Local delivery services feeling pain at the pump as prices rise to $5

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COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Gas prices keep dropping around metro Atlanta. And that’s good news as drivers get ready for the July Fourth holiday.

According to AAA, regular unleaded is $4.37 a gallon. That’s down from a record-high $4.49 a gallon on June 15. But a year ago, drivers were paying $2.91 a gallon for regular unleaded.

Channel 2′s Michele Newell spoke with some local Cobb County business owners who are getting hit hard.

Brandon Burrage, CEO of Atlanta Flat Rate Movers said his moving company is paying more for diesel than he ever has before.

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He’s trying to make sure his customers aren’t impacted by it too much, but depending on how far the trip may be, he does have to add a fuel surcharge.

Burrage told Newell they are on the road all day, everyday, making sure their customers get what they need.

“We have seen a significant jump more than usual,” Burrage said. Burrage currently pays $5.00 for diesel and wonders if gas will go up to $6.00.

“It will probably be $375 to fill them up,” Burrage said. Months ago, it only cost $300 to fill up one moving truck.

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“We have to do a calculation and come back with a fuel surcharge a lot of the times if a client has multiple stops,” Burrage said.

They are also grouping smaller shipments together for out-of-state moves.

“We don’t just want to have an incredible jump in our prices but we do get concerned because we really don’t know where it’s going to end at,” Burrage said.

Over at Blue Moon pizza in Marietta, delivery drivers are feeling the pain at the pump too.

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“We didn’t pass the additional cost onto the guest. We kept it all internally but as a company we are making less money because of that,” said Mark Nadeau, director of operations at Blue Moon Pizza.

Companies that supply the ingredients to the pizza shop are hiking up the prices.

“We’ve actually seen several hikes in between and I get it. These guys are driving 18 wheelers and it’s very expensive for them,” Nadeau said.

Some flower shops in Cobb County that make deliveries have added a delivery charge.

The owner of one flower shop told Newell she is actually paying her drivers more money to help with gas.

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