US Average Diesel Prices Continue to Slide

JOC Staff | Mar 19, 2013 12:11PM EDT

U.S. diesel prices fell for the third straight week during the week of March 18, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

 

The average price, $4.047 per gallon, is down 1 percent or 4 cents from the previous week, which fell at the same rate — 1 percent or 4 cents — from the week prior. This week’s average per-gallon price is 2.3 percent lower than the price of $4.142 at the same time last year. Diesel prices have dropped 2.7 percent or 11 cents in the past three weeks, but are up 3.3 percent or 13 cents since the beginning of 2013.

Diesel prices in the Gulf Coast and Rocky Mountain regions dropped below $4 this week to $3.989 and $3.971, respectively. While prices for all regions fell this week, the West Coast saw the largest decline in prices.

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Freight costs for Canadian shippers continue to rise in August

TORONTO, Ont. -- The cost of ground transportation for Canadian shippers increased .4% in August when compared to July, according to results published by the Canadian General Freight Index (CGFI).

The Base Rate Index, which excludes the impact of fuel surcharges assessed by carriers, has increased for six consecutive months including a .6% increase in August. However, base rates remain 4.8% below the same period a year ago.

Average fuel surcharges assessed by carriers increased from 19.0% of base rates in July to 20.1% in August.

"The trend toward marginal increases in Base Rates we observed last month has continued," said Doug Payne, president and COO of Nulogx, "although it is interesting to note that they are still significantly below prior year levels."

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Trucking incentives program gets GrEEEn light to continue

WINNIPEG, Man. -- A Manitoba-based trucking incentive program has been given the "GrEEEn" light to continue. Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation (MIT), together with the University of Manitoba Transport Institute and the Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA) have reintroduced the GrEEEn (Economically and Environmentally Efficient) program this fall.

The program offers incentives to companies and owner/operators to install various technological improvements that work to reduce vehicle emissions and fuel consumption. The announcement was made yesterday by Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton.

"We are pleased to continue to partner with the Manitoba government and appreciate the new support that will bring fuel-efficient options to more of the trucking industry," said Bob Dolyniuk, executive director of the Manitoba Trucking Association. "The GrEEEn Trucking program has been a success in supporting our industry's objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and this benefits not only the trucking industry, but also the community at large."

The key objectives of the GrEEEn Trucking program are to further demonstrate provincial commitment to promoting technology and innovation as a way to reduce GHG emissions from the freight transportation sector and help the private sector, through financial incentives, implement GHG emission reduction technologies. Last year, $225,000 in funding leveraged $13 million in upgrades by local transportation companies.

Companies are eligible for rebates of up to 25%, to a maximum of $2,500 per tractor or trailer. Eligible upgrades include aerodynamics for tractor and trailer units such as side skirts and front fairings, low-rolling resistance tires, automatic tire-inflation devices and anti-idling technologies.

For more information on the program, visit www.gov.mb.ca/mit or www.greeentrucking.ca.

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Volvo, Mack to Continue Sponsorship of ATA Safety Campaigns

Michael G. Malloy/TT

Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks will continue sponsoring key American Trucking Associations safety outreach programs for the trucking industry in 2012.

The two made the announcements at ATA’s annual Management Conference & Exhibition, being held this week in Grapevine, Texas. Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks are units of Volvo AB.

VTNA will continue sponsoring America’s Road Team, under which professional drivers with outstanding driving records deliver messages about highway safety and the importance of trucking.

Volvo is “very proud to be part of the ATA’s America’s Road Team program,” said Ron Huibers, VTNA’s senior vice president, sales and marketing. “As one of the most important and effective highway safety efforts out there, the program fits perfectly with Volvo’s core value of safety.”

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