The trucking industry looks set to enjoy three or four years of reasonable growth, according to Bruce Allen, professor emeritus of business economics and public policy at Wharton, and Dan Clark, president and general manager of transportation finance at GE Capital. But important challenges lie just ahead.Part 2 of this two-part podcast considers the looming transition in the fuel source from diesel to natural gas. This involves much higher costs for new equipment, but savings in fuel costs plus less environmental damage mean a relatively short payback period. By 2020 some 20% to 30% of the U.S. truck fleet may be running on some form of natural gas.
Knowledge at Wharton Podcast
Part II: The Trucking Industry: Transition from Diesel to Natural Gas Is on Deck
The U.S. trucking industry faces major technological disruption – a switch from diesel fuel to natural gas products. This means new – and more expensive – engines and other infrastructure investments. But after a relatively short payback period, substantial fuel savings and environmental advantages offer significant incentives to plunge ahead.
June 12, 2014
• 17 min listen
Listen to the podcast.
Subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Comments
New This Week
2026 AI Adoption Report
Available on October 13, 2026.
ICE Raids Have a Chilling Effect on Local Economies
New research from Wharton’s Zeke Hernandez reveals how cities targeted in last year’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids suffered long-term economic losses of up to $14 billion.
How Extreme Heat Affects the Economy
Professor R. Jisung Park discusses climate change and the impact of extreme heat on academic success and worker productivity.
