A great article was written by John Croman of KARE 11 news in Minnesota. The Article included interviews with the Minnesota trucking industry about their B-5 Bio diesel mandate.
The B-5 bio diesel has a 5% soy additive content. That 5% is an increase from the former B-2 mandate where diesel fuel had a 2% additive content. The article tagged the phrase “If you’re burning diesel fuel in Minnesota you’re now getting more soy in your diet.”
That is no doubt the case here.
In Minnesota on Friday, May 1, 2009 the state moved to B-5 bio diesel. Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture Gene Hugoson told reporters at a news conference marking the B-5 milestone, “For state and national energy policy it is extremely important we move to less dependence on imported foreign oil,”
The most remarkable part of the story or this years B-5 roll out is that the trucking industry was a participant. According to Minnesota Trucking Association president John Hausladen, “Due to the diligent work of the bio diesel manufacturers and distributors in this state the Minnesota Trucking Association is confident we will have no operational problems as we move to the B-5 mandate today.” He also said that the organization that represents truckers wasn’t a big fan of this alternative fuel when it was in it’s infancy.
It should be noted that Minnesota lawmakers were the first to okay bio diesel in 2005. Since it was introduction in Minnesota; Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington have followed suit.
Articles like this are a great story for the future. Those looking for truck driving jobs or considering truck driving schools can believe firmly that the industry is taking steps toward an overall greener transportation industry.
