Topics: Fuel & Trucking

Minnesota to Implement Biodiesel B20 Mandate May 1

Effective May 1, all diesel sold in Minnesota must contain at least 20 percent biodiesel as the state officially implements the B-20 mandate passed in 2008. More

NATSO Objects to Proposed Refinery Bankruptcy Settlement

NATSO on March 26 sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice outlining the truckstop industry's opposition to a proposed settlement agreement for the bankrupt refinery Philadelphia Energy Solutions. The proposed settlement would absolve the refinery of many of its RIN obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), and represents in many ways the latest iteration of the years-long battle between merchant refiners that strongly oppose the RFS and other segments of the fuels supply chain that have adjusted their business models based on the RFS's incentives. More

Get The Inside Scoop On The Newest Renewable Fuel Blend

The latest innovation in the fuel industry takes advantage of the benefits of two leading renewable fuels — ones many truck stops are familiar with. More

IRS Explains Procedures for Claiming Retroactive 2017 Biodiesel Blender Tax Credits

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released a guidance document outlining special one-time claim procedures for obtaining the $1.00 per gallon biodiesel blender tax credit for 2017. Notice 2018-21 prescribes rules for how taxpayers can claim one-time credits for selling or using biodiesel, renewable diesel, and other alternative fuels (such as natural gas) in 2017. The notice also outlines how entities can offset liability for federal gasoline and/or diesel taxes with the 2017 credits, and further provides instructions for how taxpayers can make certain income tax claims on biodiesel and alternative fuels. More

Find Success at Your Truckstop with Multiple Fuel Buying Techniques Members Only Join or Login

Fuel buying has continued to get more sophisticated, and the current combination of demand, supply, terminal operating status and rack price rules have created a complicated equation for truckstop and travel plazas to navigate. To be successful, operators have to stay current on prices and trends and combine fuel buying techniques, many of which may be different than they’ve used in the past. More

Economic Activity, Freight Levels Paint Strong Picture for the Trucking Industry

The economy is accelerating, consumer spending is strong, freight volumes are increasing and the country is undergoing the third longest economic expansion in history, all of which is boding well for the trucking industry, Bob Costello, chief economist for American Trucking Associations, told attendees of NATSO Connect. More

Congress Passes Retroactive Biodiesel Tax Credit for 2017 as Part of Larger Budget Package

Congress yesterday passed and President Trump signed legislation providing for a retroactive biodiesel blenders' tax credit for 2017, leaving the credit's status in 2018 and beyond uncertain. The measure was included as part of a larger budget package that will keep the federal government funded for the foreseeable future. More

Congress Reinstates Oil Spill Liability Tax on Prospective (Not Retroactive) Basis

The budget deal that Congress passed on Feb. 8 restores the 9-cent-per-barrel tax on oil to pay for spill cleanups. The tax will not take effect until March 1, 2018, however, and will not be applied to transactions taking place between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28. More

3 Ways Distilled Biodiesel Can Give Truckstops a Competitive Advantage

Each year around this time, when temperatures are at their lowest, is when the number of questions I receive about biodiesel Cloud Point seem to hit their peak. Cloud Point is the temperature at which wax crystals cause fuel to appear cloudy — and it’s commonly used to determine biodiesel’s cold performance properties. When I get those questions — or when I hear concerns about a higher Cloud Point product — I use it as an opportunity to share with that person the advantages of biodiesel that has been purified using distillation. More

5 Common Biodiesel Myths — And The Facts That Debunk Them

You may think the cold weather so many of us are experiencing would make me reluctant to boast about biodiesel. You’d be wrong. Questions about cold weather operability are common for those of us in the biodiesel industry, and I’m happy to answer them — because biodiesel blends are used by fleets and truckers problem-free throughout North America, including during the depths of winter. Yet biodiesel’s alleged cold weather issues is one of the most persistent myths related to biodiesel. So in my last blog post of the year, I’m going to give you the facts on this and a few other myths. Myth: Biodiesel doesn’t work in cold weather. Fact: Just like with petroleum diesel, proper additive use and storage and blending methods allow biodiesel to be used even when the temperature drops below freezing. And keep in mind that 90 percent of a B10 blend is petroleum diesel, which impacts its cold weather properties much more than the biodiesel. You don’t have to take my word on biodiesel’s cold weather capabilities, though. Click here for a short video on G&D Integrated, an Illinois-based for-hire carrier that has seen engine performance stay strong since switching its large diesel fleet to a B20 blend year-round. More

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