In an annual outlook, the U.S. Department of Energy says increased oil, natural gas and renewable energy production and energy efficiency improvements will reduce U.S. reliance on imported oil and other energy sources. Continue Reading

For the first time in three weeks, average U.S. diesel and gas prices dropped, but only by less than a tenth of a cent for each. The current averages for diesel and gas are $3.848 and $3.389, respectively, down from last week’s $3.854 and $3.391. Continue Reading

A soon-to-be released study by global research firm Frost & Sullivan predicts major change for the U.S. engine oil market for Class 4-8 trucks by 2018, driven heavily by the need to boost fuel efficiency ahead of new federal greenhouse gas (GHG) mandates for commercial trucks along with increased use of smaller engine blocks and hybrid propulsion systems. Continue Reading

Oil prices rose yesterday on renewed concern that Iran will try to make good on its threat to disrupt oil shipments moving through the Strait of Hormuz, shipments which account for about 20% of the world’s oil. Bloomberg reported that crude oil for February delivery increased by 93 cents, or 0.9%, to $102.24 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while West Texas Intermediate oil traded on the Nymex has increased by 20% in the past three months. Continue Reading

Most stakeholder groups in the trucking industry are cheering the new federal fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty trucks announced Tuesday. With the exception of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Assn. (OOIDA), the new targets for reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions were met with praise. One of the advantages of the plan is to reduce dependence on foreign oil. In order to develop technologies to achieve these ambitious standards, a number of OEMs will be put to work, though several said the new federal fuel efficiency goals align well with Continue Reading

With oil from a massive explosion and fire on a rig in the Gulf of Mexico threatening the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is granting a reprieve in the Hours-of-Service (HOS) rules. For now, these exemptions will extend through May 30 at 11:59 P.M. ET and apply to carriers Continue Reading

The Department of Energy’s monthly short-term energy outlook projects that diesel fuel will average nearly $3 a year before eclipsing that mark in 2011. Gasoline will rise to $2.84 a gallon this year from $2.35 last year and continue climbing to an average $2.97 in 2011, DOE said, pinning the gain to projected higher crude Continue Reading

Diesel prices are expected to hold steady for the rest of this year, but the average price per gallon is projected to jump by a nickel in 2010, according to the Department of Energy. For the rest of 2009, expect to see $2.46 per gallon at the pump, but next year fuel is forecast to average $2.84, up from its previous estimate of Continue Reading

With the uncertain stability of fuel prices hanging above the trucking industry like a Damocletian sword, the American Trucking Association (ATA) is taking on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), calling for regulation to help combat volatility in 2008 costs that put some carriers out of business and left many others Continue Reading

New EPA-mandated emissions levels have in the past meant a subsequent change in lubricants, but 2010 engines may be spared. The SAE API CJ-4 oils developed for the last EPA emissions level change in 2007 are anticipated to be compatible with all 2010 engines. The article below breaks down various lubricants and technologies and offers Continue Reading