Insights on fuel pricing and your rights as a consumer.
Fuel prices are influenced by crude oil markets, refining costs, distribution, taxes, and retail margins. But within those legitimate factors, there are opportunities for manipulation that cost consumers billions annually. Price gouging during supply disruptions, coordinated pricing among regional retailers, and opaque surcharge calculations on commercial contracts are among the most common issues. Consumers have more rights than they realize — federal and state laws prohibit price fixing, gouging, and deceptive pricing practices. Documenting your fuel purchases, comparing prices across providers, and understanding your contract terms are the first steps toward protecting yourself. When patterns of overcharging emerge, settlement claims can recover significant amounts.
Most businesses accept fuel costs as fixed — but they're not. Strategic fuel management can reduce costs by 15 to 20 percent without changing your operations. Start with a fuel audit: analyze purchasing patterns, compare against wholesale benchmarks, and identify inefficiencies. Negotiate bulk purchasing agreements with price caps. Implement fuel cards that provide transaction-level data and prevent unauthorized purchases. Optimize routes and vehicle maintenance to improve fuel efficiency. And monitor contracts for hidden surcharges and escalation clauses. The combination of better purchasing, operational efficiency, and contract management delivers savings that compound year over year.