National Biodiesel Board Hears California Trucker Concerns at the
International Trucking Show

At the International Trucking Show (ITS) in Los Angeles on September 29th through October 1st, the National Biodiesel Board met with truckers and trucking company executives to hear the unique issues in California.  Air quality is a big concern and with Governor Schwarzenegger’s passing of the CO2 reduction legislation mandating a 25% cut in carbon dioxide pollution produced within the state’s borders by 2020, non-fossil fuels will be even more in demand. 

Owner operators showed great interest in biodiesel as we find across the country and many are using it in California.  At our ITS booth, the most often asked question was when will California have more truck stops carrying biodiesel.  The NBB is working with fuel distributors like CS Fuels and trucking companies like CaseStack to help make biodiesel available across California.  Availability is a sticking point for trucking company owners and managers.  If they ask their drivers to use biodiesel, then it needs to be available on their routes. 

At the two seminars that the NBB presented, we learned from audience members about their experience with biodiesel and it mirrors what we are hearing in other parts of the country, added lubricity, smoother running engine, cleaner burning, increased efficiency, etc.  Concerns about ultra low sulfur diesel were high and attendees were glad to have confirmation that biodiesel adds lubricity that ULSD depletes. 

Here’s what a couple of California truckers had to say:

“I am sold on biodiesel.  I have been using biodiesel for over a year.  I drive a 2003 379  Peterbuilt with a 475 CAT engine.  Within the first 500 miles of biodiesel, I noticed increased power, increased fuel mileage, smoother running, and quieter engine noise.  Now, I use biodiesel 100% of the time.  The biggest problem is it’s hard to find.  The country needs to get behind biodiesel – it benefits all.”
       - Darrell Quail, Hesperia, CA

“I prefer to use biodiesel whenever possible.  I’ve documented a ¾ to 1 mpg increase in fuel mileage.  So much so that it used to affect my IFTA!  I couldn’t buy enough fuel to cover the IFTA requirement.  My ISX 600 runs a lot cooler and smoother.  It even idles smoother.”
       -Chuck Golightley, Hawthorne, CA

It was a great show and we thank everyone who attended our seminars and visited our booth.