Diesel fuel costs, the single largest variable expense for many US trucking fleets, eased from their spring peaks through the middle of 2026. The national retail diesel price was 5.059 dollars per gallon for the week of June 15, down from levels near 5.64 dollars per gallon in early May.
The Energy Information Administration projects that the on-highway diesel price will average 4.76 dollars per gallon across all of 2026. Its quarterly outlook shows the price averaging 5.36 dollars per gallon in the second quarter, then declining to 4.94 dollars in the third quarter and 4.73 dollars in the fourth quarter as supply and demand rebalance.
Regional differences remained wide. As of mid-May, the West Coast carried the highest on-highway diesel price at 6.524 dollars per gallon, while the Gulf Coast posted the lowest at 5.122 dollars per gallon. The spread reflects refining capacity, transport costs, and state fuel taxes that vary across regions.
For carriers, the trajectory matters for both fuel surcharge calculations and route planning. A declining annual average would relieve some pressure on operating margins that were squeezed during the spring price run. Fleets that lock in fuel programs or optimize routing to favor lower-cost regions stand to capture part of the projected easing. The EIA publishes the benchmark diesel price weekly, and fleets typically tie surcharge schedules to that series.
Source: Rigzone - https://www.rigzone.com/news/usa_eia_reveals_latest_usa_diesel_price_forecast_for_2026-21-may-2026-183750-article/