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Economists are warning that rising fuel costs resulting from President Donald Trump's war against Iran will affect everything from grocery prices to public transportation. And according to contractors in Rutherford County, Tennessee, higher diesel prices may bring school busses to a halt.
Chris Nalls of WTVC NewsChannel9 in Chattanooga reports that "the school system" in Rutherford County "says families should not expect a change in bus service right now." But school bus contractors in Rutherford County, according to the Tennessee Holler and Nashville's WSMV, are warning that if diesel prices keep rising, they may not be able to afford to keep the busses running.
WSMV reports, "All of us are feeling the pinch at the top. But school bus contractors here in Rutherford County who rely on diesel to fill their busses up say if they don't get help from the school board, they're going to be left with no choice but to park for good."
Sandra Davis, a school bus contractor in Rutherford County, told WSMV, "You can't put fuel in it, you can't run … We've gotta do what we do to put diesel in the bus to get kids to school."
Davis told WSMV that she and her husband, who she runs the contracting company with, are struggling badly because of diesel prices.
The Tennessee Holler, in a post on X, wrote, "RUTHERFORD COUNTY: 'You can’t put fuel in it, you can't run.' @rucoschools school bus contractors say they may have to stop running because diesel costs too much — Because of Trump's pointless war."
According to WTVC NewsChannel 9 reporter Nalls, soaring diesel prices "could cost Rutherford County Schools an additional $250,000 to $300,000, according to the school system."
"Rutherford County Schools relies largely on individual bus owners to transport students," Nalls explains. "Those drivers are paid through an agreement that adjusts their pay when fuel prices rise above a set level. For diesel, that starting point is $4 a gallon. School officials say diesel is now averaging around $6 a gallon. 'When diesel goes above that amount, drivers receive more money to help cover the cost of getting students to and from school,' the school system said."
James Evans of Rutherford County Schools told WTVC, "Our budget department tells us that this may cost us $250,000 to $300,000, just depending on how long the fuel prices stay high like this. It won't affect bus service. We'll continue to offer bus service, but it will affect how much it costs us."
Trump carried Tennessee in three presidential elections in a row.