RSI’s Transportation Insights

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RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the day: Air filter essentials…Unclogging your vehicle’s air filter or replacing it altogether can improve a truck’s miles per gallon by as much as 10%.   Even with dropping diesel prices, 10% is 10%. 
County:  San Bernardino

Date: September 29, 2008
Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.73

County:  San Bernardino
Date: September 29, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 3368 South Riverside Ave. and Agua Mansa Road, Bloomington  
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.75

Date: September 29, 2008
Station: Flying J
Address: 2611 Fisher Blvd. and High Point Parkway, Barstow
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.83
 
 

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles
Date: September 29, 2008
Station: Alliance
Address:7601 Topanga Canyon Blvd. and Saticoy Street, Canoga Park
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.89

Date: September 29, 2008
Station: Valero
Address: 9061 De Soto Ave. and Nordhoff Street, Canoga Park 
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.89
 
 
Date: September 29, 2008
Station: Castaic Truck Service
Address: Castaic Road North of Parker Road
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.89
 
 
 
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County: Riverside

Date: September 29, 2008

Station: Fastrip
Address: 10306 Arlington Ave. and Tyler, Riverside 
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.85

Date: September 29, 2008

Station: Flying J
Address: 72235 Varner Road and Ramon Road , Thousand Palms
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.85

Date: September 29, 2008
Station: Spirit
Address: 703 East 6th Street and East Grand Blvd., Corona   
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.87
 
 (Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com) 

RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day:        Be loyal.  That is - to a loyalty club.  Business owners, and individual drivers can participate in various kinds of loyalty clubs (from grocery stores to gas companies) and receive fuel-related discounts. 

County:  San Bernardino
Date: September 26, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 3368 South Riverside Ave. and Agua Mansa Road, Bloomington  
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.75

Date: September 26, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Steet, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.79
 

Date: September 26, 2008
Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.79
 
 

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles
 

Date: September 26, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 5038 El Segundo Blvd. and Ocean Gate Ave., Hawthorne
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.77

Date: September 26, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 1025 West Anaheim Street and King Ave., Wilmington 
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.77
 
 

Date: September 26, 2008
Station: Shell 
Address: 5551 West Century Blvd. and Aviation Blvd., Los Angeles
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.89
 
 
 
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County: Riverside

Date: September 26, 2008

Station: Circle K
Address: 6105 Clay Street and Limonite, Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.69

Date: September 26, 2008

Station: Ralph’s Fuel
Address: 12618 Limonite Ave. and Hamner, Corona
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.71

Date: September 26, 2008

Station: 76
Address: 4890 Van Buren Blvd. and Wells Ave. 
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.84
 
 (Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com) 

RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day:     It is Fall - and that means cooler temperatures and cold engines in the morning.  It’s important though to draw a fine line between warming up an enging at an idle and cooking the vehicle like a hot cross bun.   An adequate warm up is sufficient, while heating the rig’s engine while you read the entire paper wastes fuel. 
County:  San Bernardino

Date: September 24, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 3368 South Riverside Ave. and Agua Mansa Road, Bloomington  
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.75
Date: September 24, 2008
Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.79
 

Date: September 24, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Steet, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.79
 

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: September 24, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 1025 West Anaheim Street and King Ave., Wilmington 
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.77
 

Date: September 24, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 5038 El Segundo Blvd. and Ocean Gate Ave., Hawthorne
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.77

Date: September 24, 2008
Station: USA
Address: 19301 Soledad Canyon Road and Whites Canyon Road, Santa Clarita
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.87
 
 
 

(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County: Riverside

Date: September 24, 2008

Station: Circle K
Address: 6105 Clay Street and Limonite, Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.71

Date: September 24, 2008

Station: Shell
Address: 6100 Clay Street and Limonite Ave., Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.75

Date: September 24, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 2600 Hamner Avenue and Lampton Street, Norco
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.79
 
 (Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)

As drivers, we tend to notice the potholes more than recently slurried streets.   While that’s not  a metaphor for the human condition, it’s a safe assumption for California drivers who deal with traffic and with beat up highways day in and out.  Truck drivers  in particular must deal the usual grind, plus out of control and impatient drivers.  Breaking through this pessimistic outlook however is Caltrans, who have had  series of wins this past year.  All were detailed in a Caltrans’ 2007-2008 Fiscal Year Highlights report.
Safer Roads for All

California’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) is a Caltrans-created strategy designed to reduce injuries and fatalities on state roads.  Caltrans aims to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries by 10% and will do so in conjunction with 300 stakeholders in 80 agencies.  The plan is to together, create and implement necessary strategies that will lead to safer roads by 2010 - good news for trucking insurance agencies as well. 

Less to Fret about Fog

In California, Highway 99 is notorious for being one of the foggiest, and therefore most visually difficult roads to navigate.  In 2007, Caltrans came out with The new
Fog Detection and Warning System.  This system “will relay weather
and vehicle speed information to the Traffic Management Center, which will post warnings to drivers on changeable message signs (CMS) in rural Tulare and
Fresno counties,” (http://www.dot.ca.gov/docs/2008FiscalYearHighlights.pdf). 

Safety for Our Schools

No matter what age the student, there’s always concern for their safety getting to and from school.  Busy streets, crowded buses, indirect routes all are cause for concern.  A huge Caltrans win this past year was obtaining $52 million dollars that will go towards 139 individual projects that are made possible by California’s Safe Routes School Program.  The program,” designed to give students in grades K-12 easier and healthier ways to travel safely to and from school,”  (http://www.dot.ca.gov/docs/2008FiscalYearHighlights.pdf).

So you see - the roads that connect California are not just another ding in our daily commute, but examples of improvement for all who use them - improvements made possible by efforts of organizations such as Caltrans.  Kudos Caltrans!

RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day:  The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that Americans waste as much as 1.2 billion gallons of fuel each year due to underinflated tires.  Start the new Fall season off right and make sure those tires (all 16!) are properly inflated. 

County:  San Bernardino

Date: September 22, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Steet, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.69
 

Date: September 22, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 3296 North “E” Street and 33rd St., San Bernardin
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.69

Date: September 22, 2008
Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.71

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: September 22, 2008
Station: 76
Station: Thrifty
Address: 1154 Balboa Blvd. and Rinaldi Street, Granada Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.69
 

Date: September 22, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 5038 El Segundo Blvd. and Ocean Gate Ave., Hawthorne
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.77

Date: September 22, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 15700 Valley View Ave. and Alondra Blvd. La Mirada
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.81
 
 
 
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County: Riverside

Date: September 22, 2008

Station: ARCO
Address: 611 North Main Street and River Blvd., Corona
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.69

Date: September 22, 2008
Station: Circle K
Address: 6105 Clay Street and Limonite, Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.75

Date: September 22, 2008
Station: Shell
Address: 6100 Clay Street and Limonite Ave., Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.75
 
 (Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)

Diesel Fuel Prices

It’s been a crazy week on Wall Street and while we’ll spare you the details that have overwhelmed every available media outlet this week, we will note one thing:  Gas prices have dropped.  The reason for the price drop is pure weight of the situation on Wall Street.  The trickle effect – dropping valuations of financial giants – hit the barrel too, causing a slight decrease in the price per.  While this is good news, truckers will still see that diesel is priced higher than regular gas.  While this is not a new phenomenon, many don’t know why this is.  We’ll explain. 
 

First the facts:  Diesel is used in compression ignition engines and is a distillate of crude oil.  Gasoline used in non-diesel engines is a lighter chain of hydrogen and carbon. and operates at a lower compression.   While diesel has not always been priced higher than regular gasoline, the past four years have shown otherwise. 

According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), “Since September 2004, the price of diesel fuel has been generally higher than the price of regular gasoline all year round for several reasons.   Worldwide demand for diesel fuel and other distillate fuel oils has been increasing steadily, with strong demand in China, Europe, and the United States, putting more pressure on the tight global refining capacity. In the United States, the transition to ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel has affected diesel fuel production and distribution costs. Also, the Federal excise tax on diesel fuel is 6 cents higher per gallon (24.4 cents per gallon) than the tax on gasoline,” (http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/brochures/diesel/). 

What determines the cost of diesel?  Same as cost configuration of regular gasoline, the price of diesel is determined on a number of factors that occur nationally and internationally, manmade and made by Mother Nature.  According to the EIA, the true costs are attached to production, delivery, processing, marketing and distribution. 
The future of diesel prices compared to regular gasoline?  Given the past week on Wall Street, predicting the price of anything would be anyone’s guess.  In the long-term however, the price of diesel may radically change as new fuels including bio-diesel become mainstream, and easier to produce. 
 
 

RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day: A rocky couple of days on Wall Street somehow lead to lower gas prices.  Notice the price of diesel at our three primary Southern California counties (San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and Riverside) has dropped as low as the 3.70s.

County:  San Bernardino
Date: September 16, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Steet, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.77
 

Date: September 16, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 1945 South Tippecanoe Ave. and “E” Rosewood Drive, San Bernardino
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.79

Date: September 16, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 3296 North “E” Street and 33rd St., San Bernardin
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.79

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: September 16, 2008
Station: 76
Address: 5601 Toganga Canyon Blvd. and Burbank Blvd., Woodland Hills  
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.79
 

Date: September 16, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 1025 West Anaheim Street and King, Wilimington
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.85

Date: September 16, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 1154 Balboa Blvd. and Rinaldi Street, Granada Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.85
 
 
 
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County: Riverside

Date: September 16, 2008

Station: Thrify
Address: Tippacanoe and Rosewood, Riverside
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.79

Date: September 16, 2008
Station: Spirit
Address: 703 East 6th Street and East Grand Blvd., Corona 
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.81

Date: September 16, 2008
Station: RAJ
Address: 6th Street, Corona
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.83
 
 (Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)

On September 11th, the Port of Long Beach held a clean trucks workshop formatted to inform and ease the transition into an increasingly environmentally conscious port.  The workshop is now accessible via a webinar at the Port’s homepage, www.polb.com.  One key point to remember from the workshop is that as of October 1st, 2008, trucks entering the port must be complaint with a new set of environmentally friendly rules and regulations enforced by the POLB.   

According to the POLB, the workshop was intended, “for beneficial cargo owners (BCOs), ocean carriers, customs brokers and freight forwarders and other logistics industry professionals,” (www.polb.com.)  Dr. Robert Kanter who is the Port’s Managing Director of Environmental Affairs and Planning Conducted the workshop and advised truckers, fleet owners, operators and many more of the coming changes that are to take effect.  Dr. Kanter reminded those attending of the reasons why the Clean Trucks Program is needed.  Among those reasons, air pollution, health risks, and the economic impacts associated with all three.

According to Dr. Kanter, “The Ports’ Clean Air Action Plan will reduce pollution from Port sources 45% by 2012” (www.polb.com)  Back to this blog’s main point – the impending compliance date. If you’re planning on driving a truck, sending a truck, or have anything to do with a truck entering the port effective October 1st, it’s important to become familiar to the following requirements:

 The Clean Trucks Program

1) Trucks must operate for a Licensed Motor Carrier firm with a Port-approved concession.

2) Trucks must be registered in Port’s Drayage Truck Registry

Clean Trucks Schedule

1) As of October 1, 2008 trucks with a model year of 98′ and older are not allowed unless they’re sporting a newer engine

2) By January 1, 2010 trucks with engines ranging from years 89′ - 93′ are banned from entering altogether.  Plus ’94-’03 trucks without retrofitted engines will be prohibited as well. 

3) As of January 1, 2012 no trucks will be allowed that are not compliant with 2007 EPA  engine emission standards.

Although coverage regarding the POLB’s transition to a greener port has been ongoing for well over a year, October first is coming up quick.  Check back at RSI’s Transportation Insights for helpful information that will help your trucks’ transition go smoothly. 

RSI’s Gas Saving Tip of the Day:  Check your state laws regarding surcharges.  Some states allow trucking companies to place fuel surcharges on the customer(s) on shipments of various goods. 

County: San Bernardino

Date: September 14, 2008                                                                                                   Station: ARCO
Address: 26526 Barton Road and California Steet, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.85
 

Date: September 14, 2008
Station: ARCO
Address: 3368 South Riverside Ave. & Agua Mansa Road, Bloomington
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.89

Date: September 14, 2008

Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson Street, Loma Linda  
Price of Diesel Fuel $3.89

(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)

County: Los Angeles

Date: September 14, 2008
Station: 76
Address: 5601 Toganga Canyon Blvd. and Burbank Blvd., Woodland Hills  
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.83
 

Date: September 14, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 1154 Balboa Blvd. and Rinaldi Street, Granada Hills
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.85

Date: September 14, 2008
Station: Thrifty
Address: 5038 El Segundo Blvd. and Ocean Gate Ave., Hawthorne 
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.95
 
 
 
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)

County: Riverside

Date: September 14, 2008

Station: Spirit
Address: 636 West Florida Ave. and Tahquitz Avenue, Hemet
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.85

Date: September 14, 2008
Station: Fastrip
Address: 23991 Sunnymead Blvd. and Heacock Street, Moreno Valley  
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.89
 

Date: September 14, 2008

Station: Beacon
Address: 202 North State Street and E Latham Ave, Hemet
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.91
 
 (Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)
 

Although fuel prices have dropped in the last few months, the trucking industry is preparing for the future.  In fact, the America Trucking Association’s (ATA) plan to reduce fuel consumption and emissions is aimed at the next decade.  The plan? 

Slow down.  ATA members including FedEx Corp., UPS Inc., and RSI Insurance Brokers, Inc. to name a few, are advised to slow down – the objective of several new proposals designed to reduce fuel consumption by 86 billion gallons in addition to carbon dioxide emissions.

  
 
According to the Associated Press, a sampling of the recommendations include:
· Limit the speed new trucks can travel to no more than 68 mph and reduce the national speed limit to 65 mph for all vehicles.
· Reduce engine idling.
· Increase fuel efficiency through participation in an Environmental Protection Agency partnership program.
· Ease congestion by improving the nation’s highways, through a fuels tax increase if necessary.

Federal research supports the proposals with The Department of Energy acknowledging that travelling at reduced speeds (60 miles per hour and lower), does use less fuel than say driving at 80 miles per hour.  Drivers pay approximately thirty cents more a gallong when driving in excess of 60 miles per hour.

One can assume the next ten years will only bring more congestion, tighter regulations, and greater strains on the transportation industry.  Green initiatives will come to fruition in addition to technological advances that are intended to reduce fuel consumption and our dependence on oil.  Same as the ATA’S plans - time will tell.