NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — Rising diesel prices are putting pressure on Southwest Florida businesses that rely on trucks and heavy equipment, with some of those added costs potentially being passed along to customers.

Diesel was selling for $6.35 per gallon at the Love’s truck stop in North Fort Myers, where WINK News saw a steady flow of commercial trucks fueling up.

The increase can have an especially large impact on industries such as construction, where trucks and heavy machinery used to transport materials such as cement and gravel rely on diesel.

SEE ALSO: Flights are disrupted across US Northeast because of technical problems at a key air traffic center

Tracee Tobler, with Tobler Construction in Fort Myers, said higher fuel costs directly affect the company’s expenses on projects.

“That’s when we have to pay more for gas. That takes out of the bottom line for the project,” Tobler said. “So unfortunately, it does get, you know, passed along to customers sometimes.”

Transportation costs can extend beyond construction. Trucks carrying food and other products use diesel long before those goods reach store shelves.

AAA reported that gasoline prices were up 31.8% from 2025 in its latest vehicle ownership cost study.

Tobler said businesses have little control over those changing costs.

“It’s the economy,” Tobler said. “We can’t do anything about that.”

There could eventually be some relief at the pump. AAA said oil prices have started to decline, which could help lower diesel prices.

However, the fuel market remains volatile, making it unclear how quickly drivers and businesses could see those savings at the pump.