I’ve come to believe the saying, “what goes around, comes around,” is famous because it’s true. Fashion comes and goes, but every 20 years or so, we see the same trends reborn. Classic television shows are “updated” for future generations, or made into movies, many times not as good (see Starsky & Hutch).

But biodiesel? Yes, it’s true. Biodiesel actually can trace its roots back to the late 1800s.

Most of you probably know who Rudolf Diesel was. Several patents of his way back in 1892 and 1893 resulted in the invention of the diesel engine, the principles of which are used to power vehicles today.

In celebration of National Biodiesel Day, which took place on March 18 - not-so-coincidentally on the birthday of one Rudolf Diesel - the National Biodiesel Board posted an article detailing Diesel’s contributions to biodiesel.

It seems that in Diesel’s first designs of the engine, he used peanut oil. It wasn’t until later that a petroleum-based fuel source was incorporated. But Diesel was prophetic in saying, in a 1912 speech, that “the use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today, but such oils may become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum and the coal tar products of the present day.”

What Diesel didn’t know is that some 98 years later, we’d still be struggling with how best to fully incorporate vegetable oils and other alternative-fuel sources into our daily lives. The technology is there, albeit expensive in many cases. But just as importantly is the question of how to truly harness its power to make a widespread impact?

The ideas of men like Diesel are often overlooked (although the engine itself received its due) at the time, dismissed either as crackpots or someone whose ideas are not in-tune with reality. There are likely many people like that even today.

Perhaps, someday, we’ll learn to listen, because it’s quite possible the answers to solving dependence on foreign oil were born a hundred years ago.

The U.S. Senate on Monday voted 93-0 to advance the FAA Reauthorization Act to fund the FAA through 2011. The bill itself is not unlike the transportation bill that we’re all waiting for Congress to act upon. This bill, though, which focuses on the nation’s airline industry, includes a battle that has been waging for some time between UPS and FedEx Express.

The Senate bill, which does not include language reclassifying FedEx Express truck drivers under the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Act rather than the Railway Labor Act, must still be reconciled with the House of Representative’s version, which does. The change in classification, which FedEx Express dubbed the “Brown Bailout,” would presumably make it easier for FedEx drivers to unionize. UPS, which supports the bill, is heavily unionized already.

“We are encouraged that the United States Senate passed an FAA Reauthorization bill that is focused on modernizing our air travel system and enhancing important safety provisions that we support, including an increase in co-pilot training requirements. To their credit, the Senate has rejected efforts to include an ill-conceived 230-word bailout provision inserted by UPS lobbyists into the House bill that would change how FedEx Express has been regulated since its founding 38 years ago,” Maury Lane, director of media relations for FedEx Corp., said in a statement.

The real battle now begins. Lobbying behind the scenes will continue as House and Senate leaders try to merge the two bills before sending a final version on to President Obama for signing.

“We hope that the House and Senate can quickly move to pass final FAA reauthorization legislation to improve passenger and air safety, implement space-based navigational technology, and increase funding for airport improvement projects across the country,” Lane said. “This is an important bill that should advance without extraneous labor provisions and we continue to believe that UPS should abandon its bailout quest which puts the interests of UPS ahead of the public.”

UPS, for its part, made no mention of the House provision when praising the Senate for passing its bill Monday.

“It is rare that one piece of legislation accomplishes as much as this bill does for both our nation’s economy and American shippers and travelers,” said CEO Scott Davis. “Senate Majority Leader Reid and Senators Rockefeller, Hutchison, Dorgan and DeMint are to be congratulated for their efforts to advance this critical legislation.”

“A modern and efficient aviation system is essential for short- and long-term economic progress and ensures that those who use the system can do so with confidence that it is as safe as possible,” Davis added.

The final bill will ultimately pass, likely without the provision, I suspect. In the end, funding to modernize our airport infrastructure and aviation safety is just too important to be delayed over labor classifications for one company, regardless of which company that is.

But in the end, like most things in Washington, it will probably come down to who gets what pork and what other legislation that senator or representative needs support on. That’s how Washington works.

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is now seeking drivers to be part of its 2011-12 America’s Road Team.

America’s Road Team is chosen every two years and in essence, serves as the public face of the trucking industry. Sponsored by Volvo Trucks North America, team members, or captains, spend a few days each month meeting the public, the media, students and transportation and government leaders.

Their goal: to promote the industry’s commitment to safety. All team members must be “professional truck drivers who share superior driving skills, remarkable safety records and a strong desire to spread the word about safety on the highway.”

“For over two decades, the America’s Road Team has represented the dedication of America’s 3.4 million professional truck drivers,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “By nominating drivers for the Road Team selection process, trucking companies are helping to spread the industry’’s message of safety, essentiality and professionalism. I look forward to this year’s submissions and the great work those selected will accomplish.”

America’s Road Team was started in 1986.

“The trucking industry remains absolutely essential to the United States and its citizens, yet this is not always recognized by the public and government officials,” said Scott Kress, senior vp - sales & marketing, Volvo Trucks North America. “The captains of America’s Road Team, with millions of miles of accident-free driving, are one of the most effective means the industry has to communicate that important information in a down-to-earth way. That is why the best, safest and most dedicated drivers are needed to form the next America’s Road Team. As exclusive sponsor of America’s Road Team, Volvo salutes these drivers and the companies who employ them.”

To nominate a professional truck driver, please carefully read the eligibility requirements and fill out the nomination form found at: www.americasroadteam.com.

The one-year mark has come and gone, and we still don’t have a resolution to the cross-border trucking dispute between the U.S. and Mexico.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce had a conference call the other day to highlight the effect the ban on trucks crossing the border has had in this country. You can read more about the long history of the dispute here.

The Chamber is claiming that more than $1.5 billion of manufactured products and $900 million in U.S. agricultural products, not to mention 25,000 jobs, have been impacted by 90 tariffs Mexico placed on U.S. goods in the past year. I don’t know how accurate these estimates are, but I’m sure there has been an impact.

Shortly after the plug was pulled on the cross-border demonstration project last March, President Obama announced a new program would be a priority. We’re still waiting.

In the meantime, lawsuits have been filed, business has suffered, tariffs have been enacted, and jobs have been lost. Not to mention the real crux of the problem: the violation of international law by the U.S.

Whether you agree or not with the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA), one result of that was to open the borders. When it comes to trucking, the U.S.-Mexican border has never been truly open. Pressured by the Teamsters and other groups who claim that Mexican trucks are not safe to be on U.S. roadways, the U.S. Congress, and ultimately the Obama Administration, stopped the program that allowed up to 100 carriers from Mexico to operate within the borders of the U.S. and up to 100 carriers from the U.S. to operate in Mexico.

It should be noted that we have no such problem with our friends to the north. Canadian carriers can drive into the U.S., make deliveries and continue back to Canada. What they can’t do is drive to New York to make a delivery and then to Chicago for a pickup.

That system seems to be working. Why can’t we enact something similar with Mexico? Oh yeah, Mexican trucks are not held to the same safety standards as U.S. carriers. But that is easily resolvable, in my opinion, if anyone cared about fixing the problem and obeying international law. If a Mexican carrier wants to operate inside the U.S. (they are currently allowed to travel inside a 25-mile commercial zone), just require the trucks and drivers to adhere to U.S. regulations, including hours-of-service.

It really is that simple. Except I’m not a politician.

The four finalists for Goodyear North America’s Highway Hero Award have been announced. While any one of the four could win the 27th annual award, they are all heroes in my book.

George Lantzy, of Turtle Creek, Pa.; Jesse Lee Seal, of Alma, Ark.; Stephen Page, of Gloucester, Mass.; and Junichi Shimizu, of Gladstone, Ore.; will vie for the honor, which will be announced the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville. The winning driver will receive a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond, a plaque and a ring. The other finalists will receive a $5,000 U.S. Savings Bond and plaque.

“These four individuals represent the thousands of professional truck drivers who work every day across North America. Each year, this program offers an opportunity for recognition of those who put their lives on the line to help others,” said Joseph Copeland, vp for commercial tire systems for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

Each of the drivers risked their lives to save a stranger’s – and did it without giving it a second thought. Last year’s winner, Colorado truck driver Jorge Orozco Sanchez , saved two young girls after a crash in October 2008. Previous winners have pulled families from burning vehicles, ponds, and more.

Below is a brief description of the incidents (supplied by Goodyear) for which each driver for the 2009 award has been nominated.

George Lantzy, of Turtle Creek, Pa., a driver for Fubar Trucking. As Lantzy drove his tractor-trailer on Route 22 outside of Weirton, W.V., on March 12, 2009, he noticed a car along the highway’s shoulder that was slowly drifting into traffic. As he drove closer, he saw an elderly woman slumped over the steering wheel, and realized something was drastically wrong. The car was headed toward a potential accident on the busy highway, so Lantzy made a snap decision to get involved. He maneuvered his rig alongside the car, then drove in front to allow the car to contact the rear of his trailer, thus creating an impromptu roadblock and easing the woman’s car away from danger. Once he was able to force the out-of-control car to a standstill, police and paramedics arrived. The driver, who had suffered a heart attack, was transported to a nearby hospital where she made a full recovery following surgery.

Stephen Page, of Gloucester, Mass., a driver for Pit Bull Trucking. On July 14, 2009, Page was driving along U.S. Interstate 80 near Clearfield, Pa., when he spotted a fire in the woods alongside the roadway. He and another driver ran into the woods to find the burning wreckage of a double-unit rig that gone nearly 1,500 feet off the highway. Upon reaching the driver of the truck, he first believed the driver had not survived, but then realized he had lost consciousness. The cab was getting hotter by the second, and Page and the other driver struggled to remove the victim. Finally, with the help of two more truckers who had stopped, the injured driver was removed before the tractor and trailer were completely destroyed by fire. Page stayed with the injured driver, talking with him as he drifted in and out of consciousness. With severe burns, the man was eventually flown to a hospital. He has a long road to recovery, but is alive, thanks to the lifesaving efforts of Page and others.

Jesse Lee Seal, of Alma, Ark., a driver for PDP Unlimited. Early in the morning of Oct. 7, 2009, Seal was driving his 18-wheeler southbound on U.S. Interstate 530 near Little Rock, Ark., when another truck ahead of him abruptly swerved left, went across the median and the northbound lanes, eventually coming to rest on an opposite embankment. As this happened, the truck lost a fuel tank, which caught fire. Seal quickly stopped his truck, grabbed his fire extinguisher and ran across the lanes to provide assistance. As he passed by, he extinguished the burning fuel tank, then hurried to the disabled truck. Once there, he was able to open the hot door, put out the fire that was burning the driver’s legs, and cut the seat belt to remove the injured driver.

Junichi Shimizu, of Gladstone, Ore., a driver for Chipman Relocations. As he drove westbound on Highway 12 near Fairfield, Calif., on Feb. 20, 2009, Shimizu witnessed a vehicle cross the centerline of the road and strike an automobile in front of his truck. The auto spun into the ditch, and the other vehicle then hit his tractor twice before bursting into flames. Upon coming to a stop, Shimizu called for assistance and then headed to the vehicle that was in flames. Unable to open the driver’s side door due to the damage, he told the driver to protect his face and he punched out the glass in order to pull the driver free of the car. Gaining help from another motorist, he was able to free the driver’s foot, which was wedged under the dashboard, then carry the driver to safety. Running to the other car, he quickly assessed that the driver was deceased, but there were two injured passengers inside. The passengers were removed, and Shimizu retrieved his fire extinguisher to keep the blaze under control until the local fire department arrived. The three rescued individuals had extensive injuries, but all survived.

Thinking of going electric with your vehicle to save the environment? Think again.

A story on the site EurActive.com cites a report from last year conducted by the Danish Petroleum Industry Association. The first thought will be, of course, that it was done by a player in the petroleum industry, so it was not going to be in favor of electric vehicles anyway.

Possibly true. Although, the report suggests that driving electric or hybrid vehicles are no greener than driving a diesel vehicle. The reason, it says, is that Europe’s electric grid is still petroleum based. While drivers would be using less diesel fuel or gas from the pumps, the electric grid would need additional fuel to create the power needed to propel the growing number of electric vehicles.

The study claims that the “wheel-to-wheel” energy production cycle of vehicles is similar regardless of the type of power used for the vehicle. CO2 emissions from hybrids and electric cars are similar, it said, with diesel-powered vehicles emitting 8% more carbon. Gas-powered vehicles produce about 35% more emissions when compared to diesel.

Interestingly, because electric cars cover a shorter distance per charge and are usually heavier than diesel vehicles, the study claims they result in more CO2 emissions than a diesel vehicle covering the same distance.

I guess when people say “clean diesel” today, they really mean it. The difference, according to the study, is that diesel or gas vehicles produce emissions from the tailpipe while electric vehicles generate emissions at the power plant level.

Eventually, the report said, electric usage would be cleaner, but only as we find renewable ways to produce electricity. The European Union is looking to raise its standards for renewable energies, eventually resulting in 15% of electricity produced coming from renewable sources by 2025, according to the report.

So, at least now in Europe, if you think you’re going “green” by purchasing an electric vehicle, all you might be doing is sacrificing power, and a little extra dough.

You can access the full report here.