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February 15, 2000 9:35 AM, EST

Diesel fuel prices have reached their highest level in a decade, with some truckers reporting costs at the pumps of $2 or more.

Naturally, truck operators are doing their utmost to offset or reduce the cost effects of spiraling fuel prices on the bottom line. One approach is price hedging, in which a carrier locks in deliveries of diesel at an agreed-upon price level, with the expectation that the price will rise in the future. This could be a smart move in a volatile market, especially the current one. However, hedging is not for everyone.

“We don’t have any guaranteed fuel prices with our suppliers. It’s market-price-plus, so there is no help there,” said Bob Flesher, fleet manger for AGA Gas in Cleveland. “Anything else is out of my control.”

Instead, Flesher is doing what a lot of trucking operators are doing – looking for additional fuel efficiencies.

For the full story, see the Feb. 14 print edition of Transport Topics. .