Diesel Prices Near Record High, Impacting Local Businesses

Diesel prices in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton market have skyrocketed to $6.52, a $2.50 increase from last year and nearing the record high of $6.62 set in May 2022.

This surge is affecting various local businesses, including trucking companies, homebuilders, and farmers, as they face higher transportation costs due to rising diesel prices.

Logan Brace, co-owner of Brace's Orchard, commented on the impact of high diesel prices, stating 'It's just another incurring expense that we can't do anything about.' He added that despite the challenges, work on the farm must continue, as they need to harvest their produce.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, attributed the increase in diesel prices to several factors, including high oil prices and Russia's ban on diesel exports until October. He noted that this export ban is a 'very chilling, long-term message' for refineries and the refining sector.

Chris Zaleski, co-owner of Denzal Construction, believes that smaller companies are bearing the brunt of the diesel increases, which is impacting his business. He stated that 'Locally, the mom-and-pops... are the ones getting it firsthand,' and added that the current combination of high fuel prices and Canadian tariff wars may be 'the nail in the coffin' for homebuilding locally.

Road Scholar Transport has been forced to reconsider its policies due to the rising diesel costs. Vice President Kellie Barrett McMullen mentioned that they are now billing customers for reefer fuel, a refrigerated trailer, as it is becoming too expensive to absorb.