Biodiesel Articles

American Trucking Associations Back B5 Standard
Date: 21 October 2005

The American Trucking Association's Board of Directors has revised ATA’s alternative fuels policy to advocate the use of biodiesel in blends up to 5 percent (B5) as part of the national diesel fuel standard.
ATA’s energy policy calls for a single national diesel fuel. A side benefit of biodiesel use, from ATA’s point of view (aside from stretching the petroleum fuel supply) is that as the nation transitions to ultra low sulfur diesel in 2006, biodiesel will help ensure that ULSD maintains adequate lubrication.

ATA is working with the National Biodiesel Board to promote the use of biodiesel and ensure its incorporation in the national diesel fuel standard. At current prices, the trucking industry, which consumes 35 billion gallons of diesel each year, is on pace to spend an unprecedented $85 billion on fuel this year.

For many motor carriers, fuel often represents the second-highest expense after labor and can account for as much as 25% of total operating costs. More than 564,000 motor carriers in the United States transport nearly 70% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation.

Trucks hauled 9.8 billion tons of freight in 2004, collecting $671 billion dollars, or just under 88%, of total revenues earned by all transport modes. The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups and its fifty affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States.

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