National Trucking Company's Biodiesel Shows Positive Results.
Dale Decker is a third
generation trucker in the family business, which started in 1931 with one Model
B Ford Truck. Since then, the Fort Dodge Iowa-based Decker Truck Line has grown
to more than 700 trucks and more than 1,400 trailers, with nine terminals in
five states. Dale Decker found out about Biodiesel several years ago. The more
he learned, the more he wanted to try it. Now, Decker Truck Line is not only
using Biodiesel, but documenting testing on its use over-the-road fleet.
Decker Truck Line, Inc.
is the first major trucking company to compare a soy Biodiesel B20 blend to
regular diesel in a comprehensive over-the-road test covering two million
miles. Announced last fall, the "Two Million Mile Haul" has covered
350,000 miles towards the goal. Partners released interim results at the
Mid-America Trucking Show two weeks ago. In addition to Decker, partners in the
Two Million Mile Haul include the Iowa Soybean Association, National Biodiesel
Board, D.S.Department of Agriculture, Iowa Central Community College and
Renewable Energy Group.
Decker says so far, so
good. He has OBSERVED CLEANER ENGNE OIL ANALYSES, DECREASED MAINTENANCE AND NO
COLD WEATHER ISSUES, even with temperatures in the single digits. Decker Truck
Line is using B20 biodiesel (20% Biodiesel, 80% No.2 petroleum ultra low sulfur
diesel) in 20 of the company's trucks, running from its terminal in Fort Dodge,
Iowa to either Chicago or Minneapolis. All trucks have Caterpillar C 13 or C 15
engines built to EP A 2004 and EP A 2007 emissions levels.
Caterpillar is also
following the results of the study and conducting further analyses on the
effects of Biodiesel. To keep Caterpillar and other companies and agencies
abreast of the progress, Decker Truck Line and Iowa Central Community College
have developed a Web site to show results (http://www.2millionmilehaul.com/)
For more details, please visit http://www.biodiesel.org/.