By Mo Al-Ebadi
OMAHA, Neb. — Rising oil prices are pushing diesel costs higher across the country, and industry leaders say those increases could soon impact consumers in Nebraska.
Diesel prices have surged in recent weeks, creating new challenges for trucking companies that rely on fuel to move goods across the country.
Kent Grisham, president and CEO of the Nebraska Trucking Association, says those rising costs do not stay within the industry.
“When transportation costs go up, whatever is being transported becomes more expensive… you’re going to see those fuel surcharges reflected in the price you pay for something at the store.”
For drivers, the impact is immediate.
Claudio Lopes, a long-haul truck driver, says fuel expenses have increased significantly in just a short period of time.
“Three weeks ago, I pay six thousand… right now eight thousand.”
As diesel prices continue to rise, trucking companies are adjusting, but those costs do not disappear. Instead, they move through the supply chain.
Mike Kuebler, a CDL instructor at Metropolitan Community College, says nearly everything consumers buy is affected by transportation.
“Everything that we buy is touched by a truck at one point… so if the cost of hauling something from here to there… they’re going to charge the general population more for the product they’re looking for.”
Industry leaders say if diesel prices remain elevated, the effects could become more noticeable in the coming weeks.
They also note that smaller trucking companies are often the first to feel the impact, while larger carriers may have more flexibility to absorb rising costs.
As fuel prices continue to fluctuate, those changes could shape how goods are transported — and how much consumers ultimately pay.
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