Diesel prices taking toll on Oklahoma businesses

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Some Oklahoma trucking companies are looking for fuel-efficient trucks and adding surcharges because of the rising price of diesel. <br/><br/>While gasoline prices are dropping, the

Friday, October 28th 2005, 10:37 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Some Oklahoma trucking companies are looking for fuel-efficient trucks and adding surcharges because of the rising price of diesel.

While gasoline prices are dropping, the price of diesel is still rising and has been as high as $3.50 per gallon in parts of Oklahoma City.

The statewide average is $3.23 a gallon. It's about $3.25 in Oklahoma City and $3.22 in Tulsa.

Randy Franklin with Apple Movers in Oklahoma City says he's trying to sell some of his diesel trucks to buy trucks that use gasoline. He says if the price of diesel remains this high for just six months he'll still come out ahead financially.

Industry observers say the wide discrepancy between gas and diesel prices is due to damaged refineries because of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and unbalanced imports since the storms.

The nation's gasoline reserves have increased steadily the past few weeks while diesel stocks are falling.