Logistics/fleet management
Logistics/fleet management
Improving fleet fuel efficiency
A number of factors impact the fuel efficiency of our regional fleets. These factors include:
- Local driving, climate, and travel conditions,
- Speed and driver behaviour,
- Type of equipment used, and
- Idling times.
Our regional transportation department personnel have implemented and/or are testing options to improve fuel efficiency in a manner that is best aligned with their individual circumstances. Information about improvements realized in one region that hold promise of similar benefits across the organization are shared company-wide through the Logistics Sustainability Share Group forum.
Various fuel efficiency initiatives have already been implemented in different parts of the company:
- Two regions are using fleet management systems that monitor driver practices and equipment performance. Information about individual drivers, trucks and trailers is gathered and used to identify system-wide performance improvement opportunities.
- Assigning equipment that is appropriately sized and equipped for the volume and type of product to be transported. This helps to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption that would result from using over- or under-sized and over- or under-equipped tractor-trailers.
- Purchasing trucks equipped with engines that are most appropriate for local driving conditions.
- Purchasing trailers with additional insulation to reduce the power demands on the refrigeration system.
- Providing drivers with training aimed at developing and/or re-enforcing driving habits that improve vehicle fuel economy. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership, driver-training programs that improve fuel economy by 5% could save over $1,200 (U.S.) in fuel costs and eliminate eight metric tons of GHG emissions per truck each year. While we have not quantified the results of this training, we know that increasing our drivers’ skills, knowledge and performance has reduced, and will continue to reduce, fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Aerodynamic design features such as trailer fairings on some of our trucks. Although results to date are mixed, we will continue to evaluate their net fuel conservation value in our driving environment.
- Assessing the benefits of tires with lower resistance, automatic transmissions, biodiesel, and heat pumps to heat and air condition cabs. Low-sulphur diesel fuel is already in wide use across the Ontario and West regions. Expanded use of these items will depend on their ability to reduce fuel consumption in our operating environment.
