Isophoric News · Sunday, October 18, 2026
California diesel stays above $8 a gallon as truckers call for relief
California's average on-highway diesel price was $8.09 a gallon Monday, up 1 cent from a week earlier, the Energy Information Administration reported, after peaking around $8.25 in recent weeks in September, according to Trucking Dive. California Trucking Association President Tim Pollock told Trucking Dive that smaller carriers are bearing the brunt, because they can lack the upfront capital to cover costs before fuel surcharges that may cover only about 70% or 75% of them. "At the end of the day, somebody's got to pay for this cost," he said. Matt Kropf of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford told Trucking Dive he expects "elevated diesel prices well into 2027," based on the refining equipment that needs repair after damage in international conflicts.