High Diesel Prices and Worker Shortages Hitting Trucking Industry Hard

(KDLM/MNN) – Diesel prices continue to rise and have surged over 75% in the last year. Those prices are hitting the trucking industry hard.

“Minnesota runs on trucks. Trucks run on diesel and with diesel, this high everybody’s being affected,” said John Hauslauden, President of the Minnesota Trucking Association. “Regardless of the size of the fleet these are just costs they can’t absorb and they have to pass them through to their customers which ultimately affect everything we buy and if they can’t pass it along then companies may have to close the door.”

The average for a gallon of diesel in Minnesota sits at $5.50 a gallon, on top of high prices, Minnesota is facing its largest truck driver shortage ever. The Minnesota Trucking Association says it’s short by more than 5,000 drivers.  Hauslauden says the pipeline of younger people just hasn’t been filling in at the rate it used to.

The shortage is likely to lead to a continued strain on the supply chain.