Diesel prices soar to record highs, leaving drivers struggling on the Gulf Coast

Diesel prices have hit a record high, with the national average now at $6.27 per gallon, surpassing the previous high of $6.06 in June 2022, and drivers are feeling the impact. In Fort Myers, prices at some gas stations have climbed as high as $6.39 per gallon, including $6.31 at a RaceTrac on US-41. "It's terrible. I remember I used to put 20 bucks in and get almost a quarter of a tank; now for $20, I barely get a gallon," said Jace McLoud, a diesel vehicle owner. McLoud, who drives for work every day, said the rising costs are taking a toll. "Almost $200. And I fill it twice a week," he said. Other drivers shared similar frustrations. One driver said, "It maxes out at $150 on the pump, so, like, probably $400 a week." Another added, "It's $300 to fill it up. Yeah, twice a day." Alfredo Romero, chair of economics at North Carolina A&T State University, explained that the surge in diesel prices is driven by demand. "If I'm a consumer and I'm deciding whether I'm going to take that trip that weekend, I can do that so I can postpone because I'm going to be unable to pay for gas or I don't want to pay for gas," Romero said. "But if I'm a business, I have no other option but to continue buying it and try to operate, so that might actually increase the pressure on the price of diesel more than the price of gasoline." Romero expressed concern about the broader impact on consumers. "We have never seen prices this high before. My concern is that we're going to start driving into grocery stores and we're going to start seeing the price of things being reflected there," he said. A long-haul trucker, who spoke off-camera, shared fears that he may have to sell his truck, as half of his earnings now go toward filling up the tank. McLoud sympathized with others in similar situations. "It sucks. It does. Especially for people that don't make a lot of money that drive diesel trucks. I could only imagine what they go through," he said. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.