05/09/2026
It’s time to weigh in on the conversation surrounding soaring diesel prices.
By now, everyone has seen, felt, and been impacted by the unbelievable prices we’re seeing at the pump. Over the past few weeks I’ve been quietly tracking data, comparing notes with other transporters, and reviewing our own operational costs. What I compiled was a list of average diesel prices by state across the interstates that make up the majority of longhaul travel in the lower 48.
I expected it to be bad.
I wasn’t prepared for what I found.
For us, the math is simple:
We average roughly 10 MPG while hauling, so we can move the decimal one place to the left and instantly know our fuel cost per mile.
The difficult part isn’t the single fill-up.
It’s the silent accumulation over thousands and thousands of miles.
In April 2026 alone:
Fuel Cost $32,192.48
In March 2026:
Fuel Cost was $24,774.91
The mileage difference between those months was less than 1,500 miles.
That is the reality transport companies are facing right now.
Shippers are disappearing.
Some are parking their rigs temporarily.
Others are retiring permanently.
So when you begin searching for someone to transport your horses; whether locally or across the country, understand that the quote you receive may be significantly higher than what you expected a few years ago.
The reality is simple:
Transporters cannot absorb these costs indefinitely and continue operating safely, legally, and reliably.
None of us expected this to last this long.
But here we are.
