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Companies such as Vanair, DragonFly Energy, Tectran, Mitchell 1 and IMI presented their efforts to enhance trucking operations and improve fleet maintenance.

Fears of a global energy crisis rose March 16 as the war in the Middle East raged on, with more U.S.-Israeli strikes on the Iranian capital and Israel's bombardment of Lebanon.

By increasing drain intervals by up to 25,000 miles, fleet operators can realize improved vehicle uptime and lower total cost of ownership, Valvoline said at a March 15 press conference.

President Donald Trump on March 14 called on other countries to send warships to keep the strait open, saying he hopes China, France, Japan, South Korea and the U.K. would take part.

Brent crude traded near $100 a barrel following one of the most volatile weeks ever for the oil market, with investors bracing for more upheaval as Iran pledged to keep the Strait of Hormuz shut.

If higher energy costs persist, routing cargo through Panama can cut voyages by between three and 15 days, depending on the route, while reducing fuel consumption, Ricaurte Vásquez said.

It’s unclear how much extra oil the step will free up in practice, and it represents a fraction of what has been lost because of the Hormuz turmoil this month.

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office blasted the lawsuit, noting it comes as gas prices climb amid the Iran war and as some drivers consider going electric.

Oil drillers in California have resorted to the costly alternative of trucking crude barrels 50 miles after the closure of a refinery and idling of a key pipeline cut off outlets for their products.

Prices of fuels like diesel and jet fuel are surging as refineries in the region reduce production or shut completely, while fuel makers elsewhere balk at high crude prices.