Concerns about my own "carbon footprint"

I have never really been a "tree hugger" type person. I have however, been a person concious of the environment and my general surroundings as well as my personal effect on those surroundings.

I have some cousins that are much more in tune with the environmental issues of today. I think that their lifestyles and personal notes on social media sites have made me more aware of those same issues.

I know that my job is not very "green" but I also know that my company as well as many other trucking companies are diligently trying to adjust their fossil fuel usage as well as producing fewer amounts of pollutants. Yes, there are more and more restrictions on diesel engine trucks and that prompts the companies to respond with better emmission standards for their vehicles. It doesn't however, seem to place similar restrictions on the diesels found in railroad engines. That is a contradiction , in my opinioin, since our government subsidises the railroads a great deal through financial assistance, fuel cost incentives and tax breaks.

The trucking companies are following the newer federal and state guidelines out of necessity. These guidelines are also helping the "bottom line" as it seems that making the vehicles more fuel efficient and less polluting also makes them more economical. One of the simplest yet surely one of the financially frugal rules concerns idling. Since the implementation of diesel engines, they have been manufactured to withstand being run continuously for hours, even days.

During colder weather or on much colder climates, it was not incommon for a truck to remain running for days. Diesel fuel doesn't react to vey cold conditions very well unless you have additives that ensure it will not "gel". When diesel  sits still gets so cold, it becomes thick and is not easlily pumped through the system to be ignited. Once diesel is gelled, it can take hours and a great deal of work or vendor expense to get it back into servicable condition. While the diesel remains running, the simple vibrations  and heat produced by the engine can usually keep the fuel from gelling unless very drastic confitions exist.

Modern refining process produce a cleaner burning more stable product. Idling restrictions make for cleaner air and cleaner running vehicles. Drivers are being more aware of the implications of excessive idling on the environment. Companies are being more diligent in encouraging employees to be more conservative with their vehicles. All of these work towards a cleaner environment and less expensive mode of transportation of goods,