By Scout Nelson
The Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) is taking steps in sustainable trucking by partnering with trucking companies to distribute soy-based Gear Head Fifth Wheel Lubricant Pads. Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the STC, emphasizes the environmental benefits of these biobased products, which are 80-plus percent derived from soy.
"Soybean oil is one of the most effective ways of displacing petroleum-based products. The classic example is fuel; biodiesel or renewable diesel," said Steenhoek. He highlights that unlike traditional grease, these soy pads contribute positively to the environment as they degrade.
Each pad measures 3 inches by 3 inches, akin to a square hockey puck, and is recognized in the USDA’s Certified Biobased Product program. Trucking firms have praised the pads for their ease of use, cleanliness, affordability, and the promotional boost they provide to soybean farmers.
Steenhoek explains that sustainability is a crucial goal for freight haulers. “They need to be able to demonstrate ‘we’re examining every aspect of our business to try to show that we’re being sustainable,’” he remarked.
The South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council and other checkoff organizations recognize the importance of these innovations.
"There’s been a lot of soybean farmers organizations, South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council being one of them, they understand that we need a number of these new use kind of marketing opportunities that are kind of the base-hit opportunities," Steenhoek told the South Dakota Soybean Network.
The potential market for soy-based lubricants is vast, with approximately 3 million semis in the U.S. alone. "There are about 3 million semis operating in the United States, so that’s a 60-million-pounds-of-fifth-wheel-grease market," Steenhoek noted.
The adoption of soy grease, while uncertain, presents a significant opportunity to support soybean farmers and further diversify their marketing avenues.
By integrating soy-based products like these lubricant pads, the Soy Transportation Coalition not only aids the environment but also helps secure a more sustainable and profitable future for soybean farmers.
Photo Credit -istock-stefonlinton
Categories: South Dakota, Business, Crops, Soybeans