GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. — The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is continuing its campaign against hot fuel expanded fuel sold at retail pumps where the temperature is above 60 F.

The hot fuel issue is non-existent here in Canada where pump temperatures are controlled. However, thats not the case in the US and OOIDA claims the industry shells out as much as US$2.5 million per year for expanded fuel. OOIDA recently addressed the subject in front of a US House of Representatives Sub-Committee on Oversight and Reform.

It told the committee that hot fuel has less measurable energy, reducing the amount of miles travelled per gallon. A truck averaging 6 mpg with 200 gallons of 98 F fuel would travel 36 fewer miles than if the fuel was dispensed at 60 F, OOIDA claimed.

OOIDA urged the committee to mandate the installation of automatic temperature compensation kits on retail pumps. This week, OOIDA will step up its campaign by launching a special Web site to bring attention to the issue.