Federal Order Grants Diesel Fuel Relief Sought by South Carolina Forestry Leaders
Loggers, timber haulers, and agricultural producers across the Carolinas are getting the regulatory relief they called for following executive action signed Monday by President Donald Trump.
The new directive temporarily waives federal off-road restrictions on tax-exempt red-dyed diesel, allowing commercial haulers and agricultural operators to legally use the lower-cost fuel on public highways through the end of the year without facing federal IRS penalties.
The move directly answers emergency calls for regulatory intervention detailed in a previous South Carolina Forestry Leaders Urge Federal Action on Diesel Fuel Relief report, where regional timber advocates warned that record fuel prices were crippling logging operations and pushing supply chain costs to unsustainable levels. Under standard federal rules, red-dyed diesel is strictly reserved for off-road equipment like combines and log skidders, while highway transport requires taxed clear fuel.
Announcing the decision at an event in Grand Island, Nebraska, President Trump stated that expanding access to dyed diesel on public highways would deliver immediate financial relief to farm and timber logistics, waiving the 24 cent-per-gallon federal excise tax burden on transit.
For local logging crews and heavy haulers moving timber from forest sites onto state highways, the waiver provides immediate relief at the pump. Industry groups are now urging state authorities to align local road-tax enforcement with the federal waiver through the end of the year so drivers can maximize savings across state lines.
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This article was prepared with editorial review based on recent federal policy announcements
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