Truckers warn skyrocketing diesel prices are making US supply-chain and trucking industry unsustainable
- Truckers are sounding the alarm on skyrocketing diesel prices.
- A trucking company owner went viral after warning prices could cause major supply-chain issues.
- Truckers told Insider they’ve had to take loads at a loss and are considering leaving the industry.
A Facebook post from the owner of a Texas trucking company went viral last week after he warned that skyrocketing diesel prices could have longterm consequences for the US supply-chain.
Austin Smith, owner of Iron River Express, said it has cost him over $20,000 a week to keep his three trucks running.
“If something drastic doesn’t change in the next few weeks/months, I promise you, you’ll see empty shelves everywhere you look,” Smith wrote in a post that was shared nearly 290,000 times. “You’ll see chaos as people fight for the basic necessities of everyday life.”
Smith did not respond to a request for comment from Insider in time for publication.
Insider spoke with five truckers who warned that the industry could be at a breaking point. The drivers say they’ve had to get creative in recent months as they work to turn a profit while spending thousands at the pump.
Richard Resek, a trucker based out of ports in New York and New Jersey, told Insider he’s turning off his truck and rolling down his window instead of using air conditioning during long summer nights. He also plots out gas stations with the cheapest fuel prices.
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