Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Louisiana Plant Turns Animal Fat Into Fuel

A high-fat diet might not be good for humans, but it could be great for trucks, trains, planes and cars.

by Staff
March 13, 2012
Louisiana Plant Turns Animal Fat Into Fuel

Dynamic Fuels' Louisiana plant uses scraps from Tyson Foods' meat processing plant to create renewable diesel fuel.

2 min to read


A high-fat diet might not be good for humans, but it could be great for trucks, trains, planes and cars.



Dynamic Fuels, a joint venture between energy technology company Syntroleum and Tyson Foods, the largest meat producer in the country, has a Louisiana plant dedicated to converting animal fat to renewable diesel, reports the Huffington Post.

This "drop in" fuel can replace 100% of petroleum diesel in a diesel engine without engine modification according to the maker. Forbes reports that the fuel is also higher quality, with cetane levels as high as 88. The higher the cetane level is, the more even and powerful the fuel combustion. Diesel typically has a cetane level of less than 50.

The Geismar, La., plant produces about 5,000 barrels of the renewable diesel a day from scraps that come from Tyson's meat processing plants.

In February, Dynamic Fuels signed agreements with Mansfield Oil to distribute the renewable diesel to the commercial fleet vehicle market.

"We believe our relationship with Mansfield will allow Dynamic Fuels to provide a seamless supply of renewable diesel to fleet customers at prices comparable to ultra-low sulfur diesel, as well as a petroleum diesel backstop if necessary, to ensure reliable supply," says Ron Stinebaugh, senior vice president of Syntroleum Corp.

Dynamic Fuels also has deals with Alaska Airlines, Norfolk Southern railroad and the U.S. Navy. Last December, the Navy awarded the company a contract for 425,000 gallons of renewable diesel, the largest purchase of advanced biofuel on record.

Forbes reports that Syntroleum isn't turning a profit on the venture yet. For that to happen, the company says, it would take expanding the scale of production and convincing consumers to pay more for the renewable fuel.

To get a look at Dynamic Fuels' Louisiana plant, watch the below video created by the Advanced Biofuels Association.

Ad Loading...


More Drivers

Two men in jackets with Homeland Security indicated on the back, standing in a parking lot looking toward a building with trucks in front of it
Driversby Deborah LockridgeSeptember 1, 2026

FMCSA Removes 110 Truck Driver Training Schools from Certified ELDT List

Federal regulators also are targeting more than 160 additional training providers and launching a nationwide audit of third-party CDL skills testers as part of a broader crackdown on trucking fraud.

Read More →
Illustration of tired truck driver, electronic logging device, and traffic congestion

Hours of Service Pilot Programs: FMCSA Readies for 2027 Rollout

Two pilot programs could eventually reshape hours-of-service rules, giving truck drivers options to pause their 14-hour clock or use longer split sleeper rest periods.

Read More →
Illustration with safety cones in background, Roadcheck logo, cargo tiedowns, and officer checking driver logs
Safety & Complianceby Deborah LockridgeAugust 26, 2026

Medical Cards, English Proficiency Reshape Roadcheck Violations

Medical-card violations jumped to the top of the driver out-of-service list during CVSA’s 2026 International Roadcheck, while English-language proficiency violations appeared among the leading violations for the first time.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration of data privacy, big brother concept, and truck driver behind the wheel
Safety & Complianceby Deborah LockridgeAugust 17, 2026

Driver Trust Can Make or Break the Success of Fleet Safety Technology

New Teletrac Navman research suggests that onboarding, transparency about driver data, and positive feedback can play a significant role in how commercial drivers respond to safety and coaching technology.

Read More →
Illustration incorporating a gavel, the back of a driver training trailer, and art showing a blue female shape standing out in a row of male shapes.
Driversby StaffAugust 11, 2026

EEOC Sues KLLM Over Alleged Sex Discrimination in Driver Training

KLLM is facing a federal sex-discrimination lawsuit over policies the EEOC alleges put female truck driver trainees at a disadvantage.

Read More →
Safety & Complianceby Deborah LockridgeAugust 10, 2026

FMCSA Moves to Codify English Language Requirements for Commercial Drivers

By changing regulations on English-language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers, rather than relying on a guidance memo, the FMCSA said future administrations won't be able to walk back the Trump administration's stricter enforcement with just a memo.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
YouTube thumbnail showing two Western Star trucks with the text "Behind the Experience: Western Star Star Nation"
Equipmentby Lauren FletcherAugust 3, 2026

Drivers Put Western Star Trucks to the Test at Star Nation Experience

Watch to get an inside look at the Western Star trucks, technology, and community behind the Star Nation Experience 2026!

Read More →
American flag in background with photos of military truck and Freedom Haulers ad graphic
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJuly 30, 2026

Trump Administration Looks to Put More Veterans Behind the Wheel

The Freedom Haulers program pulls together existing and expanded programs at several federal agencies to recruit veterans to drive commercial heavy-duty trucks and cut the red tape for them to get a CDL, training, and employment.

Read More →
Equipmentby Jim ParkJuly 30, 2026

Putting Mack’s Command Steer to the Test

A test drive of Mack’s Command Steer active steering system evaluates how it can make truck driving easier and less tiring.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Truck driver behind the wheel with illustration overlaid of someone handing out cash
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJuly 28, 2026

Competition Heating Up for Truck Drivers

New report reveals rising driver hiring costs, the return of sign-on bonuses, growing AI advantages, and the operational factors shaping driver retention.

Read More →