There is mounting anxiety among fleet operators over the prospect of further and significant diesel price rises as the US-Iran conflict drags on and concerns are growing costs could remain stubbornly high for years.
Software firm FleetCheck said the recent wave of pump price increases had even prompted some hauliers to question whether fuel rationing would become a reality.
Roger Warnes Transport said it had fuel escalator clauses in place for most of its larger customers, but the operator also said fluctuating prices occupied its mind every day:
“It’s taken some serious insistence for customers to accept that it’s their problem as well as the hauliers,” said operations director Ian Barclay.
“However, in a market where energy prices are trending upwards, everything else increases too.
“That’s a much more difficult conversation with customers because they’re already helping to absorb higher fuel costs.”
FleetCheck CEO Peter Golding said petrol prices were now at a high for 2026 and diesel wasn’t far behind: “With the possibility of a lasting ceasefire seemingly unlikely at this point in time, fleets are increasingly concerned about the likelihood of fuel price escalation into not just Q3 but Q4 and 2027,” he said.
“They’re anxious that, at a time when general fleet costs are under pressure, fuel prices may start to spiral.
“The fear is that, while oil producers are looking for alternative routes to alleviate supply issues, the current situation could persist for not just months but years.”
Golding said fleets were responding to the situation by introducing measures such as closer control of fuel purchasing and accurate fuel use monitoring, but he acknowledged that firms that had already carried out these fuel management basics had little alternative but to either see margins eroded or attempt to pass on the higher costs: “It’s a genuine concern,” he added.
FleetCheck also said the situation was resulting in more operators exploring the potential of electric variants, but Barclay pointed out that the technology was impractical for a company such as Roger Warnes: “We’re keeping a close eye on developments, but for bulk haulage the biggest barrier remains payload.
“Most of our work is based on carrying a 29-tonne payload, and current battery technology means electric vehicles simply can’t achieve that without sacrificing carrying capacity.”
