well-oiled machines

You can't get much "greener" than this: States Logistics Services Inc., a Los Angeles-based third-party logistics (3PL) company, says it is converting its truck fleet to run on B99 biodiesel—a formulation of 99 percent biodiesel and 1 percent traditional diesel.

Company executives say the switch to biodiesel cuts carbon dioxide emissions by 75 percent and eliminates the release of sulfates into the air. According to the 3PL, biodiesel can be used in compression- ignition engines with little or no modification.

The conversion is a byproduct of States' participation in a pilot program with the National Biodiesel Board and Indigenous Energy LLC, a developer of emissions tracking systems. The reporting system is measuring the fleet's carbon footprint by considering such information as vehicle type, distance traveled, number of gallons used, percentage of biodiesel used, and type of feedstock (for example, soybean oil).

States Logistics serves more than 100 customers and operates over 2 million square feet of warehousing space in Southern California and Arizona.