Michigan Diesel Prices Hit Record High of $6.34 a Gallon

Diesel fuel prices have reached an all-time high in Michigan, and if you think that only matters to people who drive diesel vehicles, think again.

Michigan's Diesel Prices Surge To Record Highs

Michigan's average diesel price hit $6.34 a gallon Wednesday, putting even more pressure on the trucking companies, road crews and other parts of the infrastructure that keep things moving. And here in Genesee County, we're already seeing that impact.

Flint-based Ideal Transportation, formerly located in Burton, hauls automotive parts across the country according to ABC 12. Logistics manager Vanessa Zwolensky says when diesel prices climb above $6 a gallon, filling one of their trucks can cost between $1,000 and $1,200.

Trucking Industry Not The Only Thing Affected By High Diesel Prices in Michigan

And that cost doesn't just stay with the trucking company. Zwolensky said:

Just because you don't use diesel for yourself, it's going to impact everybody,

That's because higher transportation costs can eventually make their way down the line, affecting businesses, customers and, ultimately, consumers.

Genesee County Road Commission Feeling It Too

The Genesee County Road Commission is dealing with the same problem. More than 100 pieces of its heavy equipment rely on diesel, while other equipment uses gasoline. On Wednesday, Michigan's average price for regular unleaded was $4.54 a gallon.

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Kylie Dontje, communications coordinator for the road commission, said the commission originally budgeted about $955,000 for fuel. That number has now increased to $1.2 million. That's a pretty significant jump just to keep the equipment fueled and the roads maintained.

Road Commission Moves Forward With Current Plans Despite Price Hike

Despite the uncertainty surrounding fuel prices, Dontje says the road commission expects to finish everything it had planned for this fiscal year. The next fiscal year begins in October, and that's when the road commission will set its new fuel budget.

For Ideal Transportation, it's a matter of trying to keep things moving while dealing with costs that are largely out of its control. Zwolensky said:

We're just trying to do the best we can.

Even If You Don't Drive a Diesel Vehicle, You'll Still Be Affected By The Price Hike

And that's really the frustrating part of fuel prices like these. You may not own a diesel truck, and you may never operate a piece of road construction equipment, but those vehicles still help get products to stores, deliver automotive parts and maintain the roads we use every day.

So when the price at the pump goes up, the effects can reach a whole lot farther than the gas station.