Truck drivers are feeling the pinch as diesel prices are higher than regular gas amid the Iran war.
According to the AAA Auto Club, the average price of diesel gas reached $5.04 per gallon on Tuesday, March 17, up from an average of $4.78 per gallon a week earlier on March 10. This is compared to the average price of regular gas, which rose to $3.79 per gallon on March 17.
Patrick de Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a post on X on March 17 that the price of diesel gas is likely to continue rising as the war continues.
“The average diesel price saw its largest 14-day increase on record: $1.217/gal, breaking the $1.17/gal increase expected through 2022,” de Haan wrote.
“The diesel hike is not just impacting the US market, but impacting everyone globally – the consequences will be bad everywhere,” he said in a later post.
With that in mind, the USA TODAY Cars team compiled a list of tips that can help drivers save money on gas.
1. Slow down from 75 to 65 mph
According to the website FleetOwner.com, truck drivers who reduce their speed from 75 mph to 65 mph will use 27% less fuel than their counterparts who drive at a higher speed.
The website said limiting a truck’s speed to 65 mph would save 2.8 billion gallons of diesel fuel over the course of a decade.
2. Reduce idling by at least 30 minutes a day
According to the website SlashGear.com, a long-haul semi truck burns about 0.8 gallons of diesel per hour at idle.
So a truck driver will save 0.4 gallons of diesel gas by idling for 30 minutes.
3. Change station
Truck and car drivers who use diesel gas may consider switching stations to take advantage of regional differences in prices if they are traveling long distances.
According to AAA, the average price of diesel gas in Michigan on March 17 was $4.89, while California truck drivers were paying $6.49 a gallon for diesel the same day.
4. Combine trips
Truck drivers who want to save on diesel costs may consider combining trips if possible. Reducing the number of trips a truck driver makes will reduce both fuel consumption while driving and idle time between trips.
5. Avoid cold starts
Truck drivers who start their engines in cold weather use more diesel gas than those who wait until the warmer times of the day.
Cold temperatures make it difficult for gas to circulate through the vehicle, reducing overall efficiency.
6. Use Apps and Rewards
Truck drivers can use apps like GasBuddy, Waze or AAA to compare prices at nearby stations, just like traditional car drivers. Mapping apps like Apple Maps and Google Maps also now show prices at many stations when drivers use their “Gas Near Me” features.
Many grocery stores offer points that can be used for discounts at a nearby gas station for shoppers who sign up for their rewards program. Truck drivers can sign up at grocery stores near them, and make sure to link their purchases to the same account every time.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diesel prices hit $5 a gallon: 6 ways drivers can save money now
Reporting by Keith Lang, USA TODAY/USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect