ROCHESTER, NY (WROC) – Any car owner has felt the burden of gas prices continue to rise, but few have seen it as bad as transportation-dependent businesses.
A local trucking company shared the impact this has had on its profits and customers.
The average price of diesel in the Rochester metropolitan area is $ 6.50 per gallon. Now imagine paying for this to fill a 300 gallon tank in an 18 wheel vehicle. Lakeville Trucking has had no choice but to pass it on to consumers to make up the difference.
Each week, Lakeville Trucking has more than two dozen truckers shipping goods up and down the east coast and west to Oklahoma. Just filling out a full deposit costs the company over $ 1600 these days.
“Right now we have an average of more than $ 1 per mile in fuel,” said Migliorina, vice president of Lakeville Trucking.
Rising gas prices have not forced Lakeville Trucking to lay off employees or reduce shipments. But John Migliorina has seen his profits dwindle even after passing on higher costs to his customers.
“Many of the customers have set contracted prices that must be maintained,” Migliorina continued. “But it’s hard for everyone now. They have their prices set and they don’t want to adjust, so we’re moving forward and looking for a transport that pays more.”
Migliorina is grateful for the gas rate that will take effect in June. But he believes more oil production in the US would be a better long-term solution. AAA experts explain several factors involved in the cause of this rise in gas prices.
“With many things happening in the European Union and Russia or Ukraine with the uncertainty of changing crude oil prices,” said AAA communications specialist Valerie Puma. “That’s why we’re seeing record prices.”
AAA rated these gas prices as the highest ever recorded in central and western New York. For regular car and pickup truck drivers, gasoline in New York averages $ 4.76 per gallon. A jump of 24 cents compared to last week.
Before hitting the road this summer, Rochester’s Rashid Owens has been thinking about postponing holiday travel because of the price of gasoline.
“I was soon going to the 1,000 islands,” Ownes said. “But I think that’s one of the things I’m going to contain. Gasoline prices are a little too high and a 6-7 hour trip is too much.”
When Driving to Work Lately, David Maynes of Henrietta has stopped filling his tank. To reduce pump spending.
“I put in $ 20 and she gave me 4.1 gallons,” Mayetta of Henrietta told us.
In the Rochester metropolitan area, the average price per gallon of gasoline reached 4.70 cents this week. The third highest in all of central and western New York according to AAA. But experts do not see this as affecting summer travel.
“AAA predicts that about 39.2 million people will travel across the country at least 50 miles or more from home this summer weekend or Memorial Day,” Puma said. “I think a lot of that is this specific demand to really get out of the house, especially after the last two years with the pandemic.”
Even with gasoline prices rising sharply again over the summer, there are ways drivers can change their driving habits and closely monitor car maintenance to save money.
“This tire pressure is low and your car is working harder and consuming more fuel to get started,” Puma said. “You even plan your day-to-day map in advance, driving the same route, so you don’t go home too often. If you can avoid rush hour, it’s perfect.”
