Fuel costs for owner-operators
US Diesel Price Trends
Week of Aug 24, 2026. Source: US EIA Weekly Retail On-Highway Diesel Prices.
National average
$5.652/gal
Week of Aug 24, 2026
Prior week
$5.454
Year ago
$3.734
Why this matters for your load math
Diesel is the single biggest variable cost on most loads. At 6.5 MPG, every $0.20 swing in pump price changes your fuel cost by about 3 cents per mile. On a 1,200-mile run that's roughly $37 in or out of your pocket — often the difference between a profitable load and a break-even one.
12-month US average trend
Weekly average, US on-highway diesel ($/gal).
By region (PADD)
Where you fuel up matters — Gulf Coast vs. California can swing your per-mile cost by 20+ cents.
| Region | PADD | $/gal |
|---|---|---|
| US Average | National | $5.652 |
| East Coast | PADD 1 | $5.498 |
| New England | PADD 1A | $5.716 |
| Central Atlantic | PADD 1B | $5.840 |
| Lower Atlantic | PADD 1C | $5.350 |
| Midwest | PADD 2 | $5.636 |
| Gulf Coast | PADD 3 | $5.481 |
| Rocky Mountain | PADD 4 | $5.537 |
| West Coast | PADD 5 | $6.407 |
| California | PADD 5 (CA) | $7.040 |
Quick fuel-cost rules of thumb
- Cost per mile = diesel price ÷ MPG. At $5.65 and 6.5 MPG that's about $0.87/mi in fuel alone.
- Total miles includes deadhead. A 200-mile deadhead on a 600-mile loaded run adds ~$174 in fuel before you earn a dime.
- Regional fuel-up can save real money — check the PADD table above before you stop.
- RPM target should rise with diesel. Many owner-operators add ~$0.05 to their minimum RPM for every $0.30 increase in pump price to keep margins flat.
FAQ
Where do these prices come from?
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes weekly retail on-highway diesel averages every Monday. We pull them live and refresh up to every 6 hours.
How much does a $0.10 diesel change cost me?
At 6.5 MPG, about $0.015/mile. On a 1,000-mile run that's $15. Run the exact number for your truck on the analyzer.
Should I refuse loads when diesel spikes?
Not automatically. Run the load through TruKaro with the current diesel price. If RPM minus fuel-cost-per-mile still clears your fixed costs, it can still be worth taking.