Trucking’s Fuel Tab Soars

January 19, 2005 8:20 AM, EST

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he trucking industry paid at least $14 billion more for its fuel in 2004 than it did a year earlier, as sky-high petroleum costs took a large bite out of fleets’ and shippers’ pockets.

In all, trucking paid at least $90 billion for the diesel and gasoline necessary to deliver the nation’s freight during 2004, compared with $76 billion in 2003. And the nation’s airlines and freight railroads also spent billions more last year for their fuel.

A report from the American Trucking Associations Jan. 12 said that trucking paid at least $62 billion just for diesel fuel in 2004, more than $10 billion above the 2003 total.

“Trucking’s fuel bill is staggering,” ATA President Bill Graves said in a statement released with the diesel cost analysis.

For the full story, see the Jan. 17 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.