Diesel moves nearly everything Texans buy, and the state is changing its road and fuel rules to push that cost back down. Fuel exports from the Middle East have been disrupted since the U.S. and Israel struck Iran seven months ago, and diesel in Texas averages $5.86 a gallon, according to AAA, a level the governor calls record prices.
Story Snapshot
- Gov. Greg Abbott declared a statewide disaster on Monday, September 28, over diesel prices and a worsening fuel shortage.
- The order lets farmers and truckers use dyed diesel on Texas roads and suspends state low-emission diesel rules as far as federal law allows.
- Weight limits rise for fuel, farm and timber loads, so each truck can carry more.
- The order runs 30 days and can be extended.
What Abbott Ordered Statewide
Abbott’s 30-day disaster declaration can be extended as long as needed. It expands the use of dyed diesel on Texas roads, suspends Texas Low Emission Diesel rules to the limit the federal government allows, and raises allowable weights for fuel, agricultural and timber loads. He also asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to waive federal ultra-low sulfur diesel rules to boost supply. “Texas agriculture and freight run on diesel,” Abbott said. “Record prices put both industries at risk and raise costs for every Texas family.”
Abbott said the changes reach the farm, the road and the grocery aisle. “Farmers and truckers can now use dyed diesel on Texas roads, and fuel, crop, and timber loads can move at a higher weight,” he said. “These steps cut costs on the farm, on the road and at the store.” The order does not waive the state fuel tax of 20 cents a gallon, so any savings come from cheaper fuel options and fuller loads, not a tax cut.
Why Dyed Diesel And Weight Limits Matter
Dyed diesel is the same fuel sold at the pump for trucks. The only difference is a red dye. By law, diesel sold without the road taxes that pay for highways, including a federal tax of 24.3 cents a gallon, has to be dyed red. It is meant for machines that never drive on public roads, like tractors, bulldozers and generators. The color lets inspectors spot it: they can sample a truck’s tank at a weigh station, and running it on the highway normally brings a fine of at least $1,000. Allowing it on highways opens up supply that is already sitting nearby and lowers some costs for farmers and truckers. Raising truck weight limits for key loads lets carriers haul more per trip. Fewer trips mean less fuel burned and lower cost per load.
Suspending the state’s low-emission diesel rules within federal bounds widens the pool of fuel that can be sold in Texas. That helps when certain blends are scarce. The EPA waiver Abbott requested would go further on the federal side. How much each step helps depends on how fast distributors and shippers put the new rules to work.
The Price Shock Hitting Texas
Diesel runs freight trucks, farm equipment and many work trucks. When its price climbs, the cost of groceries, building materials and delivery follows. Farmers pay more to plant and harvest. Truckers pay more to haul that harvest to stores. Families pay more at the checkout. That is why Abbott framed the order as help for every Texas family, not only for truck owners.
The pressure comes from far away. Monday marked seven months since the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran, which led to a long disruption of oil and gas exports from the Middle East. Diesel prices have been climbing for weeks as supply tightened. Texas, with its huge farm economy and busy freight corridors, feels that squeeze quickly and widely.
What Changes For Texans
Truckers moving fuel, crops and timber can load heavier, which can speed deliveries and lower costs per load. Farmers and carriers can run dyed diesel on public roads under the order. Fuel sellers can tap a wider range of diesel blends within federal limits. The state fuel tax still applies, so pump prices will not fall by a tax-sized amount from this order alone.
Limits And Next Steps
The declaration lasts 30 days and can be extended. Its effect depends on supply on the ground, the EPA’s answer on the waiver, and how fast companies adjust routes and loads. Abbott presented the order as immediate relief for a strained system, not a long-term fix. If prices ease, the flexibilities can lapse. If they do not, Texas can extend them.
Sources:
texastribune.org, tpr.org, kbtx.com, fox7austin.com, newsmax.com, x.com