UPGRADING INFRASTRUCTURE: What does it mean?
How Will Clean Diesel Technology Contribute?
Over the course of the campaign and subsequent election of Donald Trump, we’ve heard promises of a $1T investment in our ‘infrastructure.’ So what does that mean, exactly?
To upgrade our infrastructure involves revitalizing, refurbishing and renewing the structural skeleton that facilities our interstate mobility and economy. The broad overview includes updates to aviation, bridges, dams, waterways, levee systems, ports, schools, solid waste, transit and wastewater and the transmission of energy. In practice, it’s the hard and disruptive work of repairing or replacing old roads and crumbling bridges, dredging harbors, upgrading wastewater treatment systems and many more such projects allowed to deteriorate over either funding shortfalls or the threat of inconvenience.
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), in a recent report on the infrastructure, determined that failure to invest adequately in infrastructure will cost us dearly.
· By 2020, Americans will spend 3x more time stuck in traffic, earn $700 a year less and spend more than $360 on transportation and repairs.
· 76% of America’s exports access global markets by water; 70% of US imports arrive by water — valued at over $940B in trade. Dredging of ports and maintenance of our nation’s waterways will result in more efficient shipping access and productivity. Enhanced rail connections to ports will improve cargo handling efficiency and reduce traffic congestion.
· Current substandard infrastructure costs US businesses about $240B a year in productivity.
Making this proposed infrastructure upgrade happen will call into action the nation’s fleet of skilled contractors, both small and large. Envision workers and heavy-duty machines and equipment like cranes, road graders, bulldozers and dump trucks working in concert to move dirt, haul materials, rig overhead structures, dig trenches, lay pavement, pour concrete and more.
Tools & Fuel
Unmatched in power, performance, efficiency and durability, most contractors choose heavy machines and trucks that rely on diesel technology. Today, the latest generation of clean diesel equipment meets the challenge with near-zero emissions and increased productivity.
Not only are more hybrid diesel machine options available, but new advanced telemetry GPS has enabled a new generation of ‘smart iron’-connected jobsites to generate meaningful efficiency gains in fuel, time and money, and minimizing disruption — thereby maximizing public works investments. Increased efficiency and productivity also means less fuel consumption generating fewer emissions — mitigating the environmental impact of the construction project itself.
SocioEconomic Impact
While clean diesel power will be the technology of choice delivering on infrastructure promises, diesel technology is also an important component of fifteen sectors of the economy that rely almost exclusively on diesel power. Diesel technology and fuel generated more than $455B in economic activity, according to recent data.
Skilled operators and laborers in these construction fields are among the highest paid, averaging weekly wages about 60% higher than the national average. In combination, the production and servicing of diesel technology directly generate more than $183B in economic activity and provides 1.25M jobs.
When the Trump Administration pursues a national infrastructure renewal and revitalization effort as promised, a new generation of clean diesel-powered heavy equipment and trucks will get the job done more efficiently than ever before.
Alkane thanks Diesel Technology Forum and www.dieselforum.org for the data presented here.
Alkane Truck Company is currently raising capital on the crowdfunding platform StartEngine. Find out more here: https://www.startengine.com/startup/alkane
