Arkansas trucking companies are grappling with a sudden spike in diesel prices following the outbreak of war between the United States and Iran, threatening a fragile recovery in the 2026 freight market.
The average price for a gallon of diesel in Arkansas hit $4.39 on Wednesday, a 33.43% increase from $3.29 just one month ago, according to AAA. Nationally, prices averaged $4.83. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, warned that prices could climb another 35 to 75 cents per gallon this week as oil surpasses $100 per barrel.
Doug Voss, a logistics professor at the University of Central Arkansas, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that while large carriers use fuel surcharges and hedging to insulate themselves, smaller firms feel the impact immediately.
“The question then becomes which companies cannot survive until they are able to raise their rates,” Voss said.
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