Diesel passed its all-time record this fall. AAA put the national average at $5.85 a gallon on September 4, above the June 2022 high. By September 21, the EIA’s weekly survey had it above $6.50.

And it isn’t expected to ease up soon. The EIA says diesel prices are “likely to remain elevated through harvest and into winter,” with fourth-quarter inventories running about 11% below the five-year average. U.S. refineries are already running near capacity, and exports are up as overseas demand pulls supply away.

For a construction site, that means two risks heading into the coldest months: fuel costs more, and the margin for a late or missed delivery gets thinner.

What tight diesel supply means on a job site

When distillate stocks are low, the market has less cushion. Cold snaps push demand up, and the sites that wait until they’re running low end up competing for the same trucks at the same time.

On a data center or other mission-critical build, an empty tank costs a lot more than fuel. It’s idle equipment, a crew waiting and temporary heat or power going down on a cold night.

Five things construction sites can do now

1. Plan deliveries instead of calling when you’re low. Scheduled deliveries based on actual usage are easier to protect when supply tightens than last-minute calls.

2. Know what you’re actually burning. Asset-level tracking shows which machines and generators use the most fuel, where idling is adding up and whether any fuel is unaccounted for. At these prices, waste costs real money.

3. Keep tanks topped going into a cold stretch. Generators and temporary heat burn more on long winter nights, and a full tank is a buffer if weather slows the roads.

4. Look at on-site storage. For high-use sites, bulk storage or a rental tank means fewer deliveries to schedule and more fuel on hand when you need it.

5. Read your fuel clauses. If you carry fuel costs on a contract, check how your surcharge or escalation clause works. Law firm Foley & Lardner recently noted that a pure price spike usually won’t excuse performance under Texas law without a qualifying provision. Talk with your own counsel about your contracts.

How Prime Fuel helps

We’re built for exactly this kind of market. We plan deliveries around your site’s schedule and usage, so tanks get topped off long before they get close to empty.

Every delivery comes with a report: asset ID, fuel and DEF levels, quantity delivered and notes on anything that looks off with the equipment. That gives your team a clear view of where fuel is going, which matters more when every gallon costs more.

• Direct-to-equipment fuel and DEF delivery

• Dyed diesel, gasoline, DEF, propane and green diesel

• Bulk fuel, on-site storage and tank rental

• A real person in Abilene who picks up the phone

Frequently asked questions

Why are diesel prices so high right now?

Distillate inventories are running about 11% below the five-year average, U.S. refineries are already near capacity and exports are up as overseas demand pulls supply away. The EIA expects prices to stay elevated into winter.

How can a construction site avoid running out of fuel this winter?

Schedule deliveries based on actual usage instead of calling when tanks are low, keep tanks topped before cold stretches and consider on-site bulk storage or a rental tank for high-use sites.

Does a fuel price spike excuse performance on a construction contract?

Usually not on its own. Under Texas law, a pure price spike generally won’t excuse performance without a qualifying provision such as a fuel surcharge or escalation clause. Review your contracts with your own counsel.

Get ahead of late TX winter. Request service at primefuelsolutions.com or call (325) 298-2098.