US truckers are facing tighter margins. The nationwide diesel price rose by approximately ten US cents within one week to nearly $6.57 per gallon. At the same time, spot rates for truckload shipments—full truck loads—increased by only about two cents per mile.
The problem lies in the timing. Fuel must be paid for immediately. Freight rates and diesel surcharges often adjust later. For a tractor-trailer unit with roughly seven miles per gallon, at $6.57, diesel costs already amount to approximately 94 cents per mile driven. Empty miles further worsen the equation.
Large customer contracts frequently include a fuel surcharge. However, much depends on the reference price and the time lag. In the spot market, by contrast, a total price is often negotiated. In that case, the carrier bears the risk of sudden price spikes itself.
For European shippers with US operations, this can lead to more frequent renegotiations and surcharges. Particularly refrigerated goods, construction materials, agricultural products, and other transport-intensive commodities feel the pressure.
Small carriers are often hit first by this situation because they have less purchasing power for diesel and can absorb price spikes less effectively through interim financing.