- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Lansing Junk Removal Owner Navigates Rising Gas Prices
Scott Toupin says his monthly fuel bill has jumped from $2,500 to $3,000 in just the past month.
Mar. 14, 2026 at 1:04am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
As gas prices continue to climb across mid-Michigan, the owner of Lansing Junk Removal, Scott Toupin, says the pressure at the pump is hitting his small business's bottom line. Toupin says he now carefully plans and pairs customer routes every day to reduce unnecessary mileage and keep costs down, but he's worried the situation could get worse if prices keep rising.
Why it matters
Lansing Junk Removal is a small business that relies heavily on fuel for its fleet of trucks to transport items for customers. The recent spike in gas prices is squeezing the company's profit margins, forcing Toupin to find ways to operate more efficiently just to stay afloat.
The details
Toupin says his monthly fuel bill has jumped from roughly $2,500 to $3,000 in just the past month as gas prices in the Lansing area have surged more than 54 cents per gallon in the last 30 days. To combat the rising costs, Toupin now carefully plans and pairs customer routes every day to reduce unnecessary mileage and keep fuel costs down. The business runs a fleet of two large box trucks, a Ford F-450, a Dodge Ram pickup, and roll-off dumpsters, all running on regular unleaded.
- A month ago, Toupin was spending about $2,500 per month on fuel.
- Now, Toupin is spending closer to $3,000 per month on fuel.
The players
Scott Toupin
The owner of Lansing Junk Removal, a small business that hauls unwanted furniture, appliances, and household items from homes and businesses across Lansing, Jackson, Howell, and surrounding communities.
Lansing Junk Removal
A small business in Lansing, Michigan that hauls unwanted furniture, appliances, and household items from homes and businesses, then resells the best of what they find in an on-site thrift and antique store.
What they’re saying
“A month ago we were spending probably about $2,500 a month. Now we're spending probably closer to $3,000 a month.”
— Scott Toupin, Owner, Lansing Junk Removal
“We do so many stops running around Lansing. We do several stops per crew per day... [W]e have to plan the routes accordingly and try and make sure that we're efficient with how we're routing the trucks to keep the prices of the fuel down.”
— Scott Toupin, Owner, Lansing Junk Removal
“If I see somebody's in Haslett and another customer is in Haslett, I try and pair them together. That way we're not running all over town chasing after the individual jobs.”
— Scott Toupin, Owner, Lansing Junk Removal
What’s next
Toupin says he's hopeful that gas prices don't continue to rise, as that could make it difficult for his business to stay afloat. He's committed to finding ways to operate more efficiently and keep costs down, but acknowledges that the situation is challenging.
The takeaway
This story highlights the impact that rising gas prices can have on small businesses that rely heavily on fuel for their operations. Lansing Junk Removal's owner, Scott Toupin, is having to get creative and make tough decisions to keep his business running smoothly in the face of these economic pressures.
