Dawn of diesel

Before the creation of the trucking industry, the world looked — and worked — very differently. Goods transported over land were shipped via trains, which were limited by the logistics of railroad travel, or horse-drawn carriages, which were slow and prone to delays. These realities placed a hard ceiling on the growth of a lot of industries: Business owners who dreamed of being bigger than local needed a technological marvel… that finally came along in the form of the modern diesel engine.

Rudolf Diesel kickstarts a revolution

First built in 1897 by German engineer Rudolf Diesel, the diesel engine quickly differentiated itself from steam engines by being twice as efficient¹, but also suffered from unreliability issues that kept it from truly dominating the market. It would take the innovative work of several engineers who followed in Diesel’s footsteps for the technology to grow into the powerhouse it is today. Some of the most significant of these were Alfred Büchi’s turbocharger and Robert Bosch’s fuel-injection pumps, which greatly improved the engine’s reliability while also giving a significant boost to the already-superior fuel economy and efficiency.² As paved roads began to snake across sprawling landscapes and connect the world, more and more of the drivers began to choose diesel engines for their fleet.

Efficiency wins the day

Once people saw what was possible, demand grew quickly. As cities industrialized and developed massive ports and airports, shipping demands increased as these hubs now sought to spread their imported goods across the country quickly and efficiently: while a train from San Francisco to New York could take up to six months, a diesel truck could make that journey safely in just ten days.³ The development of refrigeration technology only accelerated this demand — and diversified menu options in restaurants around the world.

Innovation after innovation

Diesel engines never stopped improving, and after they showcased their reliability and efficiency in both world wars, the trucking industry — for which fuel accounts for 70% of their costs — embraced the technology wholeheartedly.⁴ By the 1960s, diesel was the dominant source of power for the shipping industry,⁵ and as one of the first oils designed specifically for diesel engines, Mobil Delvac™ lubrication was the choice of many truckers. EPA regulations in the 1980s brought the industry into greener maturity, a trend that has continued into the 21st century with the invention and standardization of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) technology, exhaust after-treatment systems, and ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel.

It's a diesel world, and we’re just living in it

It's difficult to say how the world would look without diesel engines — the prompt delivery of goods purchased online would work differently or be impossible, as would the restaurant and entertainment industry, which both rely on frequent delivery and transportation of equipment and new items. Diesel enables the people and companies that use it to give 100% as they drive the engine of daily life forward. As the trucking industry continues to evolve and embrace technology, there’s no telling what it will make possible next.

¹https://www.bbc.com/news/business-38302874
²https://www.gojarrett.com/fleet-services/blog/the-history-of-the-diesel-engine-the-power-that-powers-your-truck
³https://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/milestones-in-diesel-technology-3617
⁴https://www.bbc.com/news/business-38302874
⁵https://www.uti.edu/blog/diesel/diesel-engine-history