Trump temporarily loosens red-dyed diesel rules as fuel prices surge
publishers 52articles 59first reported 6 Oct, 01:30 UTCdeveloping since 6 Oct · 9 editions
President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily allowing red-dyed diesel, normally restricted to off-road equipment, to be used on public highways through Dec. 31 as diesel prices remain near record highs.
Red-dyed diesel is chemically similar to regular highway diesel but is colored to identify it as fuel intended for uses such as farming and construction. It is ordinarily exempt from the 24.4-cent-per-gallon federal highway-fuel tax, and motorists who use it on public roads can face federal penalties.
The order suspends those federal penalties and defers payment of the federal tax while directing the Treasury Department to consider eliminating the deferred obligation. CNBC and Fortune reported that the tax has not yet been permanently waived, leaving users potentially liable later. The White House said Treasury was preparing guidance for sellers and users.
The order does not override state fuel taxes or state restrictions on using dyed diesel on highways. CNBC reported that state diesel taxes average 35.5 cents per gallon, although states may take their own relief measures.
Industry groups have cautioned truck stops against offering the fuel, citing legal and logistical uncertainty and what they described as limited commercial benefit. Analysts, farmers and truckers also questioned how much relief the measure would provide because it does not increase diesel supplies. NPR reported that constrained global supplies helped push the U.S. average price to a record $6.52 a gallon before it eased slightly.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 42 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 52
- Source articles
- 59
- Given to the writer
- 8, 3 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 42 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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