The Soaring Cost of Diesel Is Bankrupting Small Trucking Companies
Published . Updated .
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For small trucking firms operating with little margin for error, high fuel costs can make the difference between survival and bankruptcy.
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- USO United States Oil Fund+8.9% 30d
United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “diesel” (oil) in this story.
- XLE Energy Select Sector SPDR+8.9% 30d
Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “diesel” (oil) in this story.
- IYT iShares U.S. Transportation ETF
iShares U.S. Transportation ETF: it holds transport and logistics firms. Linked by “trucking” (transport and logistics) in this story.
- UPS United Parcel Service+7.2% 17d
United Parcel Service (trucking and courier services (no air)): freight and delivery firms move with trade volumes. Linked by “trucking” (transport and logistics) in this story.
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings+6.2% 16d
ExxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “diesel” (oil) in this story.
- CVX Chevron+12.5% 30d
Chevron (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “diesel” (oil) in this story.
- UNP Union Pacific+8.1% 30d
Union Pacific (railroads, line-haul operating): freight and delivery firms move with trade volumes. Linked by “trucking” (transport and logistics) in this story.
- FDX FedEx+7.6% 30d
FedEx (air courier services): freight and delivery firms move with trade volumes. Linked by “trucking” (transport and logistics) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USO | +4.37% | +7.30% | base | -0.01% | after close | after close | after close |
| XLE | +1.44% | +2.16% | base | -0.36% | after close | after close | after close |
| IYT | -1.11% | -1.81% | base | +0.11% | after close | after close | after close |
| UPS | -3.24% | -2.18% | base | -0.22% | after close | after close | after close |
| XOM | +0.06% | +1.89% | base | -1.00% | after close | after close | after close |
| CVX | +0.19% | +1.58% | base | -0.75% | after close | after close | after close |
| UNP | -2.32% | -1.66% | base | -0.63% | after close | after close | after close |
| FDX | -3.54% | -3.35% | base | +1.25% | after close | after close | after close |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
For small trucking firms operating with little margin for error, high fuel costs can make the difference between survival and bankruptcy.
Source: The New York Times
This story
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVX | that day | -0.75% | still updating |
| CVX | three days earlier | +1.58% | final price |
| CVX | five days earlier | +0.19% | final price |
| FDX | that day | +1.25% | still updating |
| FDX | three days earlier | -3.35% | final price |
| FDX | five days earlier | -3.54% | final price |
| IYT | that day | +0.11% | still updating |
| IYT | three days earlier | -1.81% | final price |
| IYT | five days earlier | -1.11% | final price |
| UNP | that day | -0.63% | still updating |
| UNP | three days earlier | -1.66% | final price |
| UNP | five days earlier | -2.32% | final price |
| UPS | that day | -0.22% | still updating |
| UPS | three days earlier | -2.18% | final price |
| UPS | five days earlier | -3.24% | final price |
| USO | that day | -0.01% | still updating |
| USO | three days earlier | +7.30% | final price |
| USO | five days earlier | +4.37% | final price |
| XLE | that day | -0.36% | still updating |
| XLE | three days earlier | +2.16% | final price |
| XLE | five days earlier | +1.44% | final price |
| XOM | that day | -1.00% | still updating |
| XOM | three days earlier | +1.89% | final price |
| XOM | five days earlier | +0.06% | final price |
Congressional trades in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 14 Oct 2026. That is 20 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) (jointly held), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 31 Aug 2026. That is 64 days before publication. Filed 25 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Chevron (CVX), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 14 Oct 2026. That is 20 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Chevron (CVX) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 41 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar bought Chevron (CVX), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 2 Sep 2026. That is 62 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rick Larsen sold Fedex (FDX), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 8 Oct 2026. That is 26 days before publication. Filed 12 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna sold Fedex (FDX) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 25 Sep 2026. That is 39 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar sold Fedex (FDX), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Sep 2026. That is 40 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
This story
12 out of 100Price not final
“The Soaring Cost of Diesel Is Bankrupting Small Trucking Companies” scores 12 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources. The price is not final yet.