Diesel Just Broke $5.60 — Why Car Shipping Costs Are Rising and When They’ll Come Back Down

• April 8, 2026

Last updated on April 8, 2026

Diesel prices have climbed every week since early March. If you’ve noticed higher auto transport quotes compared to a few months ago, this is why — and what to expect going forward.

The Numbers

Here’s the national average diesel price trend from the U.S. Energy Information Administration:

That’s $2.13 more per gallon than seven weeks ago — a 61% increase. California is above $7.50. The Gulf Coast, where most port trucking happens, is over $5.80.

The EIA expects diesel to peak around $5.80 per gallon as a monthly average in April, then gradually decline — but they also say fuel prices could keep rising for months even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens tomorrow because refineries need time to rebuild inventory.

Why It’s Happening

The short version: the Strait of Hormuz handles 20% of global oil supply. It’s been effectively closed since early March due to the Iran conflict. Traffic through the strait dropped from 2,652 transits in early March 2025 to just 142 in the same period this year — a 95% collapse.

Crude oil went above $100 a barrel. Diesel followed. Every truck, every carrier, every logistics company in the country is absorbing this.

What It Means for Your Auto Transport Quote

Car carriers get 4–6 miles per gallon hauling 8–10 vehicles. On a typical 1,500-mile route, that’s 250–375 gallons of diesel per trip.

Here’s the math:

• At $3.50/gal (February): $875–$1,313 in fuel per trip
• At $5.62/gal (April): $1,405–$2,108 in fuel per trip

That’s $530–$795 more per trip in fuel alone. Spread across 8–10 vehicles, each shipment absorbs roughly $55–$100 in additional fuel cost compared to where pricing was two months ago.

Carriers don’t eat that. They pass it through as a fuel surcharge, and brokers like Transcar pass it to you as a separate, itemized line.

The Surcharge Landscape

It’s not just auto transport. The whole economy is repricing:

• USPS: Added an 8% fuel surcharge in April
• UPS: Adjusts weekly based on EIA diesel index
• FedEx: Updated ground fuel surcharge to 14.5%
• Amazon: Added a 5% fuel and inflation surcharge on seller fees
• Major railroads: Norfolk Southern surcharge hit $0.31/gallon over baseline

Auto transport is following the same pattern. At Transcar, our fuel surcharge went from 8% (March 10) to 12% (March 16) to the current rate, and it will continue adjusting as diesel moves.

Spring Surge Meets Fuel Spike

April is already the start of peak season for auto transport. Snowbirds returning north, tax-refund-driven purchases, relocations kicking off for summer — demand climbs every year in April and doesn’t let up until September.

This year, rising demand is colliding with rising costs. Carriers are being more selective about which loads they take because fuel eats into every mile. Routes that were easy to fill a month ago now need competitive pricing to attract drivers.

What that means in practice:

• Quotes are valid for shorter windows. A price from last week may not hold because diesel moved again.
• Booking earlier gets better rates. Carriers commit capacity to loads that are ready. Last-minute bookings in a tight market pay a premium.
• Some routes take longer. Carriers prioritize loads that cover their fuel costs. If your route is less popular, pickup windows may stretch from 1–3 days to 3–7 days.

For Hawaii, Guam, and Alaska Shipments

If you’re shipping to the islands or Alaska, there’s a second fuel hit on the ocean side. The steamship lines announced surcharge increases effective April 12:

• Hawaii: 16.5% → 20.5%
• Guam/CNMI: 17.5% → 21.5%

Door-to-door shipments to these destinations see both the trucking surcharge and the ocean carrier surcharge. Both are itemized separately on your quote.

When Will Prices Come Back Down?

The honest answer: nobody knows exactly when, but here’s what the data says.

The EIA’s April forecast projects diesel averaging $4.80 for all of 2026 — which implies significant drops in the back half of the year if the Hormuz situation stabilizes. But even after the strait reopens, oil markets need time to rebuild reserves. Refineries need time to ramp. Distribution networks need to catch up.

Our fuel surcharge tracks diesel weekly. When diesel drops a bracket, the surcharge drops with it. There’s no lag, no lock-in, no hidden profit margin on fuel.

What You Can Do

1. Get a quote now if you’re planning a move in the next 60 days. Prices aren’t going down in April.
1. Book early. In a tight carrier market, first movers get better rates and faster pickups.
1. Understand the surcharge line item. It’s separate from the base rate. When fuel drops, it drops.
1. Don’t panic. Yes, shipping costs more right now. But this is a temporary spike driven by a specific geopolitical event. It will normalize.

Questions? Call (682) 252-4654 or get a quote online.

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Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly on-highway diesel prices and Short-Term Energy Outlook, April 2026. Reuters, “Fuel prices could keep rising for months even if Hormuz reopens,” April 7, 2026. Trucking Info, “Diesel Prices Surge Toward Record Highs,” April 7, 2026. Newsweek, “Amazon, UPS, FedEx, and USPS To Add Fuel Surcharges,” April 7, 2026.