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. [...]