Biodiesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.

As far as large and mid-size fleets go, a lot of them have green initiatives and biodiesel definitely plays a role in reducing a company’s carbon footprint, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide. This emissions reduction enables them to use biodiesel as part of a larger plan to “go green.” Companies are actually starting to include their use of biodiesel in their marketing efforts, so it’s helping companies create market differentiation.

Owner operators and independent truckers have a different set of reasons for using biodiesel. Many want to do their part to reduce our country's dependence on foreign oil, pay less at the pump, and support American workers and farmers. They also appreicate the added engine lubricity.

Many drivers actually come from a rural or farming background so they are particularly committed to supporting American farmers.

Biodiesel can be used as a pure fuel or blended with petroleum in any percentage. B20 (a blend of 20 percent by volume biodiesel with 80 percent by volume petroleum diesel) has demonstrated significant environmental benefits with a minimum increase in cost for fleet operations and other consumers.

As far as quality is concerned, there is an ASTM spec. ASTM is a world-wide organization that regulates quality requirements for all types of fuel products. They subject biodiesel to a battery of tests to insure that the biodiesel you’re purchasing will meet certain performance specifications, especially in cold temperatures.

To be ASTM certified, the fuel needs to go through aggressive filtration to remove anything that could be problematic to the engine, so it’s a very rigid spec. There’s actually a program in place called BQ9000 where producers become BQ9000 accredited and distributors become BQ9000 certified. That ensures that they are meeting the ASTM spec. So if you are buying from a BQ9000 certified distributer, you know you’re fuel will be of the highest quality.

Biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine with little or no modification to the engine or the fuel system. Biodiesel has a solvent effect that may release diesel deposits accumulated in the fuel system. The release of deposits may clog filters initially and precautions should be taken. Ensure that only fuel meeting the biodiesel specification is used.

As far as OEM warranties go, in Q4 of ’08 Caterpillar announced that they increased their warranty from B5 (a 5% biodiesel blend) to B20. Cummins came out in the spring of ’08 also recommending the B20 blend, and a lot of these announcements are tied to having ASTM quality specifications in place. But as it stands today, every OEM is honoring warranties on trucks using B5.

When reviewing the high costs associated with other alternative fuel systems, many fleet managers have determined biodiesel is a low-cost-strategy. Use of biodiesel does not require major engine modifications. That means operators keep their fleets, their spare parts inventories, their refueling stations and their skilled mechanics. Biodiesel also provides more lubricity than just using USLD, so its good for the engine.

Biodiesel can be purchased all across the country. A really good way to find places where you can purchase biodiesel is to visit biotrucker.com. On it, we have a map with all the locations across the country that sells the various biodiesel blends. Every location on the site is truck accessible and they are broken down by state, so they’re very easy to find.