Razorback Rentals Weighs Service Cuts After 75% Diesel Cost Surge

1 articles · Updated · WAFB · Sep 16

Razorback Rentals, a Baton Rouge sand-and-gravel hauler with 10 trucks, says soaring diesel costs could force cuts to some services and driver or customer offerings.
Diesel spending has jumped about 75%, owner Karl Mears said, pushing the company to raise its fuel surcharge from roughly 10%-15% to more than 40%.
Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership researcher Andrew Fitzgerald tied the price spike to international factors, including the war in Iran, saying higher diesel costs are lifting freight and goods prices well beyond Louisiana.
Mears said the company does not expect to shut down but is trying to stretch every gallon while waiting to see whether prices ease; he expects consumers will eventually feel the added costs.