Q: Please explain the Colonial Pipeline process. I assume it’s one pipe used for all brands of gasoline. At what point is each brand treated with its own additives we hear of in their advertisements?
—Hal Rabinowitz, Atlanta
A: The Colonial Pipeline transports fuel from its starting point in Houston to terminals in cities throughout the South and Northeast.
The fuel is routed to various terminals, where it is mixed with the additives for each specific brand, such as Texaco or Chevron.
“It doesn’t get its brand identity until those specific proprietary additives are added,” Gregg Laskoski, a senior petroleum analyst with GasBuddy.com, told Q&A on the News in an email.
The fuel is then transported on trucks to gas stations and stores that sell gas.
Also, only one octane is transported through the pipeline at a time, so the fuel doesn’t mix, Laskoski said.
The Colonial Pipeline goes through 11 states and includes 5,500 miles of pipe.
Q: A recent article about air rage references Travelers United, a Washington-based advocacy group for travelers. Who decided this needed to be established and how is it funded?
—Kurt Thomson, Marietta
A: Charles Leocha worked as a travel journalist for decades before he founded Travelers United in 2009.
“After trying to change the system from the outside by writing about it via a website (ticked.com) and a book (“Travel Rights”), I decided to work on the inside with Congress, DOT and other stakeholders,” he told Q&A on the News in an email.
Travelers United (travelersunited.org) is funded by contributor and corporate donations, and through support from several companies, he wrote.
Andy Johnston with Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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