Diesel prices in Maryland hit an all-time record of $6.467 per gallon on Oct. 5, surpassing the previous peak of $5.82 set in 2022, and Gov. Wes Moore is moving to shield the state's farmers and loggers from the fallout. Moore signed an executive order permitting qualified farm and forestry haulers to use dyed diesel under state law and providing relief from state penalties. Hauling-permit relief applies only on state highways, not interstate highways, local roads or roads managed by the Maryland Transportation Authority, for the next 30 days.
The price spike capped a brutal 12-month run that saw diesel costs climb 76.2 percent statewide, according to the Office of Governor Wes Moore, which ties the surge to global crude oil supply disruptions stemming from the war in Iran. As WBAL NewsRadio reports, Moore's Executive Order 01.01.2026.19 allows qualified farming and forestry vehicles to use dyed diesel under state law and provides relief from state penalties. Hauling-permit relief applies only on state highways, not interstate highways, local roads or roads managed by the Maryland Transportation Authority.
“Our agricultural and forestry sectors are the bedrock of our state’s economy,” Moore said, per the station's report. He added that the order increases access to fuel and permits for Maryland's agricultural partners and addresses barriers to producing their products, and said it gives the tourism, restaurant and food industries room to thrive.
Why Dyed Diesel Matters for Haulers
Dyed diesel contains a red chemical dye signaling it is exempt from highway taxes when used for off-road farming or construction equipment, a distinction explained by WBAL. Under the Oct. 9 order, qualifying agricultural and forestry haulers can use that fuel under state law, with hauling-permit relief limited to state highways—not interstate highways, local roads or roads managed by the Maryland Transportation Authority. Drivers must carry documentation verifying they are transporting eligible agricultural products if stopped by law enforcement. State agencies are coordinating implementation of the order.
Maryland's move follows a federal executive order President Donald Trump issued on Oct. 5, 2026, temporarily allowing broader highway use of off-road dyed diesel and directing officials to determine whether federal excise-tax payments could be deferred without interest or penalties through Dec. 31. The tax obligation may remain, according to a post shared on Facebook. The governor's order does not waive federal taxes, penalties or restrictions on dyed diesel; it also lists state safety and weight-limit conditions. The order requests that Comptroller Brooke Lierman work with the Maryland Department of Agriculture to seek federal relief.
Maryland's Agriculture and Forestry Sectors
The stakes for Maryland's resource-based industries are steep. Moore called the state's agricultural and forestry sectors “the bedrock of our state’s economy.”
Maryland counts 12,600 operating farms spanning 2.0 million acres, with an average farm size of 159 acres, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service's 2025 overview. Maryland's agricultural sector includes livestock, poultry, dairy and crop production.
Forestry is included alongside agricultural producers in Moore's order, bringing qualifying forestry haulers within the relief's scope.
Potential Savings and Lingering Limits
Estimates of dyed-diesel savings have put the potential at roughly $100 or more per fuel refill.
Maryland is not alone in reaching for this lever. Georgia suspended its fuel tax, North Carolina lawmakers planned a special session, and Virginia Republicans pressed for a proposed tax holiday, as Hoodline previously reported. Maryland's governor declared an agricultural state of emergency over the fuel surge.
Still, the relief has a shelf life. Temporary relief like Maryland's offers immediate, application-free help by easing state penalties and waiving hauling-permit fees on state highways, but it provides limited long-term shelter from a sustained global fuel market surge tied to the ongoing conflict abroad. For now, Maryland's farmers and loggers have 30 days of breathing room — and a comptroller's office seeking federal relief.
