Diesel fuel prices are hovering at record highs above $6 per gallon amid the ongoing Iran war, but both energy analysts and trucking industry groups say the Trump administration’s new strategy is less a viable solution—and more of an act of political posturing.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order this week deferring taxes on the use of red-dyed diesel, a type of fuel typically only used by farmers and truckers. Because this type of fuel is exempt from highway fuel taxes, it is illegal to use on public roads. The red dye also allows a road inspector to detect whether a trucker is evading taxes by using the fuel on highways.
