California's statewide average diesel price reached $7.72 per gallon in April 2026, with some stations above $8, according to AAA data cited by CBS Sacramento. Small trucking company owners reported spending $1,400 to $1,600 per fill-up and refueling as often as three times weekly. Raman Dhillon, CEO of the North American Punjabi Trucking Association, told CBS Sacramento that diesel costs have nearly doubled in roughly six weeks. The national on-highway average is $5.64 per gallon, according to the EIA. For tow operators in rate-capped states, rising fuel costs cannot be passed through to non-consent customers.
Operator takeaway
If your service agreements do not include a written fuel surcharge clause with a trigger price and calculation method, you are absorbing costs that Amazon, UPS, FedEx, and USPS have already publicly documented and contractually protected. Add the clause before your next contract renewal.