RSI’s Transportation Insights

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RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day:  We’ve entered the space age.  At least a piece of fuel-saving technology is being marketed as a Space Age type product meaning it’s like nothing we’ve ever seen.   The “Q-Shield™ is a patented technology that significantly reduces the consumption of diesel fuel or gasoline in internal combustion engines by employing space-age Thermal Insulators to key parts of the engine.”(www.americandieselandgas.com).  The Q-Shield™ reduces the amount of air that often sneaks into an engine’s entire air intake system.   The outcome - a more complete combustion rate, and potentially less fuel usage by up to 20%. 
County:  San Bernardino
Date: August 18, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.95

Date: August 18, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: Haven Avenue and Philadelphia Street, Ontario, CA
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.99

Date: August 18, 2008
Station: 76
Address:  24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: August 18, 2008
Station: Valero
Address: 4773 West El Segundo Blvd. and Inglewood Ave., Hawthorne
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.98
 

Date: August 18, 2008
Station: Roche Fuel
Address: 8445 Atlantic Ave. and Salt Lake Ave., Cudahy
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99

Date: August 18, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 11454 Balboa Blvd. and Rinaldi St., Granada Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99
 
 
 
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County:  Riverside

Date: August 18, 2008
Station: 7-Eleven
Address: 23021 Sunnymead Blvd. and Frederick Street, Moreno Valley
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.95

Date: August 18, 2008
Station: Fastrip
Address: 23991 Sunnymead Blvd. and Heacock Street 
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99

Date: August 18, 2008
Station: Fastrip
Address: 10306 Arlington Avenu and Tyler Avenue
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.19
 
 (Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)

The Great American Trucking Show that is!  This summer’s event will be held August 21st through Saturday the 23rd in Dallas, Texas.  This year marks the show’s 10th anniversary and there will be no shortage of celebrations.  Even better - RSI will be exhibiting all three days in booth# 11028!
Did we mention the party?  Special attractions include the Pride and Polish Truck Beauty Competition, Educational Seminars sponsored by TMTA, the 4th annual Fleet Form, special appearances by the Chrome Shop Mafia, free concerts from top country music artists, and exhibits from leaders in the heavy duty trucking industry according to www.gatsonline.com. 
 
Nearly 50,000 people are expected to attend, and for those who can’t, the show can be heard in daily podcasts featured on http://www.midnighttrucking.com/.  In addition to an exhibit hall featuring hundreds of companies (including RSI – don’t forget), concerts, and contests, there will be discussion forums and educational seminars.   The feature forum titled, Just for Fleets: Steering past obstacles to success will be held Thursday August 21st.  Items to be discussed include:
 - Fleets’ fuel saving measures
 - Key financial tactics
 - Managing risk
 - What’s happening in safety
 - Negotiating in a tough market
 Fleet owners and operators will especially benefit from this particular forum as the focus is on their ability to thrive given current economic conditions and industry specific challenges. 
 

And there will be prizes!  The Midnight Trucking Radio Network is hosting one of the top contests at the Great American Trucking Show where one registration enables one to win $1,000 Cash, a pair of Caterpillar Boots, a set of Alcoa-Dura Bright Wheels and the Sweet Freedom Custom Truck.  

All in all – it will be an informative and fun and if you’re in the Dallas area be sure to stop on by – ya’ here!

RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day:  The following is not exactly a tip, but instead - good news.  Diesel prices have dipped below the $4 dollar mark in months.  Although gas prices overall are still more than a dollar above where they were a year ago, the thirty-plus cent drop in the last month is helpful.  Continue reading to find where you can fill up on diesel in the three dollar range.

County:  San Bernardino
Date: August 16, 2008
Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson St., Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99

Date: August 16, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.99

Date: August 16, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address:  25717 East Baseline Ave. and Sterling
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.05

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: August 16, 2008
Station: Shell
Address: 4530 Torrance Blvd. and Anza, Torrance
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.89
 

Date: August 16, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 8050 Van Nuys Blvd. and Lanark, Panorama City
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.94

Date: August 16, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 1025 W. Anaheim Street and King, Wilmington
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99
 
 
 
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County:  Riverside

Date: August 16, 2008
Station: 7-Eleven
Address: 23021 Sunnymead Blvd. and Frederick Street, Moreno Valley
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.95

Date: August 16, 2008
Station: RAJ Service
Address: East 6th and Howard, Corona
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.97

Date: August 16, 2008
Station: Fastrip
Address: 23991 Sunnymead Blvd. and Heacock Street 
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99
 
 (Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)

While most forms of mass transportation and lauded for their environmental benefits, they’re not noted for convenience and comfort.  And despite their positive impact on the environment (by way of simply reducing the number of emissions emitters on the road), anyone who’s stood by a bus or ridden the subway know they can  - well – stink.  Stinky factor aside, buses are going hybrid and the trend is catching on. 

According to Hybridcenter.org, a hybrid bus is, “Hybrid bus technology is similar to that used in hybrid cars and trucks, with options for both parallel and series drive train designs.   These buses employ similar technology including regenerative braking, electric motors, and battery storage.  One main difference is that most hybrid buses are coupling diesel-fueled engines with electric motors instead of the typical gasoline-electric hybrid configurations available in light duty vehicles. ”

The benefits of a hybrid bus are similar to those of a hybrid passenger car.  Hybrid bus studies have shown the vehicles reduced particulate emissions by as much as 85%.  Hybrid buses though function both on diesel and electric engines, meaning their route plays a significant role in how much they actually reduce emissions. 

Hybrid buses benefit from reduced fuel consumption as well.  Hybridcenter.org stated, “There are reports from transit agencies of fuel economy improvements of 10 percent all the way up to 50 percent, depending on variables such as series or parallel hybrid design, system optimizations, and the type of bus route.”

Hybrid technology is being matched by even more resourceful and environmentally creations incuding water powered cars.  The future will surely reveal an increase in hybrid buse usage as the green movement charges on.

RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day:  It’s green, and may not be mainstream, but some experienced insiders recommend Supplemental Hydrogen, (known also as a hydrogen injection).  It happens by taking a small amount of hydrogen and oxygen and injecting it into the air intake of your engine. What happens next is a concoction that creates a clean, mean, and lean air/fuel mix ratio that ultimately uses less fuel. 
County:  San Bernardino
Date: August 14, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 247 E. 40th Street and Leroy Street, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99

Date: August 14, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.99

Date: August 14, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address:  Haven Ave. and Philadelphia Street
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.05

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: August 14, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 11454 Balboa Blvd. and Rinaldi Street, Granada Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99
 

Date: August 14, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 1025 West Anaheim Street and King Ave., Wilmington
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99

Date: August 14, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 8050 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09
 
 
 
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County:  Riverside

Date: August 14, 2008
Station: RAJ Service
Address: 6th and Howard, Corona
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.12

Date: August 14, 2008
Station: Gas N Go
Address: 8790 Mission Blvd. and Pedley, Pedley
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.15

Date: August 14, 2008
Station: Valero
Address: 350 Stephens (at West La Cadena), Riverside Northeast 
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.23
 
 (Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)

RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day: Accessories aren’t just for teenage s anymore. Not that they ever were, however you may have noticed in recent years that the number of “extra” items one can adorn a big rig with has increased substantially. And some are even fuel efficient. Take for example the ‘Freight Wing,’ a device designed to reduce fuel consumption by reducing drag below and in front of a rig’s trailer. According to the parent company of the same name, a Freight Wing can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 6%.

County: San Bernardino

Date: August 13, 2008
Station: Arco
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99

Date: August 13, 2008
Station: Arco
Address: Haven Ave. and Philadelphia Street, Ontario
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.05

Date: August 13, 2008
Station: Arco
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.07

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: August 13, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 11454 Balboa Blvd. and Rinaldi Street, Granada Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.99

Date: August 13, 2008
Station: Shel
Address: 3100 West Manchester Blvd. and Crenshaw Blvd., Inglewood
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.00

Date: August 13, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 5038 El Segundo Blvd. and Ocean Gate Ave., Hawthorne
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09

(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County: Riverside

Date: August 13, 2008
Station: RAJ Service
Address: 6th and Howard, Corona
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.12

Date: August 12, 2008
Station: Gas N Go
Address: 8790 Mission Blvd. and Pedley, Pedley
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.15

Date: August 13, 2008
Station: Shell
Address: 2718 Iowa, Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.19

(Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)

RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day: There’s always air to spare. Safety and even comfort should always be taken into consideration when driving those long hauls. However, reducing air conditioning usage can decrease the amount of energy required from your truck’s engine and ultimately save fuel. According to FuelSaverChips.com, “Using your air conditioner in stop-and-go traffic can increase fuel consumption by as much as 20%.” Instead, unroll those windows, keep a cool bottle of water handy and reduce emissions and fuel costs in one shot.

County: San Bernardino

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: Arco
Address: 5280 Fairfield Road, Chino Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.07

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: Arco
Address: Haven Ave. and Philadelphia Street, Ontario
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 1945 South Tippecanoe Ave. and E. Rosewood, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 11454 Balboa Blvd. and Rinaldi Street, Granada Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: Valero
Address: 934 South Grand (near) Baseline, Glendora
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.19

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: 76
Address: Topanga Canyon Blvd. and Burbank (off the 101), Woodland Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.25

(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County: Riverside

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: RAJ Service
Address: 6th and Howard, Hemet
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.12

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: Gas N’ Go
Address: 8790 Mission Blvd. and Pedley, Pedley
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.17

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: Shell
Address: 2718 Iowa, Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.19

(Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)

If you’ve been watching diesel prices, either on the road, or perhaps on the RSI Transportation blog, you’ve probably noticed that the price per gallon of diesel fuel has dropped. In some cases by as much as forty cents in just a few months. As any procurer of diesel fuel (especially those filling up big rig sized tanks), even a few cents less could result in hundreds of dollars in savings over a relatively short period of time. Do we dare ask what’s up with the sudden descending diesel pricing trends? Why not?

By the end of July, diesel fuel prices were averaging $4.603 a gallon. This is good news – for this year anyways. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported an 11.5 cent drop in diesel fuel in just the last week of July. Not bad – but not necessarily a good thing considering last year at the same time diesel was $1.71 less per gallon than it is now (www.truckstopusa.com).

In comparison, regular unleaded gas prices fell only 0.06 cent per gallon. Truck drivers though, don’t always have the option of taking alternative transportation or finding a new route.

What has lead to the drop in diesel prices? Is it the federal government that’s giving way to a land of consumers with overexerted checking accounts? Have driving habits really changed enough to cause an immediate drop in fuel prices across the board? Is it all a conspiracy we have no control over? Perhaps all these questions have answers with relevant outcomes, however, economic trends take quarters to figure out. In the meantime, enjoy the ride – but more figuratively than literally just in case driving less really does affect pump prices.

RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day: The Environmental Protection Agency suggests looking into a clean truck, trailer, and technology loan that can help with the initial costs of retrofitting a cleaner, more fuel-efficient rig. If you are interested in obtaining a loan for a SmartWay Certified Tractor, SmartWay Certified Trailer or SmartWay approved fuel savings and emissions reducing technologies, you can submit a loan application at the www.SmartwayFinanceCenter.com website. This website allows you to submit one, simple, free application which is distributed to participating lenders for their consideration.

County: San Bernardino

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: Arco
Address: Haven Ave. and Philadelphia Street, Ontario
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.07

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: Arco
Address: 5280 Fairfield Ranch Road, Chino Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.07

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 1945 South Tippecanoe Ave. and East Rosewood Drive, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.09

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: 76
Address: 5601 Topanga Canyon Blvd. and Burbank (off the 101), Woodland Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.27

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: Chevron
Address: 5703 Gage Avenue and Eastern Avenue, Bell Gardens
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.39

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: Speedy Fuel
Address: Eastern and Randolph, Commerce
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.39

(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County: Riverside

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: Arco
Address: Barton Road and California, Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.17

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: RAJ Service
Address: 6th and Howard, Corona
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.17

Date: August 11, 2008
Station: Gas N Go
Address: 8790 Mission Blvd. and Pedley Road, Pedley
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.19

(Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)

RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day:  Train your drivers!  Whether you employ one or one thousand drivers, a solid training course that teaches fuel saving strategies is key to cutting fuel-related costs. Drivers who idle, find themselves off course, or fill up at high Noon can cost fleet owners thousands of dollars each year. Maintaining proper vehicle maintenance is important as well and should be communicated through to all drivers. 

County:  San Bernardino
Date: August 6, 2008
Station: Arco
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.37

Date: August 6, 2008
Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson Street, Loma inda
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.39

Date: August 6, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address:  California and Barton Road, Redlands
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.39

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: August 6, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 11454 Balboa Blvd. and Rinaldi Street, Granada Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.39
 

Date: August 6, 2008
Station: 76
Address: Topanga Canyon Blvd. and Burbank (off the 101), Woodland Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.45

Date: August 6, 2008
Station: Arco
Address: 15700 Valley View Ave. and Alondra Blvd., La Mirada
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.49
 
 
 
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County:  Riverside

Date: August 6, 2008
Station: Gas Mart
Address: 1005 West Florida Ave. and South Western Ave., Hemet
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.45

Date: August 6, 2008
Station: Spirit
Address: 636 West Florida Ave. and Tahquitz Ave., Hemet
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.45

Date: August 6, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 24991 Sunnymead Blvd & Perris Blvd., Moreno Valley
Price of Diesel Fuel: $4.45
 
 (Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)