BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO-AM) -- While gasoline prices continue to drop, it's just the opposite for diesel fuel. Prices have spiked. Industry sources say in some cases, the increase is more than a dollar higher than regular unleaded gas.
Arik Spenser, Executive Vice President of the North Dakota Motor Carriers Association, says the price hikes are putting a real pinch on the trucking industry. He says members who run on small margins have to swallow those costs to make ends meet.
Mike Rud, President of the North Dakota Petroleum Marketers Association says there's been shortages throughout the upper midwest for several months as a result of harvest demand. But he says the situation has been aggravated by unexpected refinery problems. He says suppliers are once again being forced to travel hundreds of miles to find diesel fuel and that's adding to the cost and forced prices up.
According to Triple-A's Daily Fuel Gauge report, the North Dakota statewide average price for diesel fuel Friday was $4.12 a gallon.