(KRON) -- Rising diesel fuel prices are placing severe financial pressure on the trucking industry, with California drivers facing some of the highest rates in the nation. According to statistics from AAA, the national average price for a gallon of diesel stood at $6.32 on Monday, while the average price in California reached $8.35. The California Trucking Association warns that current fuel prices are unsustainable for logistics companies. Industry leaders are actively seeking financial relief for motor carriers as high operational expenses threaten daily transport operations. Details emerge after Oakland Hills couple found dead in home Michael Gregory Sr. is the president of HVYW8 Trucking Inc., a San Francisco-based company he has owned and operated for more than 20 years. Gregory oversees a fleet of 100 trucks and reported that elevated diesel costs are directly impacting daily operations. “The hardship we have is...” Gregory said. He warned that rising expenses could severely impact his business, adding, “I think something has to happen ...we could face a shutdown.” Gregory noted that other fleet owners in the industry are already choosing to shut down operations. Eric Sauer is the CEO of the California Trucking Association, an organization seeking relief for fuel costs affecting drivers across the state. “This is something we are seeing daily...” Sauer said regarding the ongoing economic pressure on motor carriers. Sauer also pointed to international factors driving market prices, stating that “the state can't change what's going on in the Middle East.” All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KRON4. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KRON4 staff before being published. ...read more read less