Walz signs executive order as Minnesota diesel prices remain above $6

Audio By Carbonatix

(The Center Square) – Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order in an attempt to provide immediate relief amid record-high diesel prices.

Minnesota’s agricultural, timber, and fuel-transport industries have been particularly hard hit by the high diesel prices, which Walz’ office said are fueled by “President Donald Trump’s reckless war with Iran.”

The executive order authorizes vehicles transporting agricultural and forest products to exceed regular weight limits by up to 10% on state and local highways, allowing more products to be moved per trip.

Walz blamed Trump for the record-high fuel prices.

“Trump started a war with no clear mission, end, or plan to protect American families from the economic wreckage. Minnesotans are paying the price every time they fill up their tank or buy groceries,” Walz said. “We are standing with the farmers, loggers, truckers, and families who feed our communities, power our economy, and keep Minnesota moving.”

The weight-limit change applies to vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, wheat, potatoes, carrots, sugar beets, and forest products amid harvest season. It does not apply on interstate highways and is effective through Oct. 30.

The bipartisan governors of Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas have all issued similar executive orders.

Currently, Minnesota fuel prices are dollars higher than a year ago.

This comes as refinery issues, foreign wars, and pipeline outages affect both the global and domestic markets.

On Friday, the current average for regular unleaded was $4.24 across Minnesota. That is 15 cents lower than the national average.

This is according to the latest data from AAA.

Compared to Thursday, the average from regular unleaded across the state declined slightly, also dropping from last week’s price of $4.37.

Mid-grade fuel in Minnesota currently averages $4.71 per gallon, while premium stands at $5.26. Diesel averages $6.21 per gallon, up from $2.62 a year ago.

One year ago, the average price for regular unleaded in Minnesota was $2.95 per gallon. That means drivers are paying nearly $1.29 more per gallon today than they were a year ago.

The impact is being felt significantly by all drivers, with the diesel market particularly affected, according to Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

“According to calculations, the 2022 U.S. total additional cost spent on diesel (vs 2021) amounted to $59.426 billion,” De Haan said earlier this week. “So far in 2026, the additional cost (vs 2025) is ~$47.9 billion and we could surpass 2022's tally by early November at current pace.”

Nationally, the highest-recorded average price for diesel was set on Sept. 22, while the 2022 record for the highest-recorded price for regular unleaded has yet to be broken.