Avon truckers report fuel costs rising sharply at Pilot Travel Center

Diesel prices in Cuyahoga County and across the region have climbed past $6.50 a gallon, and truckers filling up at the Pilot Travel Center in Avon say the cost is landing on their own books first.

Keith, who owns his own semi, said he now spends more than $2,000 a week on fuel. He said a fill-up that once ran about $400 now costs more than $700. "All these places, the stores and everything, they got to pay more to us to haul it because they got to make up our fuel difference," he said. "So now the consumer has to pay the difference."

Fellow trucker Andrew said his most recent fill-up totaled 142 gallons. "142 gallons, with our discount, was $804," Andrew said. He described the price moving in cycles: "It was up, it started to come down, now it's going back up again."

AAA puts the current average price for diesel at about $6.50 per gallon, compared with roughly $3.70 a year ago. The rise tracks higher oil prices and supply shortages tied to wars in Ukraine and Iran.

Keith summed up the week's conversation at the pump in a single line. "All I can say, it's ridiculous," he said.