Record Diesel Prices Prompt North Country Tow Business to Adjust Fuel Purchases
Diesel prices have surged to a national average of $6.23 per gallon, forcing a Hounsfield tow service to alter its fueling strategy and monitor pump prices closely.
Diesel prices in the United States have climbed to a record $6.23 per gallon, up 60% from a year ago, according to the American Automobile Association. The sharp increase is affecting small businesses in the North Country, including the Derrigo Service Center in Hounsfield, which operates a fleet of tow trucks.
Tow truck driver and mechanic Domenic Derrigo said the company typically refuels its trucks daily or every other day, but the current pump prices are significantly higher than the $4 per gallon level the business considers stable. "We don’t get the tank filled when prices are volatile and all over the place. We just fill up at the pump to see where things are going to go before we get our next fill-up," he explained.
The service center does not add a fuel surcharge to customer bills and hopes to maintain that practice despite the higher costs. Derrigo noted that the busiest period for the trucks will be during winter snowstorms, when he hopes prices may decline.
Industry analysts attribute the price rise to multiple factors, including geopolitical tensions. AAA analyst Valerie Puma cited uncertainty surrounding the conflict between the United States and Iran, as well as disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, as contributors to the upward trend in diesel costs.
The Watertown area recorded its highest average diesel price of $6.49 per gallon in May 2022; Monday’s average was $6.16 per gallon, not adjusted for inflation.