NATSO Fuel Survey: Truck stop diesel volumes continue to decline

NATSO’s survey showed that diesel sales at truck stops in August declined 7.8 percent compared with August of 2007. In the petroleum industry, volume declines of greater than three percent are considered significant, NATSO noted.

The Trucker News Services

9/29/2008

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Diesel volumes at truck stops continue this year to decline over 2007 volumes, according to a fuel survey conducted by NATSO, an association representing 1,100 truck stops and travel plazas.

NATSO’s survey showed that diesel sales at truck stops in August declined 7.8 percent compared with August of 2007. In the petroleum industry, volume declines of greater than three percent are considered significant, NATSO noted.

The average diesel volume for a single truck stop location was 812,513 gallons in August, compared with last year’s average volume of 881,203 for the same month.

The survey shows a continuing decline in diesel volumes after a strong start at the beginning of 2008. In January and February, truck stop diesel volumes increased at a rate of close to 6 percent year over year. However, as diesel prices rose, volumes began to decline, and by March sales had dropped by 2.5 percent over the previous year. Diesel sales slightly recovered in April, increasing just over 2 percent, but then dropped sharply in May, falling 5.8 percent compared with May 2007. June diesel sales declined 5.2 percent compared with June 2007, and July sales dropped 4.5 percent year over year.