The average price of U.S. retail diesel rose another 3.7 cents last week to $3.331 a gallon, the Dept. of Energy reported, or 26.4 cents higher than it was two months ago.

Diesel, which is at its highest level since Oct. 2008, is also 53.4 cents above the comparable week of last year. Since remaining steady in early November, pump prices have skyrocketed.

There are several steps that can be taken to save on fuel, regardless of the price at the pump.

• Fix the fifth wheels on trucks as far forward as possible to minimize aerodynamic drag between the tractor and trailer.
• Use wide-base tires with low rolling resistance, skirting on the sides of trailers and boat tails behind
• Govern tractor speeds at 65 mph, down from 68 – 70 mph.
• Put APUs in every tractor
• Provide driver training programs to optimize fuel efficiency

Taking these steps can help save companies in fuel cost and offset the ongoing increases at the pump.