California's average on-highway diesel price was $8.09 per gallon in the latest weekly report from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), up 1 cent on the week, according to Trucking Dive and Supply Chain Dive reporting published on October 14-15, 2026. The price had peaked at around $8.25 per gallon in September before easing slightly.

The EIA figure for the week of October 5 put California at $8.082 per gallon against a US national average of $6.199 — yaani California truckers pay about $1.88 more for every gallon, roughly 30% above the national average, on every fill-up along routes such as Interstate 5 through the Central Valley.

California Trucking Association president Tim Pollock told Trucking Dive that fuel is one of the industry's largest expenses and that the high prices are having a "tremendous impact", with smaller carriers bearing the brunt. Across the US, truckers are adopting fuel-saving measures such as driving more slowly and topping off their tanks in cheaper markets, and an energy expert told Trucking Dive the elevated costs could extend well into next year.

For Awaaz Punjab's many readers who drive trucks in California's Central Valley and along I-5 — through Castaic, Fresno, Stockton and Sacramento — the EIA numbers explain what they see at the pump every day: the most expensive diesel of any major trucking state, with no quick relief in sight. Sources: US Energy Information Administration (EIA) weekly diesel data; Trucking Dive; Supply Chain Dive; KarmActive's EIA-based report.