AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report for Friday, 2/24/23

National Average Price for Regular Unleaded Current: $3.506; Month Ago: $3.440; Year Ago: $3.563. National Average Price for Diesel Current: $3.847; Month Ago: $3.785; Year Ago: $3.856.

UPS is doubling down on its customer-first strategy by expanding its end-to-end portfolio with two ground shipping options for residential and commercial shippers: UPS Ground Saver® and UPS® Ground with Freight Pricing. In today’s dynamic market, global logistics continues to evolve, and UPS is moving forward to deliver for customers of all needs and sizes. "UPS is on a mission to transform our customer experience by offering an end-to-end portfolio which provides delivery, returns and pickup services seven-days-a-week," said UPS Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer Matt Guffey. "Ground Saver and Ground with Freight Pricing represent the first of many product enhancements UPS will roll out in 2025."

American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 0.3% in April after increasing 2.3% in March. In April, the index equaled 114.7 (2015=100) compared with 115.1 in March. “After a revised increase in March of 2.3%, the April index declined just slightly,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “The outlook is solid for tonnage going forward as the country approaches pre-pandemic levels of activity, with strong economic growth in key areas for trucking – including retail, home construction and even manufacturing. “Additionally, the index increased on a year-over-year basis for the first time since March 2020. Part of the reason for the gain was due to an easy comparison with when the index fell significantly in April 2020,” he said. “But I’m expecting increases, albeit smaller than April’s, on a year-over-year basis going forward. Trucking’s biggest challenges are not on the demand side, but on the supply side, including difficulty finding qualified drivers.”