A school district in eastern Washington is sending some of its bus drivers across state lines into Idaho to fill up on cheaper diesel, highlighting how fuel costs are reshaping transportation decisions in parts of the United States. The story, first reported by the Daily Mail and based on reporting from The Spokesman-Review, reflects the growing financial pressure facing public agencies as fuel prices continue to climb.
The East Valley School District, located near Spokane Valley, said it spent roughly $45,000 on diesel fuel in April alone. That represented an increase of more than $16,000 compared to the same month a year earlier, according to district officials quoted in the report.
Faced with rising costs, some drivers have started crossing into neighboring Idaho, where diesel prices are nearly a dollar per gallon lower than in Washington. Officials say the savings can approach $100 per tank for larger buses, an amount that becomes significant across a fleet operating daily routes over a 100-square-mile district…