Question do you know where all your fuel is going ?

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A gas station clerk is accused of defrauding her boss out of nearly $50,000 by selling fuel to her family and friends for a tenth of a penny a gallon.


Police arrested 25-year-old Madeline Jordan on Sunday - along with her mother, brother, a cousin and two others - after setting up a sting at the BP station in South Charleston.

The station's owner told police last week he had noticed a significant drop in his income and found receipts that listed the deeply discounted rate.

Police alleged that for several months Jordan, of Nitro, had reset the price at the pumps every Sunday morning and allowed people she knew to fill up.

There was no immediate word if any of the six had secured attorneys to speak for them. The Kanawha County Courthouse was closed Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., and calls to the South Charleston Police Department were not answered.

Fuel Costs taking a bite out of Profits?

L.A. Fritter has been providing fuel management systems to combat ever increasing cost of fuel since 1953 .

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The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission today proposed an annual five to eight percent increase in the nation's fuel taxes for the next five years to fund urgent transportation repairs. The measure was passed by a nine to three vote, with Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters among the dissenters.

The commission was formed to conduct a two-year study of the current state of the transportation industry and analyze future needs for both the short and long term, as well as sources of revenue, either as a replacement or a supplement to the current fuel tax.

The commission's report also focuses on transportation's role in homeland security and national defense, including a reduction in our dependence on foreign oil.

Recommendations by the committee include an expansion of public transportation, increasing highway capacity to reduce congestion and embracing new safety strategies to cut traffic fatalities in half within 17 years. The commission also proposed budgeting $200 million annually to develop new energy sources.

Ken Simonson, chief economist for Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) told Fleet Owner that the report indicates the nation needs to significantly rebuild its infrastructure. "This report shows the magnitude of the problems ahead of us," he said.

Simonson added that the report's proposal would be very helpful in raising enough money to rebuild the nation's infrastructure, depending on whether or not states also contribute additional funding.

AGC agrees with the report's recommendation to create an independent National Surface Transportation Commission. "Congress should cede some of the decision-making to an independent, non-political group," Simonson said.

The dissenting members, led by Secretary Peters, agreed that transportation reform is a necessary step but would not a support a federal tax to fund it, instead pushing for private capital, incentives and increased tolls to provide the needed funds.

The dissenting opinion states that raising fuel taxes is ineffective and ‘breeds wasteful spending' and does not consider alternatives they project to be potentially more effective. They add that the proposal would unwisely increase the Federal government's role in transportation issues and create an independent commission they consider impractical and reflective of bad policy.

"Raising fuel taxes won't improve traffic congestion, it will only perpetuate our ineffective reliance on fossil-based fuels to fund infrastructure and send more of Americans' hard-earned money to Washington to be squandered on earmarks and special interest programs," Secretary Peters said. "A better way forward is to provide incentives to states willing to pursue more efficient approaches and to invest federal funds more effectively to give commuters real relief from gridlock."

American Trucking Assns. president & CEO Bill Graves issued a statement on the effects of the proposal on the freight industry. "The Commission has provided a good starting point for Congress as we move toward Reauthorization in 2009," he said. "Fixing our infrastructure problems is, without question, a significant financial undertaking. Current revenue streams are failing to keep pace with infrastructure needs. The Commission report illustrates that any increased investment must be coupled with systematic reforms, which would be essential to any long-term solution.

"The national economy is directly linked to freight transportation," Graves added. "Therefore freight transportation must be an essential part of infrastructure design and planning. Through its report, the Commission acknowledges the need for a new and improved investment strategy. A strategy that supports not only the health of our highways, but the health of our future economy. One that includes a combination of steps designed to ease congestion, alleviate bottlenecks and repair aging infrastructure."

Biodiesel study shows similar results to 100% diesel

Biodiesel study shows similar results to 100% diesel

By Justin Carretta, online news editor

Jan 8, 2008 2:38 PM





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According to a study released by the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), first-year results show 20% soy biodiesel blends (B20) perform similarly to diesel fuel in trucks.

"Although we have data from only the first year of the study, we are pleased with the results to date," said Don Heck, coordinator of biotechnology and biofuels programs at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, IA. "Preliminary results are that B20 biodiesel performs similarly to 100% diesel. We found a slight decrease in overall fuel efficiency for the B20 group of trucks, but it was not statistically significant. In fact, the difference was several times smaller than the driver-to-driver variability in fuel efficiency within each group."

The study, dubbed the " 2 Million Mile Haul", is sponsored by ISA, Iowa Central Community College, Decker Truck Line Inc., Caterpillar Inc., the National Biodiesel Board, Renewable Energy Group, Inc., and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For the study, Iowa Central Community College has been collecting and analyzing engine performance data and conducting in-house testing of both petroleum and B20. According to ISA, the study also examines how fuel additives affect the cold-flow properties when blended with Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD).

To test the differences between the fuels, two groups of 10 Decker Truck Line semi-tractors have traveled to either Minneapolis or Chicago using 100% No. 2 petroleum diesel or a blend of 20% biodiesel from Renewable Energy Group, Inc. and 80% No. 2 petroleum diesel. Fuel efficiency, maintenance records and fuel quality for both groups are monitored.

According to ISA, average fuel efficiency was 6.29 miles per gallon (mpg) for the petroleum group and 6.15 mpg for the B20 group after more than 1.5 million miles were driven between Oct. 1, 2006 to Oct. 1, 2007.

"Right now, the B20 performs similarly to the 100% diesel fuel in this study," said Heck. “Oil test data shows no appreciable differences between the fuels. We expect that the B20 group of engines will show less wear than the control group."

"The study is important because it shows that biodiesel can be interchangeable with diesel for use in over-the-road trucking," said Ed Ulch, an ISA director and treasurer of the National Biodiesel Board. "When the engines are torn down at the completion of the study, the final results are expected to show less engine wear with biodiesel. The study should prove that biodiesel provides longer engine life."

ISA reported a few problems with the B20 blend, admitting that a few filter plugging problems occurred early in the study. Changing the blend of the biodiesel fuel caused the rate of filter plugging to drop significantly. ISA reports that the B20, when mixed with a commercial fuel additive, didn’t cause any cold-flow issues during winter driving.

"The trucking industry is by far the single largest consumer of diesel fuel, using 38 billion gallons annually,” said Grant Kimberley, ISA director of market development. “This study demonstrates in a real-world environment that biodiesel can be used successfully year-round."

Know the facts about Release Detection

FACT SHEET
Release Detection

All commercial underground storage tanks (USTs), regardless of size, and residential or farm tanks of over 1,100 gallon capacity must be equipped to detect releases. Proper release detection is very important since it will ensure that a major spill does not occur at your facility. This fact sheet should only be used as a guide. You must read the regulations and all operational instructions for the release detection method selected.

Emergency Generators and Heating Oil (for consumptive use on premises) USTs:

COMAR 26.10.04.01J requires all regulated heating oil and emergency generator UST systems be under a precision-testing schedule; meaning that testing is required at 15 years and every 5 years thereafter

COMAR 26.10.07 sets out the requirements for hydrostatic testing which is permitted for tanks under 1,000 gallons in capacity storing combustible products, such as #2 fuel oil, instead of precision testing.

Motor Fuel, Used Oil, or Bulk Heating Oil Storage USTs:

COMAR 26.10.05.01-.06 requires release detection on the tank and piping of UST systems storing these products. If product from storage systems is metered, daily inventory control is required in conjunction with release detection. There are several permitted release detection methods:

Statistical Inventory Reconciliation (SIR). SIR can be used on any UST that is metered, but it does not achieve detection on pressurized piping. An approved third-party vendor (listed with the Oil Control Program, MDE) must analyze records produced for SIR. Using SIR for release detection also ensures compliance with Maryland's daily inventory requirement.
Manual Tank Gauging (MTG). MTG is a good option for used oil storage systems. UST system must be out-of-service for a period of 36 hours to properly perform MTG. MTG does not satisfy release detection for piping.

USTs of 600 gallons or less – MTG fulfills the release detection requirement
USTs of 601 gallons to 2,000 gallons – MTG and precision testing every 5 years fulfills the release detection requirement
USTs over 2,000 gallons – MTG cannot be used to fulfill requirement

Precision Tightness Test (PTT). PTT can no longer be used as a stand-alone option in Maryland (although federal regulations permit it). PTT is still required after a new installation or repair, and is required as an accompaniment to other release detection methods and upgrade requirements. The Oil Control Program maintains a list of approved precision testing equipment and vendors.
Automatic Tank Gauging (ATG). ATG equipment must have third-party approval and be able to detect leaks of 0.2 gallons per hour. Leak tests must be conducted at least once a month on ATG equipment. Many ATG systems also monitor UST system piping.
Vapor Monitoring (VP). VP is effective as a release detection method only if the product being stored is volatile enough to be detected and groundwater will not interfere with monitoring. The number of points and their location must be designated for each individual system.
Ground Water Monitoring (GWM). GWM is monitoring of water found in wells placed around an UST system. The groundwater on the site can never be more than 15 feet from the ground surface. Well construction and record keeping are very important with GWM.
Interstitial Monitoring (IM). IM can only be used on UST systems that have secondary containment. Monitoring of the secondary space can be for fluids, vapors, etc. Monitoring must take place at least every 30 days. Most electronic systems monitor continuously and provide alarms to the tank operator. Systems for hazardous systems must use IM as their release detection method.
Other Methods (OM). MDE may approve an OM for your UST system. Such approval is usually reserved for sites that cannot use one of the other listed methods or for new technology that is not yet recognized in the regulation. Before using an OM, obtain MDE approval.
Piping

MDE recognizes two types of piping systems:
Pressurized Piping. Pressurized piping supplies product to the dispensing unit or point of use usually by a pressure pump submerged at the tank. Pressurized piping must be equipped with an automatic line leak detector and is tested annually by precision testing or by one of the monthly monitoring methods numbers 3-8 listed in the above.
Suction Piping. Suction piping pulls product from the tank to the pump or point of use. If the piping system has only one check valve that is located directly below the pump, then no other release detection is required. Other types of suction piping systems must be precision tested every two years or monitored monthly with one of the release detection methods

The next generation

The next generation in passive fueling technology, the AIM2™ platform has been built by listening to our existing AIM 1 customers and asking the question "If you could have anything in a passive fueling solution, what would it be?" The answers that came back have inspired the most advanced and forward looking FuelMaster® system yet. By interfacing directly to a vehicles On Board Diagnostic (OBD) computer we are now able to pull back completely accurate data on everything from odometer, chronometer, or hour meter readings to the average speed at which the vehicle has been driven since the last fueling.


When combined with our new network technology, when a vehicle that has an engine warning light on comes into fuel the AIM2™ can pull the exact cause from the ODB and immediately notify the fleet mechanics of the issue so it can be resolved immediately. This is only one of many exiting benefits that AIM2™ will be able to bring to you and your fleet, and because it is built by the same FuelMaster engineers who have developed the most dependable and durable fixed site fueling application in the business, you can be assured that AIM2™ will be around to help you tommorrow, not just today.