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Trucking industry says ethanol has been good for businessSTEAMBOAT ROCK, Iowa (AP)--Regional trucking firms are getting a big boost from Iowa's growing ethanol industry. Hundreds of trucks help transport thousands of bushels of corn to the ethanol plants each day, and then haul away the grain alcohol fuel and distiller's grain that's made from corn. Hauling companies are benefiting as the ethanol industry has grown to produce 1.1 billion gallons of the fuel at 21 plants in Iowa--the nation's largest ethanol producer. That amount will grow by at least 600 million gallons by the end of the year, according to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. Haulers said they consider the plants a steady source of income, especially as ethanol plants run at capacity because of high demand for ethanol, which is currently being mixed with about one-third of the nation's gasoline. Hauling corn to and distiller's grain from the Pine Lake Corn Processors plant is a benefit for Dwight Schuneman, a farmer and semitrailer owner near Steamboat Rock in eastern Iowa. "It's a great supplemental income, since we don't raise livestock," Schuneman said of hiring out his big rig. He had to drive to Cedar Rapids and make other longer drives before Pine Lake opened nearby last year. Schuneman said he burns less fuel and can haul more loads in a day. "It's a real good deal: short hauls that pay good," he said. Most ethanol is shipped by rail because there is no national pipeline for the product. Since trains aren't always available, trucks have to fill in the gaps. At Pine Lake Corn Processors, close to 70 semitrailers and tankers bring in 40,000 to 50,000 bushels of corn each day, officials said. In turn, they haul away 70,000 gallons of ethanol and 178 tons of distillers grains. Larry Meints, president of Pine Lake Corn Processors, said about 80 percent of the distillers grains is hauled to regional livestock producers and feed mills. "It's a constant stream of trucks," he said. Solar Transport, of West Des Moines, hauls the ethanol for Pine Lake, said Jamie Laine, the company's director of business development. Laine said one out of every 10 shipments is ethanol. "It was an opportunity to increase capacity in rural markets and provide job opportunities in those areas," Laine said. Date: 5/25/06
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