HGV Training Firm Absorbs Record Diesel Costs Amid Middle East Conflict

Dulson Training, a Shropshire-based firm that instructs learners in driving lorries and buses, reports it is absorbing soaring fuel expenses after UK diesel prices reached an unprecedented high this week. According to the RAC motoring organisation, the average cost of diesel climbed to 199.33p per litre, marking a significant escalation driven by global supply constraints.

Steve Dulson, the managing director and founder of the company established in 2013, stated that refuelling each vehicle now costs hundreds of pounds more than it did in 2025. He noted that fuel costs have surged by up to 50p per litre over the past year, excluding VAT.

The price hikes follow the onset of the US-Iran war in February, which has heavily restricted international diesel supplies. Since the conflict began, the average price of diesel has risen by 59p per litre—nearly a 40% increase—while petrol has seen a 41p rise per litre. These figures stand in stark contrast to the period following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, during which fuel costs had largely declined.

Mr. Dulson explained that the business model makes immediate price adjustments difficult. Most students enter a prolonged training pipeline involving medicals, provisional licence applications, and theory tests before reaching practical lessons. By the time training commences, the initial price has already been quoted to the customer.

“It’s hard to react to that, because of how we deal with our customers,” Dulson said. “Our customers have usually been in our pipeline for some time… so by the time they’ve got to their practical training, and the fuel prices have increased, they’ve already been quoted. That makes it difficult for us to put prices up.”

To mitigate losses, the family-run company, which operates six centres across Shrewsbury, Telford, Ludlow, Wrexham, Wolverhampton, and Nantwich, is exploring minor efficiencies. These include extending breaks between sessions and selecting routes that consume less fuel.

Despite these measures, Dulson emphasized a commitment to service quality, stating, “The customer has paid us to do a job and we’re going to do that to the best of our ability.” He cautioned, however, that fee increases may become necessary next year to reflect operational realities, unless an economic downturn occurs.