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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Chris Stein in Walcott, Iowa

‘It’s taking all of our money’: truck drivers in Iowa lament gas price surge sparked by Trump’s Iran war

Composite image of semis parked at a truck stop beneath an American flag (left) and a large metal white and red sign that says Iowa 80 (right).
The Iowa 80 truck stop near Walcott, Iowa, on 8 September 2017. Composite: John Richard/The Guardian

The self-proclaimed largest truck stop in the world offers drivers just about everything they might need during a break. The Iowa 80 parking lots offer 900 spots for trucks and dozens more for passenger cars, while the varieties of snacks, drinks and souvenirs in the market are uncountable. Elsewhere on the premises is a dentist, a barber and a chiropractor, a weight room, a 24-hour diner and a movie theater. There is also a Truckomat, to wash your truck, and a Dogomat, to wash your dog.

But the one thing that Iowa 80 does not offer is relief from the price of gas, which has increased sharply ever since the US joined Israel in attacking Iran and sparking a global energy crisis. On a recent afternoon, a gallon of regular gasoline at the sprawling stop in eastern Iowa went for $4.26, and diesel $5.72.

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