Reading, Pennsylvania — Penske Truck Leasing has completed a full transition to renewable diesel across all 32 of its facilities in California through a direct supply agreement with Shell. Josh Tippin, Penske's vice president of energy and fuel supply, confirmed that the fleet-wide shift has delivered immediate performance improvements and lower maintenance overhead across the company's heavy-duty commercial truck inventory operating on the West Coast.
The switch to the alternative biofuel addresses traditional diesel's tendency to cause heavy carbon buildup in engines over time. Tippin noted that fleets running conventional diesel deal with progressive engine degradation due to coking, while the cleaner-burning renewable product eliminates much of that residue. Maintenance teams are seeing a direct reduction in diesel particulate filter service requirements, saving roughly two cents per mile compared to standard ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel operations.
Power output has also seen a measurable jump due to the fuel's significantly higher cetane rating. While traditional diesel typically measures between 45 and 55 on the cetane scale, renewable diesel routinely registers at 70 or higher. This dramatic 10-to-30 point increase delivers sharper throttle response and better ignition off the start. Well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions drop by 60 to 85 percent depending on the feedstock used, helping major carriers meet internal environmental targets without sacrificing payload performance.
What This Means for Drivers
CDL-A drivers climbing grades or pulling heavy freight will notice sharper throttle response and stronger low-end power right off the line due to the fuel's high cetane rating. Owner-operators and fleet managers facing steep maintenance bills will benefit from extended diesel particulate filter cleaning intervals and reduced engine wear over hundreds of thousands of miles. As major refineries double and triple production capacity through facilities like the new plant in Convent, Louisiana, fuel availability is expected to expand rapidly across major trucking corridors nationwide.
Industry Reaction
Major fleets are taking a hard look at biofuels as state and federal mandates push for lower heavy-duty carbon output. California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard market remains robust, with renewable diesel and biodiesel accounting for more than 20 percent of all diesel fuel sold in the state during 2020. With billions of dollars changing hands in credit exchanges and federal backing from the Inflation Reduction Act, carriers operating on the West Coast are proving that alternative fuels can scale within demanding commercial transport environments.
Key Points
- Penske shifted all 32 California locations to Shell renewable diesel.
- Maintenance costs drop by an estimated two cents per mile due to cleaner burns.
- Cetane ratings of 70 or higher deliver superior starting power compared to standard diesel.
- Greenhouse gas reductions range from 60 to 85 percent on a well-to-wheel accounting basis.
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