Diesel prices jumped another 11 cents last week
Diesel fuel prices across the United States jumped another 11.4 cents during the week ending May 9, bringing the national average to another record high at $5.62 per gallon, according to the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration.
At $5.62, diesel prices are now $2.44 per gallon higher than the same week a year ago.
For the second week in a row, the most sizable increases across the country were seen along the East Coast, where the New England and Central Atlantic regions each saw 23.8-cent increases during the week. The Lower Atlantic region, also part of EIA’s East Coast calculation, saw the third-largest jump during the week of 17.9 cents.
The nation’s most expensive diesel can be found in California at $6.46 per gallon, followed by New England at $6.34 per gallon.
The cheapest fuel can be found in the Gulf Coast region at $5.34 per gallon, followed by the Midwest region at $5.39.
Prices in other regions, according to EIA, are:
Central Atlantic — $6.32
Lower Atlantic — $5.58
Rocky Mountain — $5.46
West Coast less California — $5.63
ProMiles’ numbers during the week ending May 2 saw fuel prices increase by 28.5 cents, bringing its national average to $5.44 per gallon.
According to ProMiles’ Fuel Surcharge Index, the most expensive diesel can be found in California at $6.38 per gallon, and the cheapest can be found in the Gulf Coast region at $5.22 per gallon.
Texas fleet shut down for ‘egregious noncompliance’
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) declared Houston-area based Jaypur Logistics an “imminent hazard” to public safety and ordered the motor carrier May 7 to immediately cease operation.
FMCSA identified Jaypur Logistics for investigation based on the carrier’s widespread violations documented by FMCSA and its partners during roadside inspections. According to FMCSA, Jaypur Logistics had almost double the national average vehicle out-of-service rate (40%) and over five times the national average driver out-of-service rate (31.1%).
The FMCSA review of Jaypur Logistics found the motor carrier “egregiously noncompliant with multiple Federal safety regulations, including: Controlled Substances and Alcohol Use and Testing (49 CFR Part 382); Commercial Driver’s License Standards (49 CFR Part 383); Driver Qualification (49 CFR Part 391); Unsafe Driving (49 CFR Part 392); Hours of Service of Drivers (49 CFR Part 395); and vehicle Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance (49 CFR Part 396).”
During its investigation, FMCSA charged Jaypur Logistics with “a severe lack of oversight of its operations,” noting the carrier could only identify a fraction of the drivers and vehicles operating under its authority and was not even aware its drivers had hauled hazardous materials. “Jaypur Logistics failed to ensure its drivers were eligible to drive, allowing six drivers who were already prohibited in the FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse to operate on its behalf,” FMCSA wrote. Jaypur Logistics’ drivers have twice been cited for operating under the influence and three times its drivers have been cited for on-duty possession of drugs or alcohol, according to FMCSA. Jaypur Logistics did not have a program to detect and deter the use of controlled substances by its drivers, did not have an effective program to ensure its drivers were qualified and licensed, did not have a program to control its drivers’ hours of service, and did not have a program to ensure its vehicles were appropriately inspected and repaired.
FMCSA’s imminent hazard out-of-service order states that Jaypur Logistics’ “…complete and utterdisregard for the [federal safety regulations] substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death for your drivers and the motoring public if your operations are not discontinued immediately.”
Original article provided by: https://www.ccjdigital.com/business/article/15291831/diesel-prices-climb-past-560-a-gallon-nationwide
