Paying Premium To Gas Up

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By Robin Woodson

Summary

You want to drive, it will cost ya, but you're getting taken for a more expensive ride if you're driving a diesel. Prices have gone up over .30 cents this past month, and over .50 cents for diesel.

Story Published: Mar 12, 2008 at 10:49 PM PST

UNION GAP -- High gas prices are taking a toll on people who make a living driving.

Trucking companies and even some gas stations say, they're feeling a major pinch.

"$60 dollars now," traveler, Erwin Agulo, said.

Getting gas is getting tough.

Lately, prices seem to be hard to keep up on.

Every day a different price and most people have few options.

"If I have to pay $4.25, then for now, I have to pay $4.25," Angulo said.

Trucker pumping gas says, "Not even half full."

When asked, "Why didn't you fill it up?"

Trucker replies, "I can't afford it, not at those prices."

When it comes to diesel gas, trucking companies are taking a hit.

At some stations the price is already over $4.00.

"I'm probably going to have to quit, if it keeps on," Independent Trucker, Doug Teafatiller, said.

Doug says, his future depends on how high the prices go.

He told Action News, it's tough when your paycheck's about the same as your gas bill.

He can barely afford to drive his truck, let alone make a living.

"It's either going to have to come down, or they're fixing to put a lot of people out of business," Teafatiller said.

But truckers aren't the only ones getting hammered with the high prices.

Some stations say sales are slowing down.

At the Gear Jammer in Union Gap, the owner tells Action News, he's already seen a drop in the amount of travelers that usually come through.

"Less trips, you know, to do fun stuff, I guess, or even to see what happens during the summer for people who are going to travel," Angulo said.

Reps from AAA say the cost of regular gas is expected to go up as high as $3.75 by next month.

Only California and Hawaii have higher prices than Washington state.