How will use of high-sulfur diesel fuel in highway vehicles help the current situation?
As a result of disruption to the fuel distribution system, there may be instances where low- sulfur diesel fuel is not readily available to use in trucks that may, for example, be needed to transport relief materials to the Gulf Coast. Under the waiver, high-sulfur (i.e., greater than 500 ppm) diesel fuel that previously could only be used in off-road applications, such as construction or farm equipment, may now be used in highway diesel trucks. Two-thirds of the diesel supply, 2.7 million barrels per day, is utilized for on-highway vehicles. One-third of total diesel, 1.3 million barrels per day, is used for non-highway equipment, such as construction and farm equipment. The waiver allows for the use of these fuels interchangeably, allowing an increase in the amount of diesel fuel available for on-highway use.
