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With apologies to Charles Erwin Wilson of General Motors in 1919, “What is good for trucking is good for America.” The responsible development of North America’s shale oil and gas reserves has been very good for trucking — especially for the tank truck segment — and represents our nations’ best chance to achieve energy independence.

The two highest costs for most trucking companies are fuel and driver labor (not always in that order). When it comes to fuel, most industry companies find relief through surcharges, which allow them to bill shippers for pump prices above a baseline per-gallon cost.

U.S. retail diesel prices hit their lowest level in more than 11 months last week as the national average dipped 2.1 cents to $3.817 a gallon, according to data from the Department of Energy.

U.S. and Canadian retail pump prices of diesel exhaust fluid remained stable in June, although there were some fluctuations for wholesale quantities, according to a monthy report by consulting firm Integer Research Ltd.

The diesel fuel tax will increase in a number of states across the nation  July 1, while Virginia and Maryland will begin charging new sales taxes that also will increase the cost of fuel.

President Obama last week announced that the administration will begin work on a new round of fuel-economy standards that will apply to heavy- and medium-duty trucks starting in 2019.

Retail diesel prices slipped 0.3 cent to $3.838 last week, the fifth straight drop, while the gasoline average fell almost a nickel as prices tumbled nearly 20 cents in the Midwest, the Department of Energy reported.

WASHINGTON — Work will begin immediately to develop a second round of fuel-performance standards for heavy trucks starting in model year 2019, an Environmental Protection Agency official said Wednesday.