Manito Transit is continuing its expansion effort with the acquisition of Baucom Truck Service, a trucking company based in Camp Point, Illinois. General Manager Jim Bobitt says the acquisition will improve capacity in southern Illinois and southeastern Missouri. “We’re here to support our FS member network and service is definitely a priority,” said Bobitt. “We’re not trying to grow for …
Groups Support Biodiesel Tax Credit
A diverse group of trade associations are presenting a united front to Congress in support of maintaining and extending the current biodiesel blenders tax credit. Eight organizations joined the National Biodiesel Board in a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), House …
Rail Issues Impacting Your Business
Rail continues to safely and efficiently serve as ethanol’s “virtual pipeline.” A panel discussion during the 2018 National Ethanol Conference focused on the important role rail transportation plays in the ethanol industry, including updates on regulatory developments, safety issues, and railcar fleet trends. The panel included moderator Kelly Davis, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Renewable Fuels Association; Mark Maday, Staff …
ICYMI: National Biodiesel Conference
The National Biodiesel Conference & Expo was held at the Fort Worth Convention Center January 22-24. The event included a vehicle showcase and ride-and-drive opportunity alongside demonstrations and presentations on the latest in the industry. This conference also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the National Biodiesel Board. Among the highlights was an award to USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky for …
Manito Transit Acquires Lobdell Transportation
Manito Transit of Bloomington, Illinois has acquired the assets of Lobdell Transportation, Inc., a family-owned trucking company based in Lena, Illinois. The acquisition comes with 21 tractor units, 22 fuel tankers, and eight pressure vessels capable of hauling propane and anhydrous ammonia, as well as a two-bay maintenance shop. Manito Transit now operates 120 trucks, serving customers in 13 states. …
GRFA Calls on Increased Action for Climate Change
Bliss Baker, the President of the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA), has asked G20 leaders take last year’s Paris Accord even further. The first binding climate agreement needs to be scaled up in it’s ambitiousness to reduce emissions in the transport sector, Baker said, especially in light of a newly released report “Perspectives for the Energy Transition” from the International …
Four Ethanol Safety Webinars Scheduled
Four free ethanol safety webinars are scheduled this year for ethanol emergency response teams and the first is being held tomorrow, February 7. The Renewable Fuels Association and TRANSCAER® are hosting the “Train the Trainer” webinars, funded through a Federal Railroad Administration / TRANSCAER® grant. RFA is a founding member of the Ethanol Emergency Response Coalition (EERC) and this program …
Keeping Exports on the Move
With yet another record grain crop this year, having the transportation infrastructure to keeping it moving is more important than ever. “Transportation is everything,” said Ken Eriksen with Informa Economics at this week’s Export Exchange, sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the U.S. Grains Council. Eriksen says grain exports are expected to set a record this year at …
Manito Transit Greens Its Transportation
Manito Transit is now transporting goods throughout the Midwest with a greener footprint. The GROWMARK subsidiary transports fuels, fertilizers, crop protection products and more via tank trucks, and has just become a member of the EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership program. The SMARTWAY registrants work with the EPA and adopt tools and approaches to track and reduce emissions and fuel use. …
Cause of Ethanol Train Derailment Probed
Federal investigators are looking into why seven ethanol tanker cars derailed in South Dakota over the weekend. No one was injured in the derailment that occurred early Saturday morning, but at least one of the cars caught fire in the accident involving a 98-car Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad train. Senate Transportation Committee chairman John Thune (R-SD) is watching the …