Reefer Fleets Hit with Double Diesel Whammy in March 2026

Diesel surged 38% in three weeks to $5.38/gallon, doubly punishing refrigerated fleets: fuel for the truck AND the refrigeration unit (TRU). Operators review fuel surcharges and technology ROIs.

March 2026 was brutal for all fleets relying on diesel. But for refrigerated fleets, it was a double whammy: paying more diesel to move the truck and to keep the refrigeration unit (TRU — Transport Refrigeration Unit) running.

On March 2, the national average diesel price was $3.90/gallon. By March 23, it had jumped 38% to $5.375/gallon, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). In California, the average hit $7.30/gallon.

And diesel futures indicate this isn't improving anytime soon: contracts closed near $4.50/gallon on March 29, well above the $2.90/gallon at the start of the month.

⛽ The Reefer "Double Whammy"

Unlike dry van fleets that only pay diesel for the tractor, refrigerated fleets have two diesel-hungry mouths:

• The tractor — burning diesel to move the load
• The refrigeration unit (TRU) — burning diesel to maintain controlled temperature

According to Don White, VP of refrigeration and implementation at TEN (which operates 14,000 refrigerated trailers), the numbers are as follows:

Single-temperature unit: 0.8 gallons of diesel per hour. With 2,500 operating hours per year = 2,000 gallons of diesel annually just for the TRU.
Multi-temperature unit: 0.9 gallons/hour. With 3,500–4,000 hours per year = 3,150 gallons of diesel annually for the TRU.

With diesel at $5.38/gallon, that means:

• $10,760 per year in diesel just for the TRU (single unit)
• $16,950 per year for the TRU (multi-temperature)

And that's additional to the truck's fuel.

📊 Fuel Surcharges: The Big Problem

Most freight contracts include a fuel surcharge that's recalibrated weekly based on EIA prices. But there's a problem: there's a one-week lag between the EIA publishing numbers and the surcharge adjustment.

During a month where diesel is climbing violently every week, that 7-day lag means massive losses for fleets.

But there's an even bigger problem: fewer than one-third of C.R. England's customers pay a fuel surcharge for the TRU, according to Ron Hall, VP of equipment and fuel at the company (which operates 2,483 refrigerated trailers).

That means when diesel rises, reefer fleets eat the full cost of the refrigeration increase. And some OTR market segments are now unprofitable without a TRU fuel surcharge, Hall said.

🛠️ How Fleets Are Responding

The diesel spike is forcing refrigerated fleets to rethink everything:

1. Technology ROI Review

"We're re-evaluating ROIs that didn't work in a low diesel cost market, but may make sense now," said Hall from C.R. England.

Technologies that previously didn't justify their cost may now be critical to survive with diesel above $5/gallon.

2. Intensive Driver Coaching

Fleets are putting more emphasis on training drivers to maximize fuel economy both in the tractor and in TRU management.

3. TRU Setpoints and Tolerances

TEN's Don White recommends working with drivers to respect pre-established TRU setpoints and not manually change settings.

On multi-temperature trailers, adjusting temperature tolerances can reduce continuous diesel consumption.

4. Real-Time TRU Monitoring

"It's important to leverage the technology and data you have available, from TRU monitoring to fuel optimization," said Mike Hayden, SVP of transportation operations at NFI (which operates 1,100 owned and long-term leased refrigerated trailers).

5. Fraud Recognition

C.R. England is also paying more attention to detecting fuel fraud, a problem that becomes more costly when each gallon costs $5+.

⚖️ The Regulatory Factor: FSMA

Here's the catch: refrigerated fleets can't just turn off the TRU to save diesel.

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) — a major reform of food safety practices following outbreaks traced to lettuce, peanut butter, and eggs — requires strict temperature controls and meticulous record-keeping.

So fleets are caught between regulations demanding continuous refrigeration and a diesel market that's destroying their margins.

🔮 How Long Will This Last?

Diesel futures suggest high prices are here to stay. Analysts say that tensions with Iran (including the Strait of Hormuz blockade) could push prices even higher if the situation escalates beyond air bombardment.

Meanwhile, refrigerated fleets are bleeding money on every load if they don't have a TRU fuel surcharge.

If you operate a refrigerated fleet, now is the time to:

• Renegotiate contracts to include TRU fuel surcharges
• Review fuel-saving technology ROIs
• Monitor TRU consumption in real-time
• Train drivers on fuel economy
• Audit fuel fraud

With diesel at $5.38/gallon (and rising), every operational decision matters. The margin is in the details.

If you need to optimize your refrigerated operation — from truck alignment to preventive suspension maintenance that improves fuel economy — at The Truck Savers we help you reduce operating costs. Our free road simulator inspection detects problems before they cost you thousands in wasted diesel.

Source: Transport Topics (March 31, 2026), TEN, C.R. England, NFI, Energy Information Administration