SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Truck drivers in Illinois are spending significantly more money fueling their rigs up now than they did last year.  The Illinois Trucking Association says diesel fuel prices weren’t good last year either, but were half of what they are now, which is near $6.80 a gallon at some Springfield stations.  The national average is just under $6 a gallon.

Will there be any change to the good coming to diesel prices? Maybe not.

“This is all assuming we don’t have a hurricane, or we don’t have a major pipeline disruption, or any sort of incident,” said Matthew Hart, Executive Director, on the WTAX Morning Newswatch.  “Right now, I don’t foresee any, at least in the next few weeks…any change or drastic drop in any price.”

To say that those who use diesel fuel aren’t getting any breaks is an understatement, as Hart says the price hikes aren’t coming at a good time, because this would be the time of year some oil companies start to take refineries offline.  And that, he says, will mean the price you pay for almost anything won’t be cheap.

“The trucking industry transports 95 percent of the manufactured freight,” said Hart.  “Nearly everything you eat, everything you wear, everything you buy at the store got there by a truck. We’re the primary mode of transportation for that.  Unlike your car, which we used to be happy to get 15-20 miles to the gallon, maybe you’re getting 30-35 miles to the gallon in your car, the trucks hauling your stuff are getting, 6, 8, maybe 10 or 12 miles per gallon at the very, very best.”

Hart says there continues to be development of some sort of fuel efficient semi-like vehicle, but there’s nothing available yet.

Hart says only some of the blame can be placed on the war with Iran.  But, on the positive side, while prices may not be better anywhere, many Middle Eastern countries are now buying their oil and gasoline from the U.S., as exports here are at record highs, said Hard.

He says, though, most trucking companies believed President Trump at first when he said the conflict with Iran would be short.  It’s been going on now for about seven months.

Hart does believe outside of the economy right now, truck drivers like those in his association can make good money and good livings.