Repossession and Towing Under Pressure with Fuel Crisis

The pressure facing repossession and towing is no longer isolated, but rather it’s part of a broader economic shift driven by surging fuel prices across the United States. According to The New York Times, gasoline prices have surpassed $4 per gallon, while diesel has spiked sharply due to global oil disruptions.

For fuel-dependent operators, the impact is immediate and measurable. One repossession company reported burning more than 17,600 gallons of fuel to recover 1,630 units in a single month—an average of 10.81 gallons per job. With diesel rising from roughly $3.68 to over $5.50 per gallon, costs have increased by more than $21 per recovery, adding over $32,000 in monthly expenses.

The strain extends across industries. Jamie Hagen, owner of Hell Bent Xpress, said rising diesel costs have effectively erased profit margins.

Towing operators are seeing the same trend. Luke York, President of the Maine Towing Association and owner of 201 Service Towing & Auto Repair in Skowhegan, Maine, said diesel prices in the state have jumped from about $3.92 to nearly $5.60 per gallon.

“Ohh absolutely,” York said when asked about the impact. “I have started to implement fuel surcharges due to the rising cost of fuel.” He added, “It’s hard to charge mileage and hammer away on a fuel surcharge,” underscoring the challenge of balancing rising costs with fair pricing.

As fuel prices continue to climb, these industries are being forced to adapt quickly or otherwise absorb losses that may not be sustainable. Source: https://www.nytimes.comhttps://curepossession.com/and TIW interview with Luke York