North Carolina truckers squeezed by Iran war fuel costs, tariffs
Trucking companies face 10-cent profit margins as Iran war drives diesel up 60% while shipping rates drop due to tariff-related demand decreases.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — Rising fuel costs from the Iran conflict are forcing North Carolina trucking companies to operate on razor-thin profit margins. Some business owners warn they may struggle to maintain operations if costs continue climbing.
Etienne Hightower, CEO of Believers Trucking, said his company’s profit margin has dropped from 70 cents per mile to just 10 cents per mile as expenses surge while shipping rates remain flat. His freight company, which operates 30 trucks as an Amazon partner, now faces mounting pressure from multiple economic factors.
“Nobody wants to pay us more to haul stuff, yet all my expenses are going up,” Hightower said. “Right now, I’m fighting to maintain my staff, their quality of life, and I want to give them more.”
Fuel Prices Surge Nearly 50%
Gas prices in North Carolina have jumped nearly 50% from a year ago, reaching $4.21 per gallon on average statewide, according to AAA data. Diesel prices have climbed even more dramatically, rising more than 60% over the same period to $5.49 per gallon on average.
The fuel cost increases have changed the economics of Hightower’s business. Operating costs have risen from $1.30 per mile to $1.80 per mile, while depressed shipping demand caused by tariffs has forced the company to lower rates from $2 per mile to $1.90 per mile.
“I’m working on like a 10-cent profit margin,” Hightower said. “We haven’t had major mechanicals, but I’m assuming that those are coming — they always do with trucking — those prices will also probably eat up that 10 cents.”
Congressional Democrats Question War Costs
Hightower joined several other North Carolina business leaders at a roundtable convened Thursday by Rep. Deborah Ross, a Wake County Democrat, to discuss the economic impact of the Iran war and current trade policies.
Ross criticized the conflict’s financial burden on American consumers and questioned congressional oversight of the military action. “This war was started illegally, it’s being continued illegally, and Congress has not had an opportunity to weigh in,” Ross said. “And the people of the United States are footing the bill. They’re footing the bill through their gas taxes and they’re footing the bill through all the money that goes to have a war.”
Republicans Defend Military Action
North Carolina Republicans have supported President Trump’s military engagement with Iran despite the resulting price increases. Republican U.S. Senate nominee Michael Whatley told Breitbart News on Monday that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remains a priority.
“We cannot allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon, period,” Whatley said in the interview, adding that Trump’s oil efforts have helped mitigate rising prices.
The economic pressures extend beyond fuel costs for transportation companies. Hightower noted that higher living expenses for employees and unpredictable tariff policies have created additional operational challenges for his business.
The situation reflects broader economic strains facing the transportation sector as geopolitical conflicts drive up energy costs while trade disruptions affect shipping volumes and pricing power.
