The 2020 Vehicle Branding Program kicked-off on National Biodiesel Day March 18, with the theme “Biodiesel: Better, Cleaner, Now!” The national holiday celebrates the anniversary of Rudolf Diesel’s birthday.

“When Rudolf invented the diesel engine in the 1890s, it was designed to run on peanut oil, and he envisioned the prominent role plant oils could play in fueling vehicles of the future,” said Kaleb Little, National Biodiesel Board director of communications. “Our industry has come a long way since then and our branding program helps biodiesel users across the country share their stories of sustainability and emissions reductions. Our new tagline, ‘Biodiesel: Better. Cleaner. Now!’ tells the biodiesel story simply. Biodiesel is better and cleaner than petroleum diesel—with proven environmental, health and economic benefits—and is ready to use now, unlike some other alternative fuel technologies that require massive infrastructure or retrofit investments.”

NBB encourages biodiesel users to promote their use of biodiesel and share its benefits by applying for matching funds to be used for vehicle branding initiatives that may include wraps, stickers or other innovative efforts. To apply, reach out to Samantha Turner, NBB communications manager, at sturner@biodiesel.org.

In 2019, NBB provided matching funds to six biodiesel users. Roslin Enterprises branded 10 tanker trailers with the Hero BX and NBB logos. Its trucks travel a 1,500-mile radius in Canada and the U.S. collecting feedstocks. These feedstocks are delivered to Hero BX where they’re converted into biodiesel. Cape Cod Biofuels, a Massachusetts-based biodiesel producer, wrapped an oil tanker used to transport biodiesel and Bioheat across much of New England from Maine to Connecticut. The City of Moline, Illinois, branded two refuse haulers that travel throughout the Quad-Cities metropolitan area. The city has used B20 biodiesel in more than 80 diesel vehicles and pieces of equipment since 2005. G&D Integrated, a specialized provider of transportation and logistics services based in Morton, Illinois, and an inaugural member of the Illinois B20 Club, wrapped two 53-foot box trailers. G&D operates more than 400 vehicles on blends up to B20 year-round. CityLink, Greater Peoria Mass Transit District wrapped one transit and two paratransit buses that operate in Peoria and Tazewell Counties. The agency has used B20 in more than 50 transit buses and 20 paratransit buses year-round since 2009. Al Warren Oil Co. wrapped a box truck that makes deliveries to customers throughout the greater Chicagoland area and northwest Indiana. Al Warren provides biodiesel blends to its diverse customer base and powers its Illinois-based fleet of more than 70 diesel vehicles on blends up to B20.