20 Years Forward: The Prediction is Diesel Still on Top - More than 90 percent of commercial vehicles are currently being powered by diesel technology. Look ahead to 20 years from now, and most trucks on the roadway will probably be powered by a combination of fuels and technology, such as by hydrogen and fuel cells, or battery-electric, or even renewable natural gas or diesel fuel. But for the foreseeable future, diesel will remain the go-to technology fueling the country’s truck fleets. Predictions According to analysts, diesel will still be tops by 2040, at least in regard to Class 8 truck fleets. Here are some takeaways: Bloomberg New Energy Finance says only 19 percent of the heavy-duty commercial truck fleet in this country will run on electricity by 2040, translating to 81 percent of heavy-duty trucks running mainly on diesel and natural gas. IHS Markit says 80 percent of commercial truck sales in this country will run on diesel by 2040. According to The Fuels Institute, diesel will comprise 65 percent of heavy-duty truck sales and 86 percent of the whole fleet by 2040. According to the International Council on Clean Transportation, only one manufacturer of a zero-emissions Class 7 and [...]

Fuel and the Total Cost of Ownership - The fleet owners and managers of today know the importance of looking beyond the initial purchase price and taking into account the total cost of ownership (TCO) of their equipment. Residual value, repairs, maintenance and parts, along with other hard and soft costs, also should be considered when it comes to the true expense of owning a vehicle. No doubt, fuel has always been a huge part of the equation, but it’s usually been centered around the costs of fuel. Fuel impacts vehicle maintenance and performance, of course. But with more and more fleets required to hit sustainability targets, emissions must also be a considered in fleet management. Biodiesel helps lower a fleet’s total cost of ownership (TCO) in many ways, such as through the easement of maintenance issues, increasing performance and cutting back on emissions. Meeting Goals of Sustainability Sustainability when it comes to biodiesel’s environmental benefits should be considered as part of the total cost of ownership, even though it traditionally hasn’t been. This is important, as clean air regulations are rising. Many private and public sector organizations are starting to adopt sustainability plans, so whether your fleet has [...]

The Need For Higher-Value Diesel Fuel - If you’ve ever been to a diesel station before, you’ve seen the dark patch of stained concrete underneath the fuel pump. This is common, as the diesel fuel often overflows as it’s being pumped into the tank. That’s because diesel often foams up, just like when you pour soda into a glass too fast. On a case by case basis, it doesn’t seem like a big waste – it’s just a few ounces of fuel, right? But when you think about how often this happens all across the country, you’ll realize how it adds up. Not to mention -- after foaming happens, it takes a while for the fuel to settle back down, which means your tank isn’t really full after all. Take that soda-fizz-in-a-glass example. If you are a fleet operator responsible for dozens of trucks on the road, you know this waste results in unnecessary downtime for the whole fleet and higher costs in the long run. Foaming diesel is just one issue commercial truckers may be oblivious to in their daily operations. In fact, it could be contributing to the degrading quality of diesel fuel. However, it’s entirely preventable. [...]