Issue: Clean Fuels
National improvements in truck fuels are delivering positive impact. Heavy trucks burn diesel fuel because it yields more energy and can cover more miles per tankful than gasoline. But it also has traditionally contained impurities, particularly sulfur, a major contributor to acid rain and poor air quality. Today's diesel fuel is much different. Government regulations require that at least 80 percent of all diesel fuel be ultra-low sulfur, and 94 percent of the fuel trucks burn today is ultra-low sulfur.
Biodiesel – fuel that is not derived from petroleum – is also coming into increased use. Biodiesel generates far less CO2 from its manufacture and its combustion in diesel engines. The ATA supports quality standards and proper labeling for biodiesel. The United States annually produces about 400 million pounds of biodiesel, which reduces CO2 emissions by 760 million pounds when compared with petroleum-based diesel.
