is still too high. In a recent speech, Powell stated that the Fed will proceed cautiously with any further rate hikes. This statement has led many economists to believe that the Fed may skip a rate increase at its upcoming meeting. When the Fed raises its key rate, it often results in higher costs for mortgages, auto loans, and business borrowing.

Over the past year, the Fed has raised its benchmark interest rate 11 times, bringing it to 5.4%, the highest level in over two decades. The rate was increased by a quarter-point in July, following no change in June.

Lorie Logan, the president of the Federal Reserve’s Dallas branch, expressed that skipping a rate hike at the September meeting could be appropriate, however, she clarified that skipping does not mean stopping.

According to CME’s FedWatch, Wall Street traders believe there is only a 3% chance of a rate hike in the upcoming meeting. However, they have priced in a 40% chance for an increase at the Fed’s meeting in November.

According to Tim Duy, the chief U.S. economist at SGH Macro, the report indicates that there may be another rate hike this year due to sticky prices. Duy also mentions that despite concerns about an impending recession, the economy is actually growing at a healthy pace. Americans have been spending more at restaurants and retailers, and there has been consistent hiring.

One potential risk of this steady growth is the possibility of higher inflation pressures. Companies are increasing pay to attract and retain employees, which is beneficial for workers but may lead to higher prices.

There have been strikes and labor disputes this year that could result in further wage increases. The Teamsters and American Airline pilots have already secured higher pay in recent negotiations, while the United Auto Workers are also seeking higher wages from major U.S. automakers. Incomes for most Americans have been falling behind inflation in the past two years, but economists expect workers to continue pushing for higher pay to make up for this loss.

Meanwhile, the European Central Bank is considering raising its key interest rate at its upcoming meeting. Given the European economy’s struggle with high inflation and rising borrowing costs, however, officials may choose to skip an increase. The European Commission has issued a pessimistic forecast, predicting that the 20 countries using the euro currency will only grow by 0.8% this year. Germany, the largest economy in the European Union, is projected to shrink by 0.4%. Although inflation in the EU is higher than in the U.S., it has decreased from its peak in October.

Source: The Trucker

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