By: Muhammad Aamir, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
Truck drivers parked at the Comber inspection station on Wednesday said they’re bracing for yet another round of fuel‑price swings as gasoline and diesel costs continue their unpredictable climb across Ontario.
Several drivers who spoke with the Tilbury Times Reporter while stopping at the scale or passing through Tilbury said the constant price changes are making long‑haul planning harder — especially heading into the Victoria Day weekend.
“Every time we think prices are settling, they jump again,” said Lakhwinder Singh, a Chatham‑Kent truck driver who fuels up in Tilbury before heading east.
“You can’t budget anymore. One day diesel is manageable, the next day it spikes eight cents.”
Fuel analysts say Ontario drivers should expect a four‑cent‑per‑litre increase in gasoline prices on Thursday, followed by a six‑cent drop on Friday. Prices had already risen three cents on Wednesday.
Diesel users are facing similar turbulence. Experts anticipate an eight‑cent increase Thursday, with an equal drop Friday. Diesel prices had already climbed two to three cents at some stations mid‑week.
For many drivers, the global market shifts behind these price swings feel far removed from their day‑to‑day reality. Wednesday’s dip in oil prices came as U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in China to meet with President Xi Jinping. China is a major buyer of Iranian oil, and traders reacted quickly to signs of shifting geopolitical pressure. The drop followed two days of increases earlier in the week, when oil prices rose amid reports that peace talks between the U.S. and Iran were faltering.
“It’s stressful when you’re trying to support a family and every week the fuel bill is different,” said Daud Daudzai, an Afghan immigrant living in Chatham who hauls freight across Southwestern Ontario.
“We don’t control any of this, but we feel it right away.”
Drivers say the volatility hits small operators especially hard.
“It adds pressure on independent drivers like me,” said Subramanian Krishnamoorthi, who lives in Wheatley and has been driving truck for four years.
“When diesel jumps eight cents overnight, that’s real money. You’re always adjusting your route or your fuel stops.”
Local drivers say they rely on tools like GasBuddy and Ontario’s motor fuel price report to find the cheapest stations between Windsor, Tilbury, and London — but even then, the savings can disappear quickly.
“Tilbury is usually cheaper than the 401 service centres,” Singh said, “but lately everything is changing so fast, you don’t know what you’re going to pay until you pull in.”
With the long weekend approaching, drivers say they’re hoping Friday’s expected price drop holds — at least long enough to get them through their next run.