Consumers to pay more at store as Rhode Island diesel prices hit all-time high

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Average diesel prices in Rhode Island hit a record high on Monday of $6.31 per gallon, according to AAA.

Even if you aren’t paying that price straight up at the pump, you’re paying for it in other ways. Truckers are now shelling out hundreds of more dollars to make these vital deliveries, which is then costing businesses more to get the goods.

Over 80% of all freight transported annually in the United States is by truck traffic.

CEO of Rhode Island Trucking Association Christopher Maxwell said consumers are starting to see the domino effect of skyrocketing diesel prices when you checkout at the store.

“These types of exponential increases just cannot be sustained and they’re not easy to pass along, in the case of most of our members who are small businesses,” Maxwell said.

Maxwell said in a state like Rhode Island where an overwhelming majority of businesses are classified as small businesses — some will be forced to close its doors if transportation gets too expensive.

For more on local and national gas prices from AAA, click here.