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Diesel price spike leads to increased industry costs for trucking, fishing in Maine

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Diesel price spike leads to increased industry costs for trucking, fishing in Maine


HARPSWELL (WGME) – The pain at the pump is not just hurting drivers.

It’s also leading to increased operating costs across different industries.

As of Wednesday, the average price for a gallon of diesel in the U.S. is $5.49. It’s up by nearly $2 since last month.

For diesel-dependent industries like trucking, the spike is leaving a pinch.

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The pain at the pump is not just hurting drivers.{ } (WGME)

“It’s troubling for every Maine citizen,” Brian Parke from the Maine Motor Transport Association said. “Trucking companies are just trying to figure out the best way to manage all of this so they can stay in business, operate at a profit and still be operating once the fuel prices go down.”

Parke says about 85 percent of Maine’s freight is delivered by truck.

“Whether people like it or not, there’s not much in your home that doesn’t come by truck. So yeah, the impacts can hit everyone,” Parke said.

Sometimes, companies who partner with truckers include surcharge provisions in their contracts. That means companies will pay for the fuel cost spikes, not the truck drivers. But Parke says those costs are often offset in increased store prices.

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“No matter what level fuel prices are, it’s already baked into what the consumer pays,” Parke said. “So if fuel is $2 a gallon, consumer prices are going to reflect a certain amount. If fuel goes from $2 a gallon to $4 a gallon, then consumers will inevitably pay that additional amount.”

The ripple effects are also shrinking profit margins for commercial fishermen like Matt Gilley.

The pain at the pump is not just hurting drivers.  (WGME)

The pain at the pump is not just hurting drivers. (WGME)

“I usually try to haul once a week. I haven’t hauled in three weeks because of the price of fuel,” Gilley said. “I’m not keen on spending money to go to work.”

Gilley says the water is quiet this time of year. That won’t be true for much longer. He says the longer fuel prices remain this high, the more concerned he will become about potentially not turning a profit this summer.

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“We’re an optimistic group in a pessimistic industry,” Gilley said. “Come June, if we’re still seeing $5 fuel prices, that’s when I’d start to get nervous. That’s when everything starts to pick up, that’s when guys start setting traps.”

The all-time record high for diesel prices in the U.S. was set four years ago, when AAA says it cost $5.82. That’s only $0.33 higher than what it is today.



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Maine astronaut Jessica Meir shares stunning aurora view from ISS

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Maine astronaut Jessica Meir shares stunning aurora view from ISS


INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, (WGME) — Maine native and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir is giving us a look into her view from the International Space Station.

Meir shared this breathtaking view on X Sunday. It’s a stunning aurora show.

Meir is the commander for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission.

Maine native and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir is giving us a look into her view from the International Space Station. (Courtesy of Jessica Meir)

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She says there is a lot going on right now on the space station.

A few days ago, astronauts had to deal with a leak.

Meir says everyone on board is safe and happy to see the spectacular views.

The SpaceX Crew-12 has been up in the stars for 115 days.



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Showers passing across Maine today; warmer and drier to start the workweek

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Showers passing across Maine today; warmer and drier to start the workweek


BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – Good morning, and Happy Sunday everyone. Skies are on the cloudier side across Maine this morning with scattered showers for much of the state. A couple of breaks in clouds can be found here or there. Temperatures vary throughout the 50s for most, while reaching the 60s and low 70s in Southern Maine as more consistent sunshine is allowing for plenty of heating. Patchy fog remains across a good chunk of the state with some towns under one mile. Winds are on the calmer side this morning.

The morning hours will remain cloudier with showers and patchy fog for many. By the afternoon, showers will continue for most of the state, but will taper off from the NW to SE. This means conditions will dry out with sunshine developing across Northern Maine by the midafternoon. Showers will continue along the interstate until 3-4pm, with sunshine then filtering in by the later evening hours. Coastal locations will experience showers until the later evening hours, with clouds breaking by sunset, allowing for some sun to end the day. High temps today will vary from the upper 50s to low 70s. Dewpoints will become sticky in spots. Winds will be on the lighter side in the morning, before becoming breezy in the afternoon with WSW to NNW gusts reaching 25-35 mph.

Rainfall totals today will vary between a quarter to a half of an inch for most. Some pockets to the northwest, however, will only reach a tenth of an inch to a quarter inch.

Conditions will be quiet tonight. Besides a few clouds and light showers Downeast shortly before sunset, skies will clear with mostly to completely clear conditions and some patchy morning fog. Low temps will reach the low 40s to low 50s with North to NNW gusts remaining a bit breezy, reaching 20-30 mph.

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Monday will be a dry day, and in my opinion, the pick of the week. Skies will be sunny with just a few clouds developing later in the evening. High temps will warm up, from the low 70s to low 80s. NNW/SW gusts will remain just a little breezy, reaching 20-25 mph.

Another beautiful day with mostly sunny skies is expected on Tuesday. However, temperatures will really start to warm. Highs will vary from the mid 70s to upper 80s. WNW/SW gusts will only reach 20 mph.

Above average temperatures will carry on Wednesday through Friday with highs throughout the 70s and 80s for most. However, this stretch of days is becoming increasingly unsettled. Showers and thunderstorms look increasingly more likely to develop during the afternoons as some frontal systems pass through. The greatest chance of showers and storms will be Wednesday night through Thursday. More cloud cover is thus expected, so temperatures aren’t looking to peak as high as they were originally expected to reach. Dewpoints will also become sticky towards the end of the work week, reaching into the 60s on Thursday and Friday.

SUNDAY: Highs from upper 50s to low 70s. Cloudier AM with showers. PM showers tapering off from NW to SE. Evening sunshine developing. Slightly sticky dewpoints. WSW to NNW gusts reach 25-35 mph during PM.

MONDAY: Highs from low 70s to low 80s. Sunny skies. A few evening clouds. NNW/SW gusts reach 20-25 mph.

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TUESDAY: Highs from mid 70s to upper 80s. Mostly sunny skies. WNW/SW gusts reach 20 mph.

WEDNESDAY: Highs from low 70s to upper 80s. Partly to mostly cloudy AM. Cloudy PM with showers & storms possible. Slightly sticky dewpoints. SW gusts reach 15-20 mph.

THURSDAY: Highs from upper 60s to mid 80s. Partly to mostly cloudy. Showers & storms possible. Sticky dewpoints. South/SW gusts reach 15-20 mph.

FRIDAY: Highs from mid 60s to low 80s. Partly cloudy, few mostly cloudy spots. PM showers/storms possible. Sticky dewpoints. South gusts reach 15-20 mph.

Copyright 2026 WABI. All rights reserved.

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Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner defends his past on campaign trail

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Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner defends his past on campaign trail


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At a rally with supporters, Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner spoke out to defend his past after appearing to address new allegations made against him by three women who spoke with the New York Times. Some voters said they are sticking with Platner despite the controversy. NBC News’ Monica Alba reports.

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