Montana Uber Driver Navigates High Gas Prices

Fuel costs skyrocket as war in Iran disrupts global oil supply

Apr. 6, 2026 at 8:26pm

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A geometric abstract illustration using clean lines, triangles, and rectangles in shades of gray, blue, and orange to conceptually represent the financial strain of high gas prices on independent contractors.As fuel costs soar, gig economy workers struggle to keep their businesses afloat amid economic uncertainty.Billings Today

As gas prices in Montana reach record highs due to the ongoing war in Iran and the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, Billings Uber driver Daniel Lord is struggling to make ends meet. Lord says he goes through about half a tank of gas per day on average, and with fares consistently getting lower, the rising fuel costs are taking a significant toll on his livelihood.

Why it matters

The skyrocketing gas prices in Montana are symptomatic of a broader global oil supply crisis stemming from the war in Iran. This is putting immense financial pressure on gig economy workers like Lord who rely on their vehicles to earn a living, highlighting the vulnerabilities of this workforce to external economic shocks.

The details

According to GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan, around 20 million barrels of oil per day are not reaching the global market due to the Iran conflict, causing prices to surge. Montana's average gas price has jumped 86 cents per gallon in the last month, with diesel prices increasing by over a dollar. Lord says he has to 'go through that extra gas just to make ends meet' as fares have consistently gotten lower, putting a major strain on his finances.

  • On April 6, the average gas price in Billings was $3.73 per gallon.
  • Montana broke the $4 per gallon mark for gas prices in 2023, though prices quickly came down afterwards.
  • The last time gas prices hit this high was in 2022.

The players

Daniel Lord

A Billings, Montana Uber driver who is struggling to make ends meet due to skyrocketing gas prices and lower fares.

Patrick De Haan

An analyst at GasBuddy who says around 20 million barrels of oil per day are not reaching the global market due to the war in Iran, causing prices to surge.

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What they’re saying

“I typically go through about a half a tank a day on average. Fares have consistently gotten lower and sometimes I gotta, like, go through that extra gas just to make ends meet.”

— Daniel Lord, Uber Driver

“Essentially 20 million barrels of oil per day is not getting to the global market... It's not necessarily what the US is going to do in Iran or with Iran, it's going to be really focused on whether or not the strait is going to reopen or if we're just going to leave it as is.”

— Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy Analyst

What’s next

Analysts will continue to monitor the situation in Iran and the status of the Strait of Hormuz, as the reopening of the crucial oil shipping route could help alleviate the global supply crunch and bring down gas prices in Montana and across the United States.

The takeaway

The skyrocketing gas prices in Montana are putting immense financial pressure on gig economy workers like Uber drivers, highlighting the vulnerabilities of this workforce to external economic shocks. This crisis underscores the need for policies that better support and protect independent contractors who lack the safety nets afforded to traditional employees.