Gas Prices Hit Trucking

Via Fox40

If you've felt the pain of filling up your car lately - gassing up a tractor trailer can make you feel helpless.

"Basically, just suck it up," said Bob McKay, Fleet Director at Willow Run Foods.

It's one of 76 tractor trailers in the fleet of Willow Run Foods in Kirkwood. Each takes 240 gallons and makes a full run over two days. Even a 30-cent per gallon spike in diesel adds up to additional cost quickly.

"Doing the math, 70, 80 bucks per fillup," said McKay.

The trucking industry has taken steps to improve efficiency, such as reducing idle time. And at Willow Run, no truck can go over 62 miles per hour.

"They're trying to get away from big trucks with big motors. A little less horsepower, a little smaller bunk. A truck that's a little lighter," said John Snider, Sage Trucking School Director.

Trucking companies have been forced to pass fuel surcharges onto clients, which will then be reflected in higher prices for consumer goods.

"And many utility bills that I've seen in the past have come with fuel surcharges on them. And that's the only avenue we have to try to reclaim some of this," said McKay.

One possible solution - have a fleet of natural gas-powered vehicles. Billionaire T. Boone Pickens plans to build 100 natural gas filling stations by next year. But that's not something that makes sense yet to Willow Run and others.

"Any kind of infrastructure change would be a major expense that would have to be evaluated and paid back over the course of years," said McKay.

The New York State Department of Transportation does run over half of its light vehicle fleet on natural gas. What began as an environmental initiative under former Governor George Pataki in 1998 is now making more economic sense as gas prices rise.

"The small vehicles, the Hondas, small pick-up trucks, and other vehicles. It's actually working out very well as gas prices continue to rise," said Dave Hamburg of the New York State Department of Transportation.

But for those who rely on diesel:

"Planning ahead is the only way to try to lock in your costs so that you don't get nailed with these increases all at once," said McKay.