Why Renewable Diesel May Be the Fuel Trucking's Been Looking For
Neste Deal to Bring Renewable Diesel to Midwest
Neste and Hightowers Petroleum have formed a strategic partnership to provide renewable diesel fuel to the Midwest.

Neste and Hightowers Petroleum will soon provide renewable diesel to the American Midwest, where the two companies see a strong demand for the fuel.
Photo: Neste
Neste and Hightowers Petroleum, a wholesale fuel supplier serving customers in the Midwest, have formed a strategic partnership to market Neste MY renewable diesel fuel to customers in the Midwest.
75% Lifetime Emissions Reduction
According to Neste, this partnership enables Hightowers to supply Neste MY renewable diesel to customers across the Midwest. Neste said it sees sees strong demand for lower-emission fuels in that region, especially from the automobile industry.
Neste noted that many car manufacturers have committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from “first fills.” This is the first fueling of new vehicles when leaving production lines. OEMs want to ensure the fuel used meets technical, storage and environmental requirements between the assembly lines and the delivery to customers.
Neste said that with the use of its MY renewable diesel fuel, GHG emissions can be effectively reduced by up to 75% compared with fossil diesel over a vehicle’s life cycle. And, as a drop-in solution, it is compatible with all diesel engines, making it an ideal choice for first fill and testing.
“Neste has been supplying renewable diesel to the U.S. West Coast since 2016, and this lower-carbon, more sustainable fuel has already helped many businesses and cities reduce GHG emissions significantly,” said Carrie Song, vice president, renewable road transportation, Americas at Neste.
“We serve customers who demand the highest quality of fuel, but also are making an effort to reduce their carbon footprint,” said Stephen Hightower, president and CEO of Hightowers Petroleum Co. “Neste MY Renewable Diesel addresses both of those needs with flying colors, providing immediate GHG emissions reductions while delivering high performance and potentially reducing maintenance costs."
Benefits Beyond Emissions
In addition to reducing GHG emissions, renewable diesel brings other benefits and delivers strong performance, Neste said.
Because it does not contain sulfur, oxygen or aromatic compounds, it combusts cleaner than conventional diesel fuel. As a result, vehicles that run on Neste MY renewable diesel may require less maintenance than vehicles running on conventional diesel.
Additionally, Neste said MY renewable diesel has outstanding cold weather performance. The company said it is suitable for cold weather conditions as low as 4 degrees below zero. Its high cetane number also gives better start-up and throttle response, which can be particularly useful to businesses with a lot of variety in usage during different seasons.
Neste was one of the first companies to supply renewable diesel into California and Oregon. Today, the company said it is rapidly expanding its production, fueling station network, and distribution capabilities to meet growing demand across the U.S.
More Fuel Smarts

Cummins Adjusts 2027 Engine Rollout After EPA Proposal
The engine maker will gradually introduce its new Model Year 2027 diesel engines while continuing to offer current models during the transition, citing the EPA's proposed emissions rule changes.
Read More →
EPA Proposal Could Ease 2027 Truck Costs and Buying Uncertainty
The proposal doesn't change the tougher NOx standard, but it would revise key implementation requirements that manufacturers say have driven up costs and complicated fleet purchasing decisions.
Read More →
Cummins, Paccar Ease DEF Derates After EPA Guidance
Updated diesel engine software gives truck operators more time to address emissions-system issues while staying compliant with EPA emissions standards.
Read More →
Maintenance in the Messy Middle Part 3: Biodiesel
Biodiesel can reduce emissions, improve fuel-system lubricity and use existing diesel infrastructure. But NACFE’s Messy Middle maintenance report says fleets must actively manage storage, cold-weather operation, filters and oil drain intervals to avoid problems.
Read More →
Enhance Fleet Performance with High-Efficiency Auxiliary Power Units
Drive sustainable cost savings while increasing driver comfort during short- and long-haul logistics operations.
Read More →
Maintenance in the ‘Messy Middle’ Part 2: Renewable Diesel Fuel
NACFE's latest Messy Middle Powertrain Service & Maintenance report says renewable diesel gives fleets an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions without changing trucks, fueling infrastructure or maintenance practices. But technicians still need to understand several important operational differences.
Read More →
The Diesel Engine Enters NACFE’s ‘Messy Middle’
NACFE’s new Messy Middle Powertrain Service & Maintenance report says keeping modern diesel engines running now depends as much on software, diagnostics and data as traditional mechanical service.
Read More →
DTNA Software Update Gives Truckers More Time Before DEF Derates Take Effect
The changes reflect EPA guidance aimed at reducing downtime caused by emissions-system faults while maintaining compliance requirements.
Read More →
New Agentic Predictive Maintenance Report Demonstrates How Degraded Aftertreatment Systems Waste Fuel
Questar analyzed a large mixed-class fleet and discovered it was wasting as much as $30 in fuel per vehicle, per day, because of mechanically degraded aftertreatment systems.
Read More →
New York City's Microhub Project is Delivering Results
Trucking, last-mile delivery companies, and environmental advocates like what they are seeing so far with New York's microhub program.
Read More →
