Oregon Loggers Seek Relief From Record Diesel Costs
Associated Oregon Loggers is urging Governor Tina Kotek and incoming lawmakers to provide relief as diesel prices climb.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Oil and Gas
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Associated Oregon Loggers urged Governor Tina Kotek and incoming lawmakers to provide relief for forest operators. Oregon diesel prices reached a record $6.87 per gallon on September 23, and stood at $6.60 per gallon as of November 10.
Why it matters
Diesel powers the heavy equipment and trucking that the logging industry depends on, so rising fuel costs fall directly on forest operators. Oregon diesel prices rose 53% from the previous year, leaving operators struggling to absorb the increase.
Oregon diesel prices reached a record $6.87 per gallon on September 23 and were $6.60 per gallon as of November 10, a 53% rise from the previous year. Federal diesel relief is set to expire December 31, and it remains unclear how the loss of that relief will affect pump prices.
The players
Associated Oregon Loggers
Associated Oregon Loggers is a trade association representing timber harvesting and logging operators in Oregon, advocating on policy issues affecting the forest industry.
Tina Kotek
Tina Kotek is the Governor of Oregon, a Democrat who took office in 2023 and oversees the state's executive branch.
The details
Associated Oregon Loggers members rely on diesel to power logging equipment, fire trucks, log trucks, dump trucks, and lowboys. The group has urged Governor Tina Kotek and incoming lawmakers to provide relief for forest operators facing these costs.
Timeline
September 23, 2026: Oregon diesel prices reached a record $6.87 per gallon.
November 10, 2026: Oregon diesel prices were $6.60 per gallon.
December 31, 2026: Federal diesel relief is set to expire.
Industry Context
Federal diesel relief is set to expire December 31, which would remove a cost buffer for Oregon loggers already paying record prices. Oregon's rise of 53% in diesel costs places the state's forest operators under pressure as that relief ends.
Forest operators and contractors in Oregon face higher costs to run logging equipment and trucks, which may be passed along through the timber supply chain. Households and businesses that depend on trucking may also see the effects of diesel costs reflected in their own expenses.
The takeaway
Diesel costs are a major operating expense for Oregon's logging industry, and the approaching expiration of federal relief makes near-term price changes a practical concern for forest operators and the businesses that rely on them.
What happens next
Federal diesel relief is set to expire December 31, 2026, a date that will determine whether Oregon operators face the full brunt of current diesel prices.
Further reading
For more on how fuel costs shape energy markets, see Oil and Gas coverage.
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