Trucking still learning about biodiesel fuel

ORLANDO.  Trucking needs to move beyond merely learning about biodiesel fuel, contends Steph Sabo, maintenance manager for Norrenberns Truck Service (NOTS). Sabo said that he still doesn’t understand why discussions about biodiesel within the trucking industry continue to be of an educational nature.

Norrenberns has used a B11 blend of the fuel, comprised of 89% petroleum-based diesel fuel and 11% soybean-based biodiesel, for nearly four years. While they’ve experienced some problems from time to time, along with a 0.2 mile per gallon loss in fuel economy, the move has still paid off for Sabo’s fleet.

“Why are we still having this discussion about biodiesel?” Sabo said during a presentation here at the Technology & Maintenance Council.  “It seems a lot of people are still misinformed. Yes it costs more and yes we’ve had some fuel mileage degradation. But in Illinois [where Norrenberns is based] we get a tax savings for using biodiesel, an elimination of the state’s 6.25% sales tax on fuel. At the end of the day, that adds up to a big savings for me.”

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