Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, gas prices across the United States have risen to an all-time high, with the national average at the pump reaching $4.32 a gallon. The soaring costs have impacted everyday drivers, as well as Texas businesses.
One company, Smart Delivery Services, had to change its normal schedule to lessen the blow of rising gas costs.
Sean Benjamin, one of the managers, told WFAA his staff members are feeling the effects.
“Our drivers put on quite a few miles every day,” Benjamin said.
Because the business relies on staff members being able to make timely deliveries, the company has been monitoring gas costs day-to-day.
The delivery service was forced to alter its daily operations in order to try and keep expenses down, according to Benjamin.
“[We are] Having drivers do more deliveries with one vehicle, versus splitting it between multiple drivers,” he explained. “Basically, becoming more consistent and more calculated in the way we operate every day.”
Benjamin said that although the increasing prices pose a real challenge, the company has managed to maintain good relationships with its customer base. He added that customers have been understanding about the impact the cost of gas has had on the business.
According to AAA, as of March 15, the average cost of gas per gallon in Dallas was $4.02. In some Texas counties, it has reached $4.47 a gallon.
Jason Rodelander, a North Texan also feeling the pain at the pump, told WFAA he recently spent around $40 to fill up the tank in his van.
“With the economy, we are trying to scrape and get by, you know, and stuff like that with the price of things going up higher and higher,” Rodelander said. “It’s hard to even survive.”
His comments came before prices first reached historical highs, breaking the previous national record of an average $4.11 per gallon in 2008.
“Forget the $4 per gallon mark,” GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan said, “we could push closer to a national average of $4.50.”
“We’ve never been in this situation before, with this level of uncertainty,” he added. “Americans will be feeling the pain of the rise in prices for quite some time.”
Asiya Joseph from Brooklyn, New York, spoke to WFAA after spending $4.29 a gallon for gas at a BP station.
“I am looking at the possibility of walking to work,” Joseph said. “This is the first time that I am filling up my tank in like, 10 days.”
Benjamin told WFAA that gas prices are too high for Smart Delivery Services to ignore.
“We need it as low as possible as fast as possible,” he said.