City of Fort Wayne, a B20 Club member, named Leading Fleet for 2022

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Fort Wayne was recently named a 2022 Leading Fleet by Government Fleet magazine.

This awards program, co-produced with the American Public Works Association and sponsored by Ford Pro, recognizes operations that are performing at a high level, particularly in fleet leadership, competitiveness and efficiency, planning and overcoming challenges.

“If you have your doubts about using biodiesel in your fleet, this is your sign to make the switch,” said Larry Campbell, Fort Wayne’s director of fleet operations.

“Many of the fleets we were up against for this award don’t use biodiesel, which just goes to show you can run a fleet using biodiesel just as effectively while being kinder to the earth and the communities you run in.”

Fort Wayne is a member of the B20 Club of Indiana, a collaboration between the Indiana Soybean Alliance and the American Lung Association that showcases leading green fleets with experience using 20% or higher biodiesel blends in the state of Indiana.

“Making the switch to biodiesel isn’t difficult or costly,” said Campbell in the B20 Club’s new video series. “If you’re already doing a maintenance program on your fuel tanks, it’s a drop-in replacement for petroleum diesel. It’s simple to do and needs no costly modifications.”

The city first started using biodiesel nearly two decades ago, and it now runs 380 pieces of equipment on B20 — including fire trucks, snowplow trucks, specialist trucks such as sewer cleaners, sewer jetters, excavators, backhoes, pavers and all kinds of construction equipment.

Biodiesel boosts all of Indiana by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. It’s made from soybean oil and other renewable feedstocks produced in the state and lowers carbon footprints by reducing lifecycle carbon emissions.

Biodiesel also improves air quality by drastically reducing particulate matter and other harmful vehicle emissions. B20 is a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% conventional diesel.

“As a soybean farmer, we’re very excited about the potential of biodiesel,” said ISA Chair Jim Douglas, a farmer from Flat Rock. “Soybeans are a versatile crop with many uses. Each of these new uses adds value back to the farmer.

“The great thing about biodiesel is that it is a great product for the environment and a great product for those who manage fleets of trucks, vessels and equipment operating on our roads, rails and waterways.”

For more details about how B20 helps Fort Wayne reach its operational goals, watch the B20 Club’s new video series at https://tinyurl.com/2h5zcer9.