Industry News Recap: Fuel Savings, a New Logistics Service, and a Quirky Delivery Service

Image credit: DaveBleasdale

It’s Monday, which means you’re likely looking for easy-to-digest news bits. We totally get that! We’ve rounded up a few fun (and interesting) industry news stories for you to read while starting your custom-made, early-in-the-week intravenous coffee drip:

Get potential fuel savings for your fleet with Eco-flap:

The Eco-flap is marketed as a fuel-saving product for smaller fleet owners:

“This new spin on the traditional mud flap cuts down on wind resistance and lowers fuel costs, allowing owners to operate a more energy-efficient fleet. The team at Chattanooga, Tenn.–based Anderson Flaps didn't set out to create a greener mud flap. They actually set out to create a cleaner one. The company hoped to revamp mud-flap design to allow for better passage of air through the flaps. The freer passage of air would help reduce the accumulation of grime by allowing water or mud from tire spray to drain on the flap, as opposed to piling up on top of it.”

-- “These Mud Flaps can Help Trucks Slash Fuel Costs,” via Popular Mechanics

Sterman Masser Inc., a Penn. potato company, is getting into logistics:

“Sterman Masser Inc., an eighth-generation potato growing company, has launched Masser Logistics Services to provide delivery service to its customers as well as those of Keystone Potato Products and Fresh Solutions Network. Masser Logistics Services, like Sterman Masser Inc. and Masser Potato Farms, is based in Sacramento, Pa. The company owns 15 trucks, and all are equipped with auxiliary power units to reduce fuel consumption and extend engine life, according to the news release.” -- “Pennsylvania Potato Company Launches Logistics Firm,” via The Packer

 

And a bit of fun delivery news that’s local (at least to the Courier Magazine team):

The Birdfeeder LLC, a new small delivery business, will deliver almost any convenience store product to Lawrence, Kan., students:

“Birdfeeder is geared to students and the late-night crowd. For the moment, its delivery area is between Massachusetts and Iowa and Ninth and 19th streets. Hours are 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Customers place an order by calling, texting or tweeting. His info is available on the Birdfeeder LLC Facebook page.” -- “Late-night convenience store delivery service begins operations in student neighborhoods,”via The Lawrence-Journal World

The Seasonal Spike: Why Fuel Prices Go Up in the Summer

Image source: Boegh

Summer is officially here and the sultry season brings many wonderful things: BBQs, pool parties and long, lazy days at the park. But summer also brings a few not-so-splendid things, too: sunburns, sweaty everything and high fuel prices.

Now, while you can easily prevent two of the previously mentioned summer bummers, you really can’t do much about high, summer fuel prices. While you may be irked about the high prices, there is a real reason why gas prices spike in the summer.

In the article “Why is summer fuel more expensive than winter fuel,” Jacob Silverman says there are four main reasons why fuel prices tend to go up after Memorial Day:

• More people travel in the summer, which increases fuel demand.
• In the spring, refineries run routine maintenance at facilities. The routine shut down typically limits fuel capacity until late May.
• Unknowns, such as natural disasters, can damage refineries and disrupt fuel transport routes.
• The fourth reason is not as well known: The summer-fuel blend is different (and more expensive to make) than the winter-fuel blend.

According to Silverman’s article:

“Depending on the time of year, gas stations switch between providing summer-grade fuel and winter-grade fuel. The switch started in 1995 as part of the Reformulated Gasoline Program (RFG), which was established through the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started the RFG program in order to reduce pollution and smog during the summer ozone season, which occurs from June 1 to Sept. 15.” – How Stuff Works

Summer-blend fuels have different fuel additives (also known as oxygenates) that help reduce pollution. The summer blends burn cleaner, produce less smog and release less toxic air pollutants, and help compensate for the limited oil supply.

According to the article, summer-grade fuel has a different Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP -- the vapor pressure of gasoline measured at 100-degrees Fahrenheit) than winter-grade fuel. A fuel blend's RVP is based on the combined RVP of the ingredients that make the blend. Some regional and local regulations have stricter standards, though. This makes the summer-fuel blend marginally more eco-friendly because fuels that have higher RVP evaporate easier than fuels with lower RVP.

 

According to the Today In Energy article, “Date of switch to summer-grade gasoline approaches,” the federally mandated dates for summer-grade fuel and reformulated gasoline are May 1 to September 15 for refiners and terminals, and June 1 to September 15 for gasoline retailers (Note: “In California, switchover dates are earlier, and summer-grade gasoline must be in use for a longer period.” – Today in Energy, U.S. Energy Information Administration).