Trucking News

As the demand for oil continues to decline the price of oil is declining right along with it. The price of oil has already dropped to under $114 for the first time since last May.Crude prices had been dropping quickly in recent weeks since the record high in July.

Oil prices then took on a somewhat limbo stage going up and down in small increments while the world sat back and watched what was going to happen with the conflict between Georgia and Russia. It was thought that this may disrupt the supply causing prices to jump even higher. The situation seems to be coming under control however, setting nerves at ease at least somewhat.

The market is still fluctuating but could become more stable and the price of crude oil may well get back down to under $100 a barrel. It has not been under $100 a barrel since early April.

While the price of gas and diesel had been steadily growing in recent months, it may have finally taken a bit of a down turn over the last few weeks and be heading back down to more reasonable prices.

Diesel fuel accounts for about eighteen percent of the total refined petroleum products used in the United States in various types of vehicles like semi-trucks, delivery vehicles, buses, trains, ships, boats and barges, farm, construction and military vehicles and other equipment.

Most diesel fuel is produced right here in the United States refineries with only about 4.5 percent coming from foreign countries. Refineries produce the diesel fuel from crude oil.

The cost to produce the fuel and deliver to customers includes the cost of the crude oil, the processing, marketing, distribution and the cost of retail station operation. So the price at the pump includes all of these factors plus Federal, state and local taxes and local market conditions.

The new “electrified” truck stops are getting noticed more and more as the price of fuel continues to soar.

In addition to being able to hook up to these new additions at truck stops and receive air conditioning, cable and internet through nifty yellow tubes, the benefits of these tubes go much further.

Most importantly, having access to these things makes it possible for the trucks to turn off their engines. The concept actually came about for just that reason. They were developed to help truckers follow the new anti-idling guidelines to reduce pollution.

Now it is the truckers that are thanking them and appreciating these guidelines for the added benefits they have brought to them.

Truckers are able to turn off their engines rather than letting them sit and run idle like they used to do which means a lot less fuel being used and less wear and tear on their engines. With the price of fuel and mechanics, that is a big deal.

Truckers are getting in on the act when it comes to telling our nations leaders what they think about the economy and the rising fuel costs.

A trucking executive and a truck driver appeared and spoke at a recent press conference hosted by U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Barbara Windsor, president and CEO of Hahn Transportation of New Market, Md. They stated that the government needs to put into place an energy plan that will ensure an affordable supply of oil and limit the effect of rising fuel costs on the U.S. economy.By not doing more to help the truckers survive, the entire economy is being affected.

Our truckers bring us almost everything we need in the United States including groceries, medicine, clothing, appliances and even the fuel that’s pumped at the local gas station.

Truck drivers are doing their part by slowing down, reducing idling and properly maintaining equipment to reduce fuel costs but these small things that they can do can’t even come close to the rising costs they are enduring.

Motorists across the country are split on an idea by Congress to lower the national speed limit to 55 miles per hour.

Some are outraged by that fact such a move could add on an estimated 45 minutes to an hour in driving while others believe it might have a huge impact and actually help lower gas prices.

Influential Republican Senator John Warner of Virginia recently suggested that Congress should consider reviving the initial 1974 movement and lower the national speed limit to 55 miles per hour. First imposed because of the oil crisis in 1973, the law was repealed in 1995.

Most highways in Massachusetts have a speed limit of 65 miles per hour though many states have raised the limits at 70 to 75 mph in rural areas.

So would this law have a tremendous impact on motorists in general?

Sean J. Murphy of Wilbraham, Massachusetts seems to think so. A father of three, he’s more worried about an extra 30 minutes in his daily commute ruining family time rather than gas prices. However, Amelia Hawley of Belchertown believes if half of U.S. motorists drove 55 miles per hour on the highway, gas prices would drop significantly.