“Is there a diesel shortage?” See the answer to this question and more.
Truck drivers rely on diesel to run their semis. With the economy feeling a significant shift, particularly with supply chain issues and inflation, the trucking community has come to ask this pressing question: is there a diesel shortage? The reality is that while the United States isn’t necessarily feeling the hit of a potential diesel shortage overall, there is a significant increase in prices for diesel, which can lead to issues down the line. Understanding how supply and demand work, specifically when it comes to diesel, can prove worthwhile for the entire trucking industry. Here are a few key things to know about the potential diesel shortage and what to expect in the next few months or years in regard to diesel.
Fuel Prices Are Rising
There is no denying that fuel prices are soaring these days. In fact, fuel prices have risen a whopping 35% year over year — and aren’t slowing down anytime soon. Drivers of all kinds of vehicles are genuinely concerned about the rising fuel prices as they impact and affect their work. In addition, truck driver shortages were quite high at the start of 2020 and continued to rise into 2021, leading to issues throughout the trucking industry.
The Shortage Of Truck Drivers
Beyond the issue of how much diesel costs and its availability, fewer truck drivers are around these days. As mentioned above, when it comes to truck drivers, there is a massive shortage that has still been an issue since 2020. The pandemic had a significant impact on the trucking industry, leading many truck drivers to leave the industry in mass. Ultimately, while many truck drivers are still within the industry, the shortage is still in effect and continues to impact the entire industry. Although rising diesel prices are an issue, the trucker shortage might be even more pressing.
Bottom Line
At the end of the day, the trucking industry has needed to pivot in the past couple of years as a lot of truck drivers have left the industry in droves. In fact, the trucking industry has continued to be impacted by inflation and the price hikes associated with diesel. Truck drivers and the trucking industry will continue to persevere as the economy affects the industry.
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