A GasBuddy analyst warns both consumers and businesses will need to find ways to conserve fuel and save money.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Gas prices are on the rise. Businesses and drivers across the region are feeling the impact from the price hike.
According to AAA, the average price for regular gas in North Carolina is about $4.03; that’s up 77 cents from just a month ago.
“I’ve been a truck driver for about 20 years, and things are not like they use to be. The cost of gas and diesel fuel has just skyrocketed. Guys who own their own truck — I can only imagine what they are going through,” said Clint Fraley, a commercial truck driver.
GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Hann said Americans can expect to see those prices continue to increase amid the war in Ukraine.
“Anyone who has a plane, train, or an automobile, and their business is going to be affected and probably beyond that,” said De Hann.
Moreover, Tuesday, President Joe Biden has announced a ban on Russian oil, gas, and energy imports to the U.S.
“There’s no other oil, there’s no other place to get extra oil, it could be a little bit tricky,” De Hann admitted. “Oil prices are up today about $6 a barrel, this will continue to push prices up.”
He adds that the trickle-down effects are going to be severe.
“Any form of transportation, you want to get somewhere, you’re going to pay more. You’re going to be paying more for goods that are on the shelf that were delivered by semi-trucks and flown by planes,” he said.
Fernando and Brothers Moving Company told WCNC Charlotte the costs to fuel up their trucks have more than doubled in recent weeks.
“For one of the trucks, we used to spend about $250 a week, and now we spend almost $700 dollars on each truck a week,” said Fernando Aquino, one of the company’s co-owners.
Fernando and Brothers have three trucks, and the price hikes are impacting them beyond the pump. Like some other businesses, they are looking at their books to see how to balance out the cost.
“Everything is going up. Even for us to get material for the truck for moving like bubble wrap and boxes. Everything has been going up in prices,” said co-owner Belkis Vargas.
The company has been in business for about two years. When they started out, Fernando and Brothers didn’t charge travel fees for services in Charlotte and the surrounding area. But that had to change.
“We are going to have to charge our customers a small fee so we can cover the diesel cost, which is actually increasing the cost of the business,” said Vargas.
She said it’s a matter of survival.
“We are trying to be a company that is fair for our customers,” said Vargas. “However, we have to raise it a little bit otherwise we are going to suffer as a small business.”
Vargas also plans to buy a special lock for her diesel tank after her friend sent her a video showing someone stealing fuel right out of a similar truck.
Higher gas prices is not a problem that is going to go away, and De Haan suggests that it is time for folks to start thinking of ways to conserve more gas and reduce their consumption.
WCNC Charlotte is always asking “where’s the money?” If you need help, reach out to the Defenders team by emailing money@wcnc.com.
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
