The war in Iran has drivers paying more at the pump, but it's also impacting trucking companies that rely on diesel fuel to transport consumer goods. March 10, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The ongoing war in Iran has everyday drivers paying a lot more at the gas pump, but it’s also impacting trucking companies that rely on diesel fuel to transport goods.
Paper Transport in De Pere, which hauls consumer and retail products throughout the United States, is one such company. With diesel fuel prices in Wisconsin skyrocketing more than 80 cents since March 1, the company says it is paying close attention to its fuel usage.
“One of the things that we’ve learned in the logistics industry is expect the unexpected. And certainly, we’ve seen this happen in the past, where prices with fuel have spiked up,” Paper Transport Chief Commercial Officer Jared Stedl said.
Stedl said it’s costing the company about 25% more to fill up its semi-trucks compared to about two weeks ago. Paper Transport is telling its drivers to be mindful of where they fill up and how much their trucks are idling.
“It just makes it that much more important to control your speed, make sure you’re trying to drive up the miles per gallon. Don’t idle if you’re comfortable,” Stedl said.
He said Paper Transport is trying to avoid passing higher prices onto consumers right now. Stedl is unsure how fast the impact will trickle down, if at all, but warned it could move quickly.
According to GasBuddy, as of Tuesday, the average price for a gallon of diesel fuel in Green Bay cost $4.50. Compare that to March 1, when it was $3.68. Similarly, the national average for diesel is $4.74 per gallon, up an entire dollar from March 1.
“When you have the Strait of Hormuz, which is responsible for about 20% of the world’s oil supply shipping through there, suddenly get closed down, it’s just like any other commodity. The price is going to go up,” GasBuddy Petroleum Analyst Matt McClain said.
McClain said saving as much money as possible on gas is key. He suggests going the speed limit, properly inflating tires and checking air filters.
“The more easy you can make it on your vehicle to just simply drive down the road, the better your fuel efficiency is going to be,” McClain said.
Despite higher gas prices, the price of crude oil fell from $120 per barrel to $85 per barrel, which could be a good sign. However, McClain said everything is dependent on the trajectory of the war in Iran.
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