Posted: July 6, 2026
The term diesel fuel is often used as a broad umbrella term, but the fact of the matter is that there are actually two different types of diesel fuel that have different uses and applications.
On-road diesel fuel is reserved for trucks, public buses, school buses, and shuttles, all of which travel on public roads.
Off-road diesel fuel can power and fuel vehicles and machinery that are used off of roads. This includes generators, agricultural equipment, forklifts, and other construction equipment. Off-road diesel fuel is also dyed red during the production process and is tax-exempt. Using off-road diesel fuel in an on-road vehicle can result in a fine.
Not only are there two different types of diesel fuels, but the standards for diesel fuel can also differ from state to state and from region to region.
Understanding the different standards and regulations is an important part of being a diesel fuel customer.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency started regulating the amount of sulfur in diesel fuel starting in 1993. Regulations became stricter in 2006 and, as a result, ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel was introduced.
Thanks to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, harmful emissions from both on-road and off-road diesel fuel vehicles have decreased by about 90%.
Currently, all diesel fuel has to adhere to the Clean Air Act. More specifically, this means that all diesel fuel has to contain a low sulfur content. However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allows each state to make its own regulations and standards when it comes to diesel fuel.
For example, state vehicles in Massachusetts, a state that Fraticelli Oil & Propane provides diesel fuel to, have to use a blend that contains at least 15% biodiesel.
In New Hampshire, diesel fuel that is purchased by the local Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Motor Fuel Inventory Fund is required to contain at least 5% biodiesel.
The regulations that have been placed upon the diesel fuel industry are helping people and industries reduce their carbon footprints. This is getting us one step closer to a greener and cleaner future.
Additionally, these standards help decrease the chances of extreme contamination that can otherwise cause damage to an engine’s emission system, injector, or pump.
In addition to being aware of diesel fuel standards, diesel fuel customers should also be aware of cetane ratings. This is a number that indicates how easily diesel fuel ignites. A high cetane number is better for an engine’s performance than a low cetane number is. It is best to fill an engine with a diesel fuel that has a cetane rating somewhere between 40 and 55.
The various local regulations can impact the price of diesel fuel. The same goes for state tax. This is why it is common to see the price of diesel fuel vary from state to state.
The cost of diesel fuel is also affected by supply and demand, production costs, transportation costs, and the price of crude oil.
Fraticelli Oil & Propane is here to supply both on-road and off-road diesel fuel to any customer here in Central Massachusetts or Southern New Hampshire who needs it.
Contact Fraticelli Oil & Propane today to learn more about the diesel fuel services we provide throughout the area.