how to save on diesel

$6 Diesel? How to Save on Diesel

Posted & filed under Carrier Connection, England Carrier Services.

Steve Fowler, an owner of a fleet of 35 trucks out of Virginia, doesn’t know how to save on diesel.

In February of 2026, Steve could barely manage his $97,000 diesel bill. Then the Iran war hit.

By the end of March, Steve’s diesel costs totaled $147,000, a $50,000 swing in a single month with no change in load volume. In many ways, the change was impossible to anticipate.

Millions of truckers are feeling exactly what Steve is feeling: how do you survive in a market where your top expense can vary by more than 50%? Fuel-cost-cutting strategies are no longer a best practice; they are the only practice for business survival.

Here’s the current state of fuel and how to save on diesel.

 

The England Carrier Services fuel card offers the best fuel discounts in the entire trucking industry.

To take dollars off every gallon of fuel, click the form below.

 

how to save on diesel

 

From $3.47 to $5.52

At the beginning of 2026, diesel sat at a manageable $3.47 per gallon. Then, the Strait of Hormuz closed.

It’s hard to overstate the impact of this single channel. Upon closure, 25% of the global crude oil came to a screeching halt. Within days, oil prices surged 40%.

For diesel prices, the fallout was enormous. Because diesel is 41% crude oil, diesel costs rose in tandem. By late March, prices hit a national average of $5.40. In California, prices reached $7.22, a record. By May, the national average rested at $5.66 a gallon.

For truckers, these expenses are unprecedented. Even the savviest carriers are making extreme concessions to cover rising costs.

Realistically, what can carriers do to stay fueled in the current market?

 

5 Ways to Save on Diesel

Truckers are not entirely powerless to influence fuel prices. Here are five ways carriers can drastically cut fuel costs:

 

  1. Apply for a Fuel Card

The England Carrier Services fuel card takes dollars off of every gallon of fuel you purchase at most locations nationwide. Put simply, it is the best fuel card in the industry.

Here’s what the card entails:

 

The Deepest Fuel Discounts in the Industry
  • Save dollars for every gallon of fuel with the best discount fuel card available
  • Increase cash flow with a line of credit
  • Rest easy with no annual or monthly fees

 

The Largest Fuel Network in the Country
  • Save on fuel at over 900 locations
  • Enjoy nationwide coverage at Love’s and TA-Petro
  • Benefit from a network designed by those who know trucking at C.R. England, ensuring you’re supported wherever you go

 

The Best Amenities in Transportation
  • Relish Love’s and TA-Petro facilities, renowned for their clean, state-of-the-art amenities
  • Benefit from premium eateries, maintenance services, and shopping centers
  • Revel in outstanding customer service

 

A Mission to Fight Childhood Hunger by Doing Business
  • Support childhood hunger relief through the One Initiative, a joint effort between England Logistics and C.R. England.
  • Help provide meals to hungry children just by doing business
  • Participate at no cost

 

The England Carrier Services fuel card offers the best fuel discounts in the entire trucking industry.

To take dollars off every gallon of fuel, click the form below.

 

how to save on diesel

  1. Managing Speed

Nobody likes to slow down, but if you’re trying to manage fuel costs, it can be one of the most powerful ways to save.

Every mile above 62 mph costs 0.1 miles per gallon. Reducing your speed from 75 mph to 65 mph can improve fuel efficiency by 20%. That’s huge. If it costs you $2,000 to fill up your rig, that’s a $400 difference just by managing your speed.

 

  1. Tire Pressure

Tire maintenance may not be the most intuitive solution for managing fuel costs, but keeping your tires inflated can make all the difference.

Tire pressure is directly correlated with fuel efficiency. If your tires are properly inflated, you can save 3.3% on fuel. Again, if it costs you $2,000 to fill up, that’s $66 back in your pocket.

 

  1. Don’t Idle

When you idle, you burn a gallon of fuel an hour for nothing. If you consistently idle overnight, that can amount to $10,000 a year.

This is simple math. Don’t idle. Save $10,000 a year.

 

  1. Strategic Fueling

Strategic fueling is intentionally planning your routes to avoid expensive fuel. For example, if you have an interstate haul from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles… try to fill up closer to Salt Lake City. You’ll save two dollars per gallon just by being intentional about how you fill up.

Even if the Strait of Hormuz opens tomorrow, prices are likely to remain elevated for months. Waiting for diesel out is simply not a viable strategy.

By using fuel-cost-cutting tactics, coupled with a fuel card, you can save on diesel, reducing your top expense from nightmarish to manageable.

 

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The England Carrier Services (ECS) division offers a range of services for carriers, from maintenance to support. As ECS members, carriers have access to nationwide discounts on fuel and tires from dedicated team members committed to finding the best price. ECS also provides factoring services with benefits such as same-day funding to a bank account or fuel card. These options allow carriers to focus on growing their businesses while saving time and money.