Missouri's KFVS 12 reports high diesel costs may cause trucking companies to “go under”

Written by Media Matters Staff

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This post is part of a series chronicling news coverage of rising gas prices in the United States. See more here.

From a May 5, 2026, video uploaded to the YouTube channel of KFVS 12

JEFF CUNNINGHAM (ANCHOR): A Heartland trucking company says the rise in fuel prices is hurting their budget to the tune of thousands of dollars, and businesses across the country may go under if diesel doesn't come down soon.

Here's a live look at the average cost of diesel in our Heartland states. Illinois sitting at $6 a gallon, Kentucky there at $5.30, and Missouri $5.22. This is, again, average price for a gallon of diesel. Blake Schowalter is live in the studio now with more details.

BLAKE SCHOWALTER (REPORTER): Jeff, the owner of McLane Transport, Alan Brooks, says the rise in fuels costs has hit the trucking industry hard. He adds that if prices continue to rise, grocery prices will continue to go up and companies may go out of business.

[BEGIN VIDEO]

ALAN BROOKS (OWNER OF MCLANE TRANSPORT): Some companies are leveraged more than us, you know, and they're not, they won't be able to maintain these high prices.

SCHOWALTER: Brooks says diesel prices have been hitting the trucking industry hard. As of right now, the national average for diesel prices are up to $5.81, the highest it's been in nearly four years. He tells me he pays nearly $10,000 more a month for diesel than what he paid before the conflict in Iran, costing him nearly $100,000 additional a year in fuel.

…

SCHOWALTER: Brooks says his two highest expenses is employment and fuel. He tells me smaller companies won't be able to withstand these high prices, and he wouldn't be surprised to see other companies across the nation have trouble staying afloat.

BROOKS: It's critical. I mean, you know, there's a breaking point to everything, and you can just break even for so long, and then you got to determine if — how much longer do you want to try to do that?

SCHOWALTER: Brooks says he's had to charge hundreds in surcharges to help the company break even.

BROOKS: You have to, if you want to service your customers, which we do, and it's not their fault and it's not our fault. But, when you have a truck that's leaving on a 2,000 mile one-way trip, it's a significant amount of money.

…

SCHOWALTER: Back in Poplar Bluff, Brooks says people should be ready for grocery prices to go up.

BROOKS: That doesn't necessarily mean that I'm making more money, because I'm not. But I have to at least cover my cost to do what I'm doing.

[END VIDEO]

SCHOWALTER: Brooks says he's hopeful the high fuel costs are temporary, but if they are not, multiple businesses may suffer.