Van operators received some relief at the pumps in April as diesel prices fell by 2p per litre, according to the latest RAC Fuel Watch data.
Despite the drop, the RAC said commercial vehicle operators should be benefitting from even greater savings.
With oil trading consistently below $70 throughout April – significantly lower than March levels – the motoring organisation calculates that diesel should be priced around 136p per litre based on wholesale costs.
This 4p per litre difference means van operators are potentially paying almost £4 more than necessary on each full tank.
Simon Williams, head of policy at RAC, said: “On one hand it’s good news prices at the pumps fell for the second straight month, but on the other it’s disappointing that retailers didn’t drop their prices further considering how low oil and wholesale prices continue to be.
“Drivers right across the UK should really be benefitting from petrol being sold at an average of nearer to 130p and 136p for diesel. For now, only those in Northern Ireland are doing so.”
Williams added: “The data shows there’s still scope for prices to be reduced by around 4p a litre, so we call on major retailers to reward their customers with some further significant forecourt cuts soon.
“Some are already selling both fuels for very low prices at particular sites – we’d just like to see this happening more frequently around the country.
“For example, both Asda and Sainsbury’s are selling unleaded for under 125p a litre in Ipswich.”
Van operators looking to minimise running costs should note significant regional variations, with Northern Ireland offering considerably lower diesel prices at 133.7p per litre – 6.9p below the UK average.
This represents potential savings of almost £4 (£3.79) per tank.
The membership-only retailer Costco provides even better value at its 20 sites, with diesel averaging 131p per litre, while the UK’s four major supermarkets offer diesel at an average of 137p.
