Two Million Mile Haul
A Double-Decker Dose of Confusion


“Iowa Biodiesel Board, Iowa Soybean Association
and REG are promoting the 2 Million Mile Haul
as a success but if the report is read,
THE TRUE RESULTS ARE BURIED IN
A MOUNTAIN OF DATA.”

Steve Lursen
Special Projects Manager
Decker Companies


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Beware of all the hoopla and fanfare surrounding the 2 Million Mile Haul. Sponsors tout test results as evidence supporting a biodiesel mandate. They also imply support of the mandate by Decker Truck Lines, the Fort Dodge-based motor carrier that participated in the study.

Study sponsors regularly tout fuel economy performance and cold weather characteristics, as well as improved lubricity for biodiesel compared to
conventional on-road diesel fuel. Decker officials offer a notably different perspective of the results:

• Biodiesel MPG was 2% lower during the test
• Cold weather is a major issue
• Lubricating advantages of biodiesel were unsubstantiated
• Quality is inconsistent
• Biodiesel availability is limited
• Biodiesel proved to be significantly more expensive

Despite confusion surrounding the study one thing is clear, biofuel mandates are not the solution. Fuel is a leading expense for trucking companies, who measure profitability by costs per mile. A mandate will force motor carriers to purchase fuel outside Iowa, and this will have a negative, rippling effect on Iowa retailers, our biodiesel industry and our state in general.

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