If a long-distance move is on your calendar for the coming year, this is a useful time to turn an idea into a plan. The past month brought a diesel spike, some recent relief at the pump and continuing labor costs. Starting a reservation conversation now gives you time to understand today's offer and get any price protection in writing.
Fuel climbed, then pulled back
The U.S. Energy Information Administration's national on-highway diesel series shows:
| Week of | Price per gallon |
|---|---|
| September 14, 2026 | $6.285 |
| September 21, 2026 | $6.529 |
| September 28, 2026 | $6.382 |
| October 5, 2026 | $6.199 |
That is an increase followed by two weekly declines—not an uninterrupted climb. The October 5 national average was 8.6 cents below September 14, but $2.488 above the comparable year-earlier reading. Regional costs also differed: the October 5 Lower Atlantic diesel average was $5.699, versus $8.082 in California. These are retail fuel benchmarks, not a household moving tariff or a forecast of your bill.
Sources: EIA weekly diesel series (released October 6; next release listed October 14) · EIA Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update
Transportation developments worth watching
September's elevated diesel costs continued to shape transportation decisions. The Washington Post reported on September 25 that fuel costs were helping shift some freight toward rail. That is context for the wider transport market; it does not mean a moving company will send your household shipment by rail.
On October 7, AP reported that expanded dyed-diesel use offered truckers limited immediate relief because practical and state-rule complications remained. A policy announcement therefore should not be treated as an automatic reduction in a moving quote.
On October 8, Reuters reported Maersk would raise its UK and Ireland inland emergency fuel surcharge to 20%, effective October 12. This is an overseas freight example of fuel volatility affecting contracts—not a new U.S. household-moving surcharge and not a DBS fee.
Sources: The Washington Post, September 25, 2026 · AP News, October 7, 2026 · Reuters, October 8, 2026
Labor is another part of the picture
BLS reported preliminary, seasonally adjusted average hourly earnings of $32.78 in transportation and warehousing for September, compared with $32.70 in August and $31.79 a year earlier. This broad-sector measure includes more than moving crews and is not the hourly price a customer pays. It shows why pump prices alone cannot explain a quote.
Source: BLS Employment Situation, Table B-3 (updated October 2, 2026)
What this means for your move
Our takeaway: plan around your actual route and inventory instead of trying to predict the cheapest future week. No national fuel series tells us exactly what DBS—or any mover—will charge for a particular home. Truck availability, packing, access, shipment size and the service requested all belong in your written proposal.
For a move six to twelve months away, an early conversation can establish an inventory, a budgeting baseline and a contact who knows your plans. If a provider offers to protect today's rate through a future move date, ask for the protected rate, expiration, fuel treatment and allowed changes in the agreement. A rate per cubic foot and a total move price are different commitments.
Make the next step today
Request your DBS reservation estimate now. Discuss your likely route and timing, review the written reservation and deposit terms, and place your deposit once those terms fit your plan. Ask how date or destination changes are handled if you are still choosing your new home. That is how an early reservation can replace a last-minute scramble with a documented plan.
A deposit by itself does not establish a universal one-year price guarantee. FMCSA distinguishes a rate quote from a written estimate and explains that additional goods or services can require an updated binding estimate.