Diesel

The second part of the economic recovery attributed to the energy industry is underway and it is the lower cost of diesel. Diesel prices have declined over one dollar in the past year and expected to drop another dollar this year. There are 3.5 million semi’s on the road and about 10% are independent drivers who own their rig. These trucks average 50,000 miles per year and get on average 5 miles per gallon so they each use about 10,000 gallons of fuel each year. The means that big companies like Costco and Walmart will save millions in fuel cost but small independent drives which represent the middle class will save $10,000 this year and up to $20,000 next year. This is how you help the middle class. There are about 300,000 independent drivers who own their truck as small businessmen. Walmart has 6,000 trucks on the road so they will save $60 million dollars this year and double that next year. When the world finally changes over to natural gas the savings will be even more and air quality will improve. In addition there are no acid rain chemicals or heavy metals like mercury and lead in natural gas. Here are some recent headlines. Fleets can save well over $150,000 in fuel costs over the six-year life of a truck. Natural gas prices are typically $1.50/gallon-equivalent cheaper than gasoline and $2 cheaper than diesel. They emit 20 to 30 percent fewer greenhouse gasses than their gasoline or diesel counterparts.