Accessibility links Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player Open Navigation Menu --> Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Close Navigation Menu Home News Expand/collapse submenu for News National World Politics Business Health Science Climate Race Culture Expand/collapse submenu for Culture Books Movies Television Pop Culture Food Art & Design Performing Arts Life Kit Gaming Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions Podcasts & Shows Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows Daily Morning Edition Weekend Edition Saturday Weekend Edition Sunday All Things Considered Up First Here & Now NPR Politics Podcast Featured Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Embedded Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics The price of diesel is showing up in the price of almost everything Diesel has hit a record high. Stephan Bisaha visits an Alabama truck stop to talk with drivers and business owners about how high prices are changing what they spend and charge. National The price of diesel is showing up in the price of almost everything September 6, 20265:06 PM ET Heard on All Things Considered By Stephan Bisaha The price of diesel is showing up in the price of almost everything Listen · 2:32 2:32 Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed "> <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5958002/nx-s1-9916133" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript Diesel has hit a record high. Stephan Bisaha visits an Alabama truck stop to talk with drivers and business owners about how high prices are changing what they spend and charge. Sponsor Message Transcript
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If you thought gas was expensive, diesel fuel just hit its highest price ever. The nationwide cost of diesel at the pump is now up to $5.89 per gallon nationwide, according to AAA. NPR's Stephan Bisaha pulled up to a gas station in central Alabama to find out how drivers are feeling.
STEPHAN BISAHA, BYLINE: Diesel is now about $1.75 more expensive per gallon than regular gas. So why bother buying a diesel vehicle?
LEROY BISHOP: For the pulling power, so I can pull my cars.
BISAHA: Leroy Bishop is a car guy filling up at a Buc-ee's. In fact, he bought this diesel GMC truck so he could better haul his other vehicles to car shows.
BISHOP: It performs better on the highway pulling those vehicles.
BISAHA: Basically, if you got to move something heavy, you use diesel - trailers, commercial trucks, big RVs. Since the war with Iran started and cut off a portion of the world's oil supply, diesel has gone up more than $2 a gallon. So Bishop's driving the truck less, but it hasn't cramped his lifestyle too much.
BISHOP: No. It ain't killing me, but it ain't fun.
BISAHA: For some people, diesel is not about fun. It's work.
JOE SCIARROTTA: Diesel gives me the power to pull that 26-foot food truck. It's heavy. It's a heavy trailer.
BISAHA: Chef Joe Sciarrotta owns the Hey Bebe food truck.
SCIARROTTA: So we do loaded potatoes. We do Cajun. We do Italian. We try to be unique.
BISAHA: Sciarrotta says between diesel for hauling and gas for the trailer's generator, he spends $32,000 in a typical year.
What would it be this year, then?
SCIARROTTA: Probably going to be close to about 44.
BISAHA: It's a big jump.
SCIARROTTA: It's a big jump. Yeah, no doubt.
BISAHA: So then are you making up for that by having to raise prices on the food truck?
SCIARROTTA: A lot of people are raising prices. You can only get so much for jambalaya.
BISAHA: So he's trying to keep prices steady. That's not an option for everyone at the pump.
MICHELLE CORTER: We literally, in a few weeks, are having a price increase going into effect because of the price of diesel affecting us right now.
BISAHA: Michelle Corter is in a Ford 450 hauling a trailer full of shutters. The company she works for makes them.
CORTER: We do standard square shutters. We do cutout doors. We do arches.
BISAHA: So I guess, is it fair to say that diesel is making shutters more expensive?
CORTER: Yes, 100%.
BISAHA: It is not just shutters. Diesel is used to ship everything from mattresses to bananas, meaning more expensive diesel will be paid for by just about everyone. Stephan Bisaha, NPR News, Leeds, Alabama. Copyright © 2026 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts may vary. Transcript text may be revised to correct errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org may be edited after its original broadcast or publication. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. NPR does not offer or accept money for coverage or interviews. Anyone who makes such an offer or request is not an NPR employee and does not represent NPR. Facebook Flipboard Email Read & Listen Home News Culture Music Podcasts & Shows Connect Newsletters Facebook Instagram Press Public Editor Corrections Transcripts Contact & Help About NPR Overview Diversity NPR Network Accessibility Ethics Finances Get Involved Support Public Radio Sponsor NPR NPR Careers NPR Shop NPR Extra Terms of Use Privacy Your Privacy Choices Text Only Sponsor Message Sponsor Message Become an NPR sponsor (function () { var loadPageJs = function () { (window.webpackJsonp=window.webpackJsonp||[]).push([[22],{310:function(e,n,o){o.p=NPR.serverVars.webpackPublicPath,Promise.all([o.e(1),o.e(2),o.e(3),o.e(4),o.e(80)]).then((e=>{o(15),o(769),o(155),o(176),o(93),o(447),o(254),o(128),o(130),o(754),o(175),o(755),o(255),o(78),o(773)}).bind(null,o)).catch(o.oe)},782:function(e,n,o){e.exports=o(310)}},[[782,0]]]); }; if (document.readyState === 'complete') { loadPageJs(); } else { window.addEventListener('load', function load() { window.removeEventListener('load', load, false); loadPageJs(); }); } })();