"Neste supports our company’s overall dedication to sustainable operations. Not only does Neste’s product reduce GHG emissions, it also reduces maintenance needs."

Solution

A Vision of Sustainability

As a distribution services provider that has earned trust among some of the iconic consumer brands of the quick-service restaurant industry, QCD goes beyond expected business practices and embraces environmental responsibility to people and the planet. So, with all the miles its fleet travels every year,  QCD recognized the need to find an alternative fuel source that is cleaner and more friendly to the environment than fossil fuels. That's when they decided to use Neste MY Renewable Diesel for their nearly 200 diesel powered truck tractors in California and Oregon.

Now, more than 840,000 gallons of Neste MY Renewable Diesel are supplied to QCD every year through Diesel Direct, one of Neste’s trusted distributors, reducing up to 6,200 metric tons GHG emissions annually. This is equivalent to changing more than 1,348 passenger cars to zero-emission vehicles.

By switching to Neste MY Renewable Diesel, QCD also helps end customers reduce GHG emissions in their supply chains. For companies like Starbucks, who has an absolute 50% GHG emissions reduction goal in the next decade, the climate benefits offered by renewable diesel to their third party logistics providers are extremely important.

“A big part of what we’re doing right now is developing a long-term sustainability road map,” said Brett Basel, director of sustainability at Golden State Foods. “Our associates support the change. We’re committed to innovating around more sustainable operations.” 
“We’re always looking to lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce our carbon footprint,” said Mark Scavo, Warranty/Contracts Maintenance Manager at QCD. “Neste supports our company’s overall dedication to sustainable operations. Not only does Neste’s product reduce GHG emissions, it also reduces maintenance needs as it burns cleaner in engines, which helps us save maintenance costs.'

Making the Switch 
Currently, nearly 200 of QCD’s diesel-powered trucks run on Neste MY Renewable Diesel. The company made the switch as soon as Neste’s supply was able to meet their demand, a decision that they say was very easy to make.

“The confidence for us was talking to Neste and being able to ask questions about what it does to a diesel engine,” said Scavo. “They had the answers we were looking for, and we could tell the company is dedicated to working on a long-term solution.”

Less Maintenance, More Miles

After switching to Neste MY Renewable Diesel, Scavo noticed the diesel particulate filters on his fleet’s vehicles were a lot cleaner. Because of less maintenance on internal engine parts, the fleet’s trucks  were able to drive longer distances to distribution centers throughout the Western United States.

“We don’t have to put them in the shop,” he said. “They just run.

Overall, Scavo is satisfied with Neste MY Renewable Diesel as a cost-effective and sustainable option to fulfill QCD’s tractor trailer needs. He can get the same results on renewable diesel rather than buying electric tractors – and that’s a win for everybody, including the environment.

Benefiting the Community 

Aside from making a positive impact on their fleet, switching to Neste MY Renewable Diesel is also helping QCD make a significant impact in the communities they serve. In addition to lowered carbon emissions, QCD’s truck tractors powered by Neste MY Renewable Diesel also emit significantly less pollutants, such as Particulate Matter (PM) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), contributing to cleaner air. Just as Basel said, “We want to be a good neighbor in the communities we operate.”