The National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO) held its annual Day on Capitol Hill on Monday and called on elected officials in the U.S. Congress to help lower fuel prices which now exceed $4 a gallon for diesel, reports TheTrucker.com.  At the same time, a caravan of horn-honking truck drivers circled the Mall and formed a long column driving through Washington, DC to protest the high price of fuel.

Among the issues addressed by NATSO were concerns about the record energy prices and the role played by commodity trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) which is not subject to recordkeeping requirements by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Another issue discussed with legislators was the exorbitant cost of interchange fees on truck stop operators. NATSO said that members “will be asking congress to restore fairness to the credit card fee negotiating process by supporting and co-sponsoring H.R. 5546, The Credit Card Fair Fee Act.” 

Last week, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other House democrats asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to launch an investigation into the record-high gasoline prices and possible price manipulation.

“Recent price volatility and investor speculation in the oil market require the diligent oversight Congress called for, especially when oil prices break records daily, hitting $119 per barrel this week,” said Pelosi in the letter to FTC Chairman William Kovacic, according to a MarketWatch report.

The truckers protest, sponsored by Truckers and Citizens United, was sparked by skyrocketing fuel costs.  The average price for regular gasoline currently exceeds $3.50 per gallon across the U.S., while the average price of diesel fuel currently tops $4 per gallon.  This week, according to a AAA Web site survey, diesel fuel costs $4.35 a gallon in DC; $4.30 a gallon in Maryland; $4.10 in Virginia; and $4.59 in New York.

A trucker from Jonestown, Pennsylvania, told the Washington Post that his savings had plummeted because he was spending $1,700 a week on fuel. “The hauling rates can’t compensate for what I’m putting out,” said Bill Carroll.  “You have to stay out on the road an extra week at a time, so you can make enough money to bring home.”