Rising diesel prices have pushed the national average to $6.47 per gallon and hit a record $6.57 on Tuesday, provoking online rumors of a nationwide truckers' strike on Oct. 1. Cherri Harris, CEO of Swint Logistics Group, says carriers are under intense strain but considers a coordinated strike unlikely due to reputation and contract concerns. Some prime contractors have allowed extra hours to help offset costs, though Harris calls that only a partial fix. High pump prices are also hurting ordinary consumers.
Trucking CEO Dismisses Rumored Nationwide Strike as Diesel Prices Soar
Trucking executive pushes back on nationwide strike rumors
Rising diesel costs are squeezing U.S. carriers and have sparked online chatter that truck drivers might stage a nationwide work stoppage on Oct. 1. While drivers and small carriers are feeling the pressure, a leading trucking executive says a coordinated strike is unlikely.
According to AAA, the national average price for diesel stands at $6.47 per gallon and reached a record $6.57 per gallon on Tuesday. Industry observers note localized spikes higher than the national average; photographs from Sept. 17, 2026, captured diesel posted above $8 per gallon at a Los Angeles station as prices climbed across the country.
Cherri Harris, CEO and owner of Swint Logistics Group, told NewsNation Live that fuel costs have materially increased operating expenses and are squeezing margins for carriers and owner-operators.
“Our costs have risen significantly since the war, and now we are seeing diesel prices that we've never seen before, historically higher than ever. So our bottom line is significantly being affected,” Harris said.
Harris said her company has been fortunate to work with some prime contractors who signed contracts before fuel spiked. Those partners have offered limited accommodations, such as allowing drivers extra hours each day to help offset fuel expenses, but Harris emphasized these measures are only partial relief, not a long-term solution.
Diesel prices are displayed above $8 per gallon at a gas station in Los Angeles, on September 17, 2026, as prices reach record highs across the United States. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP via Getty Images)
Addressing circulating rumors of a coordinated, nationwide truckers' strike, Harris pushed back, calling such a move unlikely given the freight industry's reliance on reputation, reliability and contractual relationships.
“To become a great carrier is about reputation, reliability and safety. You don't want to disappoint your contractor, ruin your reputation and become an unreliable carrier, because that stains your name and you won't get work. So I do not foresee a trucker strike,” she said.
Harris also noted that high fuel prices hit consumers directly. “I'm a consumer as well as a fleet owner, and it's killing me at the pump, you know, to fill up my personal vehicle. So Americans, in addition to truckers, need these prices to please come down,” she added.
Bottom line: Diesel at record highs is increasing costs throughout the shipping ecosystem and straining small carriers, but industry leaders say a coordinated strike is unlikely because of contractual obligations and the reputational risks for carriers.
Source: NewsNation Live; AAA fuel price data. Photo: Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images (Sept. 17, 2026).
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