An Unfortunate Reality

The crisis in Ukraine doesn’t appear to be ending anytime soon, and that is having consequences for us here in the United States. Fuel costs have increased and are unlikely to decrease at any point in the foreseeable future. For the average American, this means an added expense to their monthly budgets. For the shipping industry, on the other hand, these new costs represent a serious financial burden. Diesel truck engines range between 125 to 300 gallons on average. This can raise refueling costs easily into the thousands per refill.

Can Anything Be Done?

In terms of reducing the price of fuel, the simple answer is “not really.” Several solutions have been proposed, but they all come with significant drawbacks and are still likely to take time to implement. However, there are certain steps that can be taken to reduce fuel usage until a solution is found. 

Step 1: Fill The Truck

Right now, sending out a truck that is not full to capacity is throwing away money. It might have become common practice to send out trucks as soon as orders arrive in the name of speed, however, those days are done for the time being. Even if it causes a brief delay, there is nothing to be gained by sending out trucks if they are not full.

Step 2: Transport Locally

Shipping goods locally may not always be a viable option. That is the unfortunate truth. When it is possible, it can save you a lot of money. Locally shipped goods can be transported on smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles in a lot of cases. Buying from local suppliers also comes with the added incentive that you’ll get to help your neighbors during these trying times.

Step 3: Don’t Use Older Vehicles

Newer vehicles are more fuel-efficient than older models. And wear and tear only exacerbates that problem. Whenever you can do so, use newer vehicles to transport goods. 

A Change?

This current fuel crisis raises a lot of questions there are currently no clear answers to. There is no telling when prices will drop, or by how much. The only thing we know for sure is that, for the moment, fuel is expensive. However, new legislation or infrastructure might be implemented to combat this problem in the near future. A change may be on the horizon. But whether it is or not, remember: we’re all in this together.