6 Ways Drivers Can Save Money Now
Truck drivers are feeling the pinch as diesel prices rise above regular gas amid the Iran war.
The average price of diesel gas reached $5.04 per liter on Tuesday, March 17, from an average of $4.78 per liter a week ago on March 10, according to the AAA Auto Club. That compares to the average price of regular gas that rose to $3.79 per gallon on March 17.
Patrick De Haan, Head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, said in a March 17 post on X that diesel prices are likely to continue to rise as the war continues.
“The average diesel price has now seen its biggest 14-day increase: $1.217/gal, breaking the $1.17/gal increase from 2022,” De Haan wrote.
“The increase in diesel is not only affecting the American market, but everyone around the world – the effect will be negative everywhere,” he added in a subsequent post.
With that in mind, the USA TODAY Cars team has compiled a list of tips that can help drivers save money on gas.
1. Slow down from 75 to 65 miles per hour
Truck drivers who reduce their speed from 75 kilometers per hour to 65 kilometers per hour will use 27% less fuel than their counterparts who drive faster, according to the website FleetOwner.com.
The website said reducing truck speeds to 65 mph would save 2.8 billion gallons of diesel fuel over ten years.
2. Reduce inactivity to at least 30 minutes a day
A long-haul truck burns 0.8 gallons of diesel per hour when idling, according to the website SlashGear.com.
So a truck driver who reduces idling by 30 minutes can save 0.4 liters of diesel fuel.
3. Change channels
Drivers of trucks and cars that use diesel gas can consider switching stations to take advantage of regional price differences when traveling long distances.
The average price of diesel gas in Michigan was $4.89 on March 17, while California truckers were paying $6.49 per gallon of diesel on the same day, according to AAA.
4. Combine the trip
Truck drivers looking to save on diesel costs may consider combining trips if possible. Reducing the number of trips a truck driver takes can reduce both fuel consumption during driving and idle time between trips.
5. Avoid cold starts
Truck drivers who start their engines in the cold use more diesel gas than people who wait until warmer times of the day.
Cold temperatures make it harder for gas to circulate in the car, reducing overall efficiency.
6. Use apps and rewards
Truckers can use apps like GasBuddy, Waze, or AAA to compare prices at nearby gas stations just like regular motorists do. Mapping apps like Apple Maps and Google Maps also now display prices at many stations when drivers use their “gas near me” features.
Many grocery stores offer points that can be used for discounts at the nearest gas station to shoppers who sign up for their rewards program. Truckers can register at their nearest grocery store, and make sure they link their purchases to the same account each time.
This article first appeared in USA TODAY: Diesel prices hit $5 a gallon: 6 ways drivers can save money now
Reporting by Keith Laing, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
