Florida trucking CEO warns soaring diesel costs are squeezing carrier profits

Jacksonville, Florida - As diesel fuel prices continue to rise, Florida trucking companies are facing mounting financial pressure, with fuel costs now surpassing driver compensation as the largest operating expense for some fleets. Florida Trucking Association CEO Scott Perry, with over 35 years of industry experience, told FreightWaves during an interview at the WEX OTR Summit that traditional driver pay was once the top line item on the profit and loss statement, but fuel costs have overtaken that in many cases.

Perry warned that carriers lacking proper fuel surcharge arrangements are particularly vulnerable to sudden price increases, with a roughly 70% year-over-year hike noted. While he did not confirm any member closures or layoffs specifically due to recent fuel increases, he acknowledged mounting financial pressures, including higher insurance premiums, equipment costs, and driver wages.

Perry expressed cautious optimism about freight rates heading into 2027, attributing the improvement to fewer available trucks rather than a surge in freight demand. He emphasized the need for sustainable freight rates to maintain profitability and fund fleet reinvestment, warning that delaying equipment replacement could exacerbate reliability, productivity, and driver retention issues.

Perry also highlighted Florida's progress in addressing the truck parking shortage, with the state planning to add 922 public-access truck parking spaces along the I-4 corridor by 2026. He stressed that while this expansion will help alleviate the shortage, it will not fully resolve the issue, noting the importance of providing drivers with safe parking solutions to enhance productivity and driver safety.

Perry also voiced support for federal efforts to strengthen trucking safety enforcement, including cracking down on non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses, English-language proficiency requirements, and electronic logging device compliance.