Diesel price protection, explained for fuel equipment sellers
Your customers own the tank, but it doesn’t set what the next refill costs. What a diesel spike can do to them and to you, and how Hedjee could help.
Diesel in 2026
Diesel
Feb. 23, 2026
Diesel
Sept. 21, 2026
Record high
+$2.72 a gallon in 7 months
Sept. 21 was the highest weekly price since EIA’s records start in 1994 (not counting inflation).
Source: EIA weekly diesel prices
A spike hits your customers first, and it can reach you
$590,000 a week
Source: Transport Topics, August 2026
When fuel eats the cash, other spending can wait. In June 2026, high diesel and an uncertain economy had some fleets putting off equipment buys (Equipment Finance News). So a tank upgrade could slip, or a service bill get paid late.
What protection is, in plain words
Your customer picks a cap for their diesel price and pays a small fee per gallon up front. If what they pay averages above the cap over the months they pick, Hedjee pays them the difference. If not, the fee is all they pay.
| Compared | Example: no protection1,000 gallons. Diesel jumps $1, to $5.00. | Example: with HedjeeSame gallons, with a $4.00 cap |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel bill | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Fee, 5¢ a gallon | None | + $50 |
| Hedjee pays them | None | − $1,000 |
| Fuel cost in the end | $5,000 | $4,050. That’s $950 that could go to an upgrade or a service bill. |
Source: Hedjee, what it costs (example)
It works beside what they already use
| Compared | What it does | With Hedjee |
|---|---|---|
| Your tank and system | Store fuel and track every gallon. They can’t set the next refill’s price. | Nothing changes. Same equipment, warranty and service. |
| Fuel surcharge | Helps pass a rise on to their own customers, often a week behind. | Keep it. Hedjee pays on top of it. |
| Fuel card | Controls spending, and may bring a discount at the pump. | Keep it. Same cards, same stations. |
| Futures and swaps | How big buyers lock in a price. One futures contract is 42,000 gallons. | Any size, even one truck. No margin account, no deposit. |
Source: OOIDA fuel surcharge guide; Transport Topics, August 2026; CME diesel contract specs
Protection covers future refills. Fuel already in the tank stays out.
Big fleets like Sysco lock in the price of much of their diesel
Source: Sysco 2026 annual report (10-K)
Hedjee brings the same kind of protection to fleets of any size, based on what they actually pay for fuel.
What you can do
Explore how Hedjee could help your customers. Bring one customer in mind to a free 20-minute call.
Mention protection with your next quote. If a customer you introduce signs, Hedjee pays you a referral fee, agreed in writing first.