Gas prices are at their highest since 2014 as millions of Americans are set to hit the road for the 4th of July weekend.
Concerns are growing over sky rocketing gas prices driven by shortages, surging demand and a lack of truck drivers. Some residences of Los Angeles are paying more than $6 per gallon as the national average is over $3.
As AAA estimates that over 43 million Americans will be traveling by car this holiday weekend many are concerned about the sky high prices at the pump. According to the New York Post there are even some reports of gas stations running dry is areas that struggle acquiring gasoline.
"Today, 89 percent of US gas stations are selling regular unleaded for $2.75 or more. That is a stark increase over last July 4 when only a quarter of stations were selling gas for more than $2.25," said Jeanette McGee, a AAA spokesperson. "Road trippers will pay the most to fill up for the holiday since 2014," she continued. "What I’m worried about for July is the increased demand works out to about 2,500 to 3,000 more deliveries needed every day. They're just aren’t the drivers to do that."
A major issue is a nationwide shortage of truck drivers especially those who are certified to haul the dangerous and flammable gasoline. The National Tank Truck Carriers say that up to 25 percent of the trucks used to transport gas to stations are parked due to no qualified drivers. "We’ve been dealing with a driver shortage for a while, but the pandemic took that issue and metastasized it," Ryan Streblow, executive vice president of the NTTC, told CNN. "It certainly has grown exponentially."
GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan said that the number of stations struggling with supply and raising prices are increasing, not shrinking. "It’s hard to predict where the challenges are," he said. "It’s just randomized pockets in cities both small and large." DeHaan did not have high hopes for the immediate future adding, "I don’t think demand has reached a peak yet."
Join and support independent free thinkers!
We’re independent and can’t be cancelled. The establishment media is increasingly dedicated to divisive cancel culture, corporate wokeism, and political correctness, all while covering up corruption from the corridors of power. The need for fact-based journalism and thoughtful analysis has never been greater. When you support The Post Millennial, you support freedom of the press at a time when it's under direct attack. Join the ranks of independent, free thinkers by supporting us today for as little as $1.
Remind me next month
To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy
