Trucking bankruptcies rising while diesel prices remain near record levels.
Context
What happened: At least 16 trucking, delivery and transportation companies filed for bankruptcy between late August and Sept. 21, per FreightWaves, as diesel prices climbed to an all-time high. Midwest Expedited Co., a 95-truck carrier, filed for Chapter 11 on Oct. 6.
Key numbers: Diesel averages around $6.30 a gallon nationally per AAA, down from the record $6.53 set Sept.
Why it matters: Pugh and Burks expect more failures, and Burks said persistently high diesel could build into the underlying rate of inflation, making it harder for the Fed to bring inflation down.
What changed
At least 16 trucking, delivery and transportation companies filed for bankruptcy between late August and Sept. 21, per FreightWaves, as diesel prices climbed to an all-time high. Midwest Expedited Co., a 95-truck carrier, filed for Chapter 11 on Oct. 6.
Why it matters
Pugh and Burks expect more failures, and Burks said persistently high diesel could build into the underlying rate of inflation, making it harder for the Fed to bring inflation down.
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Oct 20, 2026 07:23 PM ET