| author | comments |
| Unhappy Diesel driver | Part of the problem could be: The gov gave you a rebate for buying more fuel efficient vehicles. Now they are getting their rebates back by taxing the fuel you have to use in your more efficient vehicle.
We in america are our own worst enemies. We have to have big powerful engines in our big cars and trucks. My Americanized VW has a 2.0L diesel engine, whereas in Europe the same car would have a 1.4L engine, hence greater fuel savings. But after all is said and done, it really does'nt matter what the amount of fuel is used, you will still pay the same. If you use less, the price will increase, because the fuel companies and the gov. have their budgets and if you use less, it cuts into their budgets. You cannot win over big business and Government. PARK YOUR BIG GAS AND DIESEL BURNERS AND WATCH THE PRICES COME DOWN!!! It may be a little painful, but we as Americans have had to fight for our freedom and our liberties in the past, so why do we let the oil companies and our ruling fathers dictate to us high prices for energy??? |
| No Illusions | Simple fact is that the Electric Co. , Water and other utilities prices are regulated because they are monopolies with no competitors. Big oil is a monopoly without any over site so they can charge whatever they want to. The Government is in bed with them and they are all getting rich off the backs of working class Americans. |
| Dale in Virginia | I'm tired of hearing "global" when questioning fuel prices here in the US. I could care less what anyone anywhere else in the world is paying for fuel/gas. I'm tired of the left wing environmental idiots putting a stop to building more refineries. There is no reason why we can be totally self-reliant on our own oil instead of bowing to OPEC. People spent extra money to purchase diesel engine cars and trucks to take advantage of lower diesel prices and better fuel mileage. All food prices have risen because of the extra cost in delivering the goods because of the high fuel costs. They are very simply ensuring fuel prices remain high in an attempt to make the high cost of alternative fuels more reasonable. They are the same people that for years have told us to purchase more fuel efficient automobiles to “save the environment”. The current administration is so enslaved to these whackos that he won’t approve the Keystone Pipeline project when the country is hurting for jobs. We need to use our resources and become completely energy self sufficient. |
| Barbqdude | It used to be that diesel was 40 cents a gallon higher, then 50, then 60, and now in Phoenix it has jumped to 70 and 80 cents a gallon higher. Something needs to be done, this is called GOUGING! |
| d cabral | ok Mr OBAMA the time has come to get off your ass and do something about these diesel costs. the fuel cost a fraction of that of gas to refine, the american people need a break the high cost of diesel has driven up the price of everything from the cost of food to live, to the cost of fuel to get to work soon there there will be no middle class for you to suck dry |
| smokie | What I want to know is why diesel is more than a dollar a gallon than gas. People, it dos not matter if you drive a gas vehicle or not. We are all paying for it through are commodities. Wake up!! Every body should be outraged. |
| Salmon | The reason the bigger trucking Co. don't care about fuel prices is that they now just add a surcharge and charge the extra cost of fuel to the coustomer. That why they don't protest like they did 30 years ago, blocking freeways and pumping fuel on the ground at Truck Stops, there are only small group of independent trucker who are not able to add surcharge and do care about fuel costs.
The reasion our prosest are not herd is there not enough of US protesting without the trucking Co. prostesting too. |
| devin | there area a dozen reasons why diesel is more expensive. I hate it but I have no choice. the real question should be. WHAT ARE WE AS THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY WILLING TO DO ABOUT IT? |
| PAPAKRAKA | I live in Tulsa,formerly known as "OUL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD".My Grandfather,Father,Uncle,and many friends retired from Texaco,Sinclair,etc.Deisel costs 60% less than gas to manufacture.Yhe only reason the price is higher is GOUGING!!My dad was called to Washington in the 70's to testify about the fake gas shortage back then.Remember 10 years ago when truckers blocked D.C.?Price went down PRETTY QUICK!THEY SHOULD DO IT AGAIN!By the way,I drive an 81 chevy deisel van. |
| chainsaw | BULLSHT, BULLSHT, BULLSHT, BULLSHT, BULLSHT, BULLSHT.....i AM SICK AND TIRED OF THE BULLSHT. WHAT DOES ONE HAVE TO DO TO GET THESE A-HOLES ATTENTION????
i AM NOT ONE TO ACT ON IT NOR WILL I DO ANYTHING STOOOOOOOOPID HOWEVER, WHY IS IT WHEN WE SEE SOMEONE SHOOT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE OR BLOW SOMETHING UP WE SAY "OH HE WAS SUCH A QUIET GUY, KEPT TO HIMSELF DIDN'T EVER BOTHER ANYONE"!!! WELL GUESS WHAT WAKE UP YOU POLITICAL IDIOTS!!! PEOPLE ARE GOIN NUTS CAUSE YOU A-HOLE HAVE YOUR HEADS UP YOUR ASSES SO FAR YOU NEED A WINDSHIELD FROM A 76 PACER TO SEE OUT OF YOUR ABDOMIN!!! I bought a diesel pick up cause fuel was cheaper AND I get 17-19 MPG. NOW I'M SCREWED!!!! |
| Danstar | They say demand is up, but excuse the hell out of me. This country lost close to if not over 2 million class 8 trucks during this recession, and then another nearly 300,000 drivers that did not comply with the new FMCSA 2010 regs and had more then 300 points on their licenses. I don't know about your math, but this is 345 million gallons of diesel not being bought every few days (on the big truck scale of use) that is over 35 BILLION gallons of diesel not being purchased and though it would not be fair to calculate at actual pump prices as most companies get up to .15/gal discount on fuel programs they have, your still talking over an estimated $130 BILLION dollars lost in annual diesel fuel consumption and those are very rought #'s based on discounts down to $3.65/gal which not everyone would receive if they have a small fleet vs a larger fleet, but however you figure it, that has to put a hurting on some oil conglomerate bastards pocket book!!! Sad part is, Exxon still claims to have made over $400 B in profits last quarter... |
| philip martin | we are a mechanized society. this is causing the economy to suffer.
lets call it what it is unbridled greed.goverment is incompetent. |
| Tim | When I bought my 2001 F-250 4x4 7.3 diesel new the price per gallon was $1.41. In ten years I can barely afford to drive it since the price and almost tripled! Somebody is feeding us a line of garbage and making a heck of a lot $. |
| rabbit | rt if you think pick get 12 mpg your i have a 7.3 f 250 crue cab 18.5 mpg in city and 24.8 on hwy the fuel cost is so they can rob people that heat homes with fuel oil and the people who make a living depending on this fuel
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| sonny | it all boils down to the all mighty dollar....the rich stay rich and the less than rich people will never get ahead....the average working man pays more in taxes than the rich ...who find loop holes and politicans who are on the rich band wagon....to keep ya down |
| FRED WILLIAMS | DIESEL FUEL PRICE IS SO HIGH BECAUSE BIG TRUCK FILL UP IS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS,THEY NEED THE FUEL AND WE NEED TRUCKS TO HAUL STUFF THAT WE NEED. |
| 7.3 | i have worked in refinery's in Il., Ky.and In. They all refine crude the same way. Every time you make a gal.of gas there is almost 1.50gals of deisel made. the refining process hasn't changed. |
| kathy | As long as this country keeps the price up, they are getting a tax that is hidden. The higher the prices of products go the more the states and feds get in taxes. This is not right, bring the price DOWN!!!! |
| Datapanic | Diesel was cheaper than gas until Katrina hit and supposedly wiped out the main diesel processing plants for most of the US. Of course that was 6 years ago. |
| RT | What a bunch of clowns. The price of fuel in the U.S. is very low. You pay more for soda than you do for fuel. The price of fuel has been too low in the U.S., allowing you clowns to drive horribly inefficient vehicles and waste crude oil as fat as possible. You complain about the price of fuel but YOU ARE TO BLAME! We need gas gussler taxes now. If these clowns can afford to commute in a pickup truck getting 12 mpg than surely they can afford idiot tax as well. |
| Mad at Greedy Oil companies | I agree, it costs a lot less to produce diesel than gasoline. As an owner of a Diesel truck I am appalled at our goverment allowing the oil companies to gouge us this way. Record sales(and profits) every quarter by the oil companies should be a wakeup call. We the consumers are struggling to make ends meet and the greedy oil companies are riding high on our backs.
When the truckers boycott these prices and the shelves are empty in our stores someone at the oil company may not get their record profits see if we really give a da*%m.
WAKE UP MR PRESIDENT Americans need help not more profits for the oil companies. |
| Tom | I think this is all Bull$$it. A by product of Gas and we pay more! Maybe your new President might do something, i doubt it. We need a plan we need to study it, he says! That man is a joke along with most in DC who don't have a freaking clue!!! Why the working man/woman maxs out their credit cards just to drive to work. It's bad when a government empolyee who makes about $40k a year, makes Ketchup packet soup just to feed her 2 kids becuase she has to fill up her car and make a mortage payment that she she have never been approved for in the first place. Like everyone else she wanted the American Dream like everyone else. she suffers, sometimes goes hungry becuase she doesn't want to lose her home. This will only worsen the economy. |
| Johnny | Ever wonder were the Mafia went? They moved up into politics and business and they choose to exploit the products that are the hinge points of our society. Diesel moves everything in your life you depend on and they "the mob" thinks you need to pay more for that service |
| Guy Jones | To the idiots that keep talking about using the US "Strategic Petroleum Reserve", or US SPR:
1. The capacity of the SPR is 724 million barrels, or about 30 days of US Consumption. Not nearly enough to effect any meaningful long-term price reduction.
2. It's there for an emergency. We are not currently experiencing an emergency right now. |
| GOD | Everybody's think's and thought's, but you all need to know that money is the root of all evil, tax this and tax that, work your butt off just to pay more tax. So really were does most of our money go to the government the true root of all evil. |
| Barko | I think we should start thinking about america. Then working on helping other countries. If we don't fix america with the unforgiving politicans. What's left for our kids to pay $6.00 per gallon for gas. We need to fight the goverment, because to produce 80% or of crude oil then any other countries in the world. Let's fight for america to come back. Stop sending our oil to Japan and china, So we don't have make a discission whether we eat or put gas in our car or truck. I think we should start are own We love America website. Thanks, Barko |
| GregK | There is no reason, accept they can get away with charging what they want. It cost a lot less to make a gallon of Diesel than it does a gallon of Gas. |
| h2000 | whats the point in having an oil reserve if we dont use it when there is a problem? |
| ken | People like RVs, they'll keep on using them and buying them. Maybe they just will not travel so much, stay in one place longer. |
| Greg U | What's the point of having a reserve if we don't use it in an emergency - and this IS an emergency! |
| Jeff P | I think it will get a lot worse before it gets better. I hope I'm wrong but I think the oil company CFO is wrong. |
| Tony S | The real reason is the FUEL SURCHARGE on motor, rail freight and packages. This eliminated the political back lash from the trucking industry ( speak teamsters, remember the strikes?) and decoupled the one volatile variable form the cost of doing business. Always paid by the customer at an average price per Gallon of Diesel PLUS 50 US cents!! Software from UPS can be adjusted daily if need to be so there you go ... who cares how much diesel they use or waist idling for hours ... the suckers pay and the general public are blatantly told that higher diesel price increased the price of goods services etc! OIL barons still rule this country ! No I am not a treehugger, but hate to be screwed by politicians, who have reduced their positions to money laundering operations for their biggest campaign contributors. |
| Doghouse | I have already cancelled my long trip this summer because of the fuel prices going up. I bet the RV sales come to a stop like a couple of years ago when they were over $4.00/gal. |
| server | We are looking to a world source to fix these issues and it is not going to happen. All of our leaders and controllers cannot make the changes and it is not because they can't? They just do not know how to do it. The majority of the officials' will never admit that they are running for gain and not for their integrity. The bible says that food is going to be more expensive and it looks that we are heading that way. Officials in the government will only tell you what is good for your ears. Read the chapter Job in the Bible and then do some research about Job. Only the Lord will change you and He will call you. |
| older one | we all complain' the best we all need to do is call or email our senators let the goverment know we are fed up'have you noticed you dont see anything on the news anymore,wonder why? how much tax money is being spent to keep shipping lanes open and the oil fields open, how much is it costing the oil cos? whos paying for the oil spill in the gulf? guess what the good old taxpayers. what happened to the hydrogen cars, i seen them driving them on the news 8 years ago, i guess we can all build us a moonshine still and burn it! |
| ZAP!! | I would like to see an RV engine that could be all diesel, all electric, or both. Then load up on solar panels and batteries. My goal would be an RV that could possibly run only on solar electricity stored in the batteries so there would be minimal or no need for any combustible fuels at all. I'm sure there is a catch. Maybe the weight of that many batteries is too much. I just like the idea of not having to refuel if I don't have to. |
| Norris | When you generate electricity charge a battery and run an electric motor you lose at least 30% of your power. |
| Think about it | How long would it take for the stores to be empty if semi-trucks did not delivery the commodities they are delivering? |
| Jeff C | Let's start with the fact that Marathon oil and Pilot truckstops are sister companies. Marathon is the largest producer of diesel in this country, pilot is the largest truckstop chain that has had to sell off a few stations because they held a monopoly. Pilot oil is a so called "Family buisness" that Bill Haslam started, He is currently running for governor of Tennessee. You cannot compete with a chain that also is the supplier of the product. When Pilot bought out all the Mapco's in the area the price of diesel jumped over 20 cents a gallon the day the signs went up. They have recently bought out Flying J as well.
It is stupid to think that diesel demand in Europe or China has any bearing on prices here as shipping the final product would not be cost effective. Diesel is sold to some countries but they are close. Diesel demand has dropped a lot the last few years as has shipping but cost has still risen to the consumer. Distillates make up about 16% of the oil used in America, this figure has not changed in years and will not. This is Standard Oil all over again but the crooks are now polititians. Diesel still cost less then gas to produce but with limited options for obtaining the final product, you pay what they (bill Haslam) say. Why does the government do nothing about a monopoly like this? Avery good question. |
| Walking now | Fuel is traded on an exchange. A buyer agrees to buy a huge amount at a higher price, with the stipulation that the seller buy it back at the same price. The two trades take place and now the price for the fuel has risen x amount. That is the new price passed on to the dealers at the pump level. Crooked, greedy S-O-B's are choking off any economic recovery. |
| kenny | i think or goverment is behind try to keep people from traveling.also if we would switch back to glass instead plastic we wouldnt have to use as much oil. it all about money and greed |
| RVer krw | the cheif reasion i see as to why diesel is higher than gasoline [worldwide demand being greater for diesel] doesn't seem likely given that diesel commodities quotes are usually within a few cent of gasoline...+/- 10 cents but retail diesel is generally 30-40 cents higher. i beleive the real reason is because there is no public outcry by consumers [trucking co] because they can pass the higher diesel rates on to their customers in the form of a fuel surcharge.most of their customers are okay with these charges, because they know diesel prices are higher. and petro co are tickeled to death.it doesn't work with gasoline..most people can't pass the charges on to a third party and they can choose to drive less if prices get to high. or they may get angery enough to call a congressman. |
| Rick | I think we have a refinery problem in the U.S. This of course is caused by the main problem; the environmentalist lobby and weak politicians, but that's for another comment board. Apparently, the supply/demand for diesel and gasoline is kept somewhat balanced with our very limited refinery capacity. When talking such huge volumes, this can be a difficult task. So when supplies of diesel and heating oil hit highs, they cut production and switch to gasoline production and vice versa. Meanwhile, since we're generally short on refining capacity, tankers coming from Alaska, Canada and Mexico (where the majority of our foreign oil comes from) that can't unload their crude oil in a timely manner are diverted to other markets. So, if you want to solve the high cost of fuel in America, build more refineries, drill for more domestic oil in ANWR and build nuclear plants to reduce the demand for fuel oil. Again, environmentalists and weak politicians are the primary problem. |
| Gary | Question: How many Mayors, Senators, Congresspersons,Governors and corporate executives are trust worthy and have the interests of the sovereign power in mind? Or is that greed and who do they work for again?
Is there free interprize at work in the oil industry and when was the last time you heard of a price war or the word competition?
Is the price of the amount bio fuel that it takes to go the same distance as a gallon of gas the same by accident.
Do you think that allowing businesses leaving the country including oil refineries have an effected our economy?
Do you think that our government taxing oil and companies has effected fuel prices? Are those taxes as well as the cost of an expensive valve used in the transport and refining ultimately paid by the consumer?
Someone made the flip remark that if you don't like it refine your own. We should do just that. We the people should start a refinery and compete. Those that invest dollars are paid only in a reduced price at the pump.That way there is a built in control in that after a certain amount there would not be an increase in benefit. Would those who are the problem reveal themselves as opposition. Even if we screw it up I bet we can do it for less. And while we are at it , there are who knows how many citizens working in there garages on vehicles that run on Hydrogen from electrolysis of water. Imagine what engineers could do and why aren't they? No money in it if the fuel is water?
Does greed drive the direction of our economy. |
| vince | Hey Nick,I am sure u are from eastern Canada and by the way, western Canada and the US have the same problem with u as u do with us.Explain to me why the oil companies together coal industry lobbied so hard with the commodities exchange to get diesel and coal taken off the exchange?Seems to anybody with a high school education or better(i dont know if Quebec goes that high,not sure of Ontario either or France for that matter)seems to me that those in that industry made sure a global free fall wouldnt happen in the diesel and coal(kerosene) markets and withdrawals from commodities traded status were supported by the government here in the US ,which just happened to be oil lowlifes.By the way Nick Exxon does buy there fuel,u are right about something, but pays basket prices for it, which are 3 to 6 dollars a barrel lower then what the comparative futures contracts trade at;because remember they pull up with a ship to a bigger pump then we do, with a bigger credit card and can take physical delivery of a commidity,hence get cash price advantages and dont pass them on to us.WASNT AT&T BROKEN UP FOR SOMETHING SIMILAR IN THE TELEPHONE INDUTRY TEARS AGO?WHY NOT THEM? Get your facts straight Mr.Nick-there was pretty much an organized rip off by oil companies,called a monopoly or conspiracy supported pretty much by the US government and that great texan MR.Bush,whom drove every company he ever worked for into the ground and the US too and I ate his bs and voted for him ..shoot me dead.ON the buy up of oil futures and physical contracts starting in 2003, commodities houses,hedge fund managers and swaps insurers,etc, in nyc and chicago all took advantage of depressed fuel commodities markets and made everyone all over the world feel the pinch quickly and all those oil men politicians in the good ole US new about it.The only thing Enron did wrong was made,to stay with the good ole south western motiefe,"pull the trigger to quick" ENRON bought huge positions in long oil calls 6 to 8 months to early probably without hedge against there loses when oil,at that time ,took a major turn to the down side and Enron was naked in there position,meaning Mr.Nick that there losses were snow balling and were halted by the courts.During there bankruptcy a year later,there positions were making money guys.We need diesel and coal put back on the big board and traded daily ;not controlled by producers wearing 6 shooters, cowboy hats-boots and spurs that jiggle-jangle;not just traded only in etfs-exchange traded funds that tend to mirror moves in prices not on a real time scale and not as violatile as would be a futures or a physical price on the NYMEX or other commodities board.The prices of diesel and kerosene are crazy.merry xmas |
| Mike | I don't know why diesel costs more but I wonder why do the posts that defend oil companies tend to be long, rambling, convoluted and boring? Curious. |
| Jason | I understand the explanation but I have to wonder. Why in Ontario is diesel again below the cost of gas by about .10c and on Vancouver Island where I live it is .16c above. I use to live in London Ontario where diesel is currently .65c but on Vancouver Island its holding at $1.11 steady.
Why?
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| Bryan | Nick... I hope you feel better now that you have vented ? Yea, we are just a bunch of spoiled Americans that just don't understand the economics behind the oil companies. Just answer me one little question. Why am I paying more for diesel than the highest price gasoilne when in the past I paid less than regular gas? I realize taxes on diesel are higher, but not by that ratio. And don't lay that "it costs that much more to take the sulpher out".
We will pay what ever we have to pay because that is what we are charged at the pump. I just can't get it in my head why, when you refine crude and diesel is one of the first products out, why I must pay more for my diesel than when it costs less to refine?? |
| Nick | For the morons who have a problem with Exxon's profits. First off, they made $40 billion FOR THE YEAR, NOT the quarter. Get your facts straight. Second off, they made a paltry 10% profit on their revenues, big deal. Its not their fault they have $400 billion in revenues. 3rd off, they made $30 billion from FOREIGN markets, so get over yourselves Americans. You cant afford to fill your truck because Exxon has to pay for that oil too, and the government taxes YOU about 50 cents a gallon in taxes. Exxon also paid $30 billion in income taxes last year alone, let alone payroll and other taxes. Americans need to get an education, and get over the fact we have "oilmen" in office. They have nothing to do with Exxon's profits. Bush has nothing to do with BP's profits either. Grow up. |
| Just Thinking | So if I get what your saying, the electric producer should charge as much as he can and the same with any other provider of goods or services the public consumes. Of course the same applies to water etc etc. Therefore in the intrest of the common good we should deregulate every thing. In fact if roads were to built and owned by private industry we would all be better off. I guess that is why airlines are in such good shape now and of course tickets have gone down since deregulation. |
| I care | I can't believe the number of folks that think there is something wrong with a free market. If you don't like the cost of the fuel you buy, go drill your own well, start your own business producing it and see if you sell it for anything less than what the market bears now.
I'm tired of hearing aobut "Greed." No one is making you buy that oil!!! I don't like the prices either. But, I sure understand supply and demand. In case you missed the point, oil companies are not a charity, they have an obligation to their stock holders to make as much money as they can-- and every other business does the same thing!!!!
Want some of that BIG OIL profit? Go buy some of their stock! Otherwise, don't complain when they are just doing what any other business would do-- MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY CAN!!!
Believe it or not, that is what has made this country the most properous country in the history of the world. No other country has grown and lead the world in EVERYWAY (and we are so young-- 200+ years!). Thank God were born here. |
| SIX SHOOTER | If the price of home heating fuel is one reason why did Sunoco send 680,000 gal. of heating oil to England when it is so desperately needed here. We always continue to punish our own for the dollar. Now I read Exon reported over 14 billion dollar profits for the 3rd quarter, while i can barely drive my truck for fuel pricing. |
| Eileen | This is why I ride my Bike instead of driving my car or truck! People need to take control of their lives..government will not do it...everyone needs to be in check with their lives! Stop complaining, ride a bike, walk or take public transportation........will save you lots of money! |
| Paul K | In India and China they're building more cars every year and 35% of these have diesel engines and it's expected to top 50% by 2010. In Europe more than 50% of cars have diesel engines. World demand for diesel is increasing every year. Diesel engines are generally more fuel-efficient and produce less greenhouse gases. All RVs should be clean diesel. Clean diesel improves diesel benefits even more. |
| Dragon | Interestingly enough, Ford is making a diesel car that gets 65 miles/gallon. But it won't be sold here, because nobody wants to buy something running on diesel. People have a good memory about the days gone by, how diesel fumes smelled, but they selectively forget what gasoline fumes used to smell like. Also, they don't realize that a diesel car would last longer than a gas car. In the not-too-distant future, we will hopefully have plenty of bio-diesel. And, neither ethanol nor diesel will be made from corn. |
| johnevans3 | I saw an interview on Fox or CNN where an oil exec was asked why diesel was so much higher now than regular gas. After some evasive excuses he was pinned down and explained "We charge higher prices for diesel because we can." I think that pretty well nailed it. |
| gkmdb | Everything goes up in price. Isn't that inflation? However, the increase in the price of fuel has far exceeded the rate of inflation while oil companies report record profits in the billions. I understand it costs less to produce a gallon of diesel than a gallon of gasoline. |
| MG | The simple fact is diesel should cost half of what regular gas costs at the pump, been that way for a long time, the reality and simple reasons for the increase are the road tax, the wars in the middle east and, the biggest one, greed. Kill the war, kill the road tax, kill greed and you'll be back to the lower price of diesel. It might not ever go back to half the price of regular unleaded, but at least a dollar or more cheaper. |
| Connie | I think the real reason that diesel is cheaper than gas in Europe is because taxes are much higher on gas because it's environmentally inferior to diesel. The same will happen here eventually. Meanwhile us motorhome owners have to suffer. |
| Bob Harper | There's no reason for diesel costing more. Just the pricing structure of the oil companies and the state taxes. |
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