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Diesel prices add fuel to the funk
By JAMES THORNER, Times Staff Writer
Published March 11, 2008
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The price of diesel hit $3.84 Monday at the Flying J Truck Stop along State Road 579 in Seffner. As diesel prices keep climbing, so do manufacturers' and suppliers' transportation costs, which usually means higher prices on consumer goods.
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[Brian Cassella | Times]
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You think passenger cars have it bad with the high price of unleaded gas? Pity the poor interstate truckers. Their lifeblood, diesel fuel, hit another record Monday even as crude oil prices soared past $108 a barrel, also a record. Average diesel prices Monday hit $3.81 per gallon in the Tampa Bay area and flirted with $3.90 in South Florida. By contrast, unleaded regular is selling for about $3.21 a gallon locally. Once a relatively inexpensive byproduct of the oil industry, diesel now sells at a premium thanks to costly extra refining needed to remove pollution-causing sulfur. "Diesel fuel is not a discretionary purchase. Trucks have to move," said Jim Smith, president of the Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association. "You can bet diesel's only going to get more expensive." By the numbers: Diesel prices $3.81: Tampa Bay area $2.69: Year ago in Tampa Bay area $3.346: Month ago in Tampa Bay area $3.84: Florida $3.83: United States Source: American Automobile Association
[Last modified March 10, 2008, 22:20:28]
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Comments on this article
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by Ty
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03/11/08 11:15 PM
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First, alternative fuel is not the best route. Corn is also at an all time high because every one wants to get rich off of it. To chris that said people that own diesel trucks are stupid, I hope you drive a prius because your car causes more harm
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by Trey
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03/11/08 08:09 PM
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Chris your an idiot, what about us with our landscaping companys.. we need our diesels to pull our equipement.. your prob a typical tree hugger with your hybrid thinking global warming exsists.. idiot
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by Chris
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03/11/08 05:55 PM
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Saratoga-I have no pity for the idiot who bought a huge diesel pick up with a home equity loan. No pity.
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by mike
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03/11/08 04:01 PM
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Stop whining about fuel costs. Most of you voted for big oil when you voted W in to the white house so vote for mccain and get more of the same>
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by Renee
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03/11/08 12:33 PM
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I agree w/most of comments already stated but we also have to stop depending on foreign oil and start producing our own. This will also create more jobs and help the economy.
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by DMC
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03/11/08 12:27 PM
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Could we convert the trucks to run on used vegetable oil?
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by saratoga
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03/11/08 10:25 AM
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It isn't just OTR truckers that #2 prices hurt. Consider Joe average with a diesel pickup.
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by Tex
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03/11/08 09:48 AM
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Supply and demand... as soon as WE the consumer stop demanding oil products, the sooner the supply will increase and the price go down. But as our president says, "America is addicted to oil!" That means one thing... Higher prices for all! Go Oil!
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by Kyoko
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03/11/08 08:39 AM
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It may be only a matter of time before the truckers stop their trucks along the road in protest. The only ones getting ahead are the oil companies with their billions in profits.
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by Doug
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03/11/08 07:34 AM
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We NEED these high fuel prices for cars and trucks; how else is Exxon going to beat last year's earnings of $1300 a second (CNN source)? Incredible...
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by Joe
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03/11/08 07:28 AM
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eventually, the government will have to step in and reduce the taxes on diesel. our food prices will suffer greatly. actually it is already happening. we need to go back to the era of trains. alternative fuels are a must at this point.
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by Cummings Driver
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03/11/08 07:12 AM
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Diesel prices are rediculous! If the truckers go on strike over it maybe the politicians will move on dealing with the fuel crisis. When the Truckers went on strike back in the early 80's they were able to get some relief....
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