User-agent: Mediapartners-Google* Disallow: Trucks World News
Google
 
Loading

May 10, 2016

BETTER AERODYNAMICS FOR TRUCKS * USA: 30% improvement

* DC - Calls for better aerodynamics for day-cab trucks

--- A new report from the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) calls for truck designers to look more closely at making day-cab models more aerodynamically efficient... The report says that much focus has been placed on the design of long-haul trucks and aerodynamic devices for them over the years and this has equated to an up to 30% improvement in fuel consumption in the sector... But it questions why the same emphasis hasn’t been placed on making the same improvements when it comes to day-cabs, which they say can also realize the benefits of drag reduction... The NACFE found that the newest sleeper models from OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) had already mostly been optimized to provide the best performance, however, one area where this was not the case was in day-cab models... The report saying that the common convention is that speeds are too low for significant savings from aerodynamic efficiency, but the NACFE says if fleets pursued greater adoption of aerodynamics they could see fuel efficiency gains in all operating environments... In portions of driving at highway speeds, aerodynamic improvements could increase fuel efficiency by as much as 13%, according to the NACFE report... 
Washington, DC, USA - Behind the Wheels (Australia), by KATE RICHARDS - May 7, 2016

Labels: ,

posted by Unknown @ 11:17 AM  0 comments

Jan 8, 2016

SAVING FUEL * USA: USING BATTERIES

* Nebraska - MidAmerican trucks save fuel using batteries

-- Eight “green” service trucks, working on MidAmerican Energy facilities in Des Moines and Iowa’s Quad-Cities area, use large batteries to power work lights and booms so that their motors can be shut off during service stops... The Des Moines-based company, a division of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., said Wednesday that each truck may save between 4 and 8 gallons of fuel per day by not idling its motor, reducing emissions, noise and engine wear... The batteries are plugged in for recharging when the workday ends and also are charged as the trucks are driven. The trucks, painted green, use Jobsite Energy Management Systems manufactured by Altec Inc. of Birmingham, Alabama... MidAmerican fleet manager Brian Knights said the company will add more battery-equipped trucks as it replaces service vehicles... 
 (Photo: “green” service trucks equipped with a conventional engine and a large battery pack) -- Omaha, NEB, USA - Omaha World Herald, by Steve Jordon - DECEMBER 31, 2015

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 7:14 AM  0 comments

Oct 31, 2015

SAVING FUEL * USA: Downspeeding can generate 2% to 3% fuel savings

* DC - NACFE report: Downspeeding is now a “primary” powertrain-focused strategy among OEMs

-- A new confidence report issued by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) this week indicates that downspeeding – the practice of using fast gear ratios that lower the speed of the engine – can cut commercial truck fuel consumption by 2% to 3% because it allows the engine to operate at the most fuel-efficient RPM when generating only the minimal horsepower required under cruise conditions... NACFE added that downspeeding is now a “primary” powertrain-focused strategy among OEMs to improve fuel economy for both long-haul regional-haul day cab tractors that operate at highway speeds much of the time – largely because complementary technologies make it “more attractive” in heavy-duty truck applications... The group said it researched nine different downspeeding applications using both proprietary and supplied engine and transmission combinations configured in one of two formats... NACFE suggested that an automatic or automated mechanical transmission (AMT) should be spec’d on any downsped engine. But if a manual transmission is selected, the engine’s torque response during clutch engagement must be specifically tailored to the drivetrain to gain the expected fuel savings... The group stressed, however, that downsped-configured powertrains can come with higher cost and higher risk of damage... 
(Photo: The Cummins/Eaton SmartAdvantage powertrain combination is one of the downspeeding packages NACFE examined for its report, to improve fuel economy for both long-haul and regional trucks that operate at highway speeds much of the time)  --  Washington, DC, USA - Fleet Owner, by Sean Kilcarr - Oct 28, 2015

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 6:29 AM  0 comments

Mar 13, 2015

FUEL SAVING * USA: “Strong federal standards”, for heavy-duty truck fuel economy

* Massachusetts - Scientist-activists call for 40% improvement in truck fuel economy

-- Citing “years of non-regulation and slow investment,” the Union of Concerned Scientists has called for “strong federal standards” for heavy-duty truck fuel economy, with a goal of cutting fuel consumption by at least 40%... The push, dubbed “Engines for Change,” was launched Wednesday and focuses on a 24-page report which details the amount of fuel used by trucks to move freight and specifically to haul consumer goods, along with the savings that would be generated for both consumers and truckers by developing more fuel efficient vehicles... The report recognizes that fuel savings are very important to commercial fleets, but insists that “a key reason” truck fuel economy hasn’t improved since the 1970s is the lack of a regulatory mandate... Truck, engine and trailer makers weighed in as well, with most pointing to the difficulty of developing a rule to address such a varied and complex industry as trucking... Volvo Group even pointed out that congestion mitigation, smart highway systems, permitting longer combination vehicles, improved shipping logistics and packaging would substantially reduce truck fuel consumption... Cambridge, MASS, USA - Fleet Owner, by Kevin Jones - Mar 12, 2015

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 5:05 PM  0 comments

Mar 4, 2011

Reducing Fuel Consumption * Australia - Slow down to 90 and save, Scania says

Campbellfield,Melbourne,VIC,Australia -ATA Friday Facts -4 March 2011:   -- Trucking operators could reduce their fuel consumption by 6 per cent by setting their speed limiters to 90 km/h rather than 100 km/h, an experiment conducted by Scania this week has shown... The Scania Fuel Duel saw two identical Scania prime movers pull B-double sets from Melbourne to Sydney and back... One vehicle travelled from Melbourne to Sydney at up to 90 km/h; the other travelled at up to 100 km/h. In Sydney, the vehicles had their speed limiters reversed... From Melbourne to Sydney, the difference in actual driving time was 40 minutes. From Sydney to Melbourne, the difference was 53 minutes... The 90 km/h speed limiting resulted in a 6 per cent fuel saving... Scania drew on the results of the test to conclude that an operator with a vehicle travelling the Hume five times per week could save around $10,000 a year per vehicle by running at 90 km/h instead of 100 km/h...

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 9:21 AM  0 comments

Apr 16, 2010

TRUCKING SAVINGS * USA - Advanced Diesel Engines May Cut Truck Fuel Use 20% by 2020

Fuel use could be cut by 50%

Washington,DC,USA -Enviromental Leader -March 31, 2010: -- Using advanced diesel engines in tractor-trailers could lower fuel consumption up to 20% by 2020. Report evaluates various technologies, methods to improve fuel consumption in 7 vehicle types over next decade. Report result of congressional law requiring DOT to establish fuel economy for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles... Improved aerodynamics could cut fuel use by 11%e, according to National Research Council report. Truck makers like Peterbilt, Kenworth already rolling out new truck models with aerodynamic packages... Trucking industry also has several efforts underway to improve fuel efficiency in big rigs. These account for 26% of transportation fuel in U.S., according to National Research Council... Hybrid powertrains could lower fuel consumption of vehicles that stop frequently up to 35% over 10 years... Many of technologies evaluated would pay for themselves even at today's energy prices... Report found that best cost-benefit ratio was offered by tractor-trailers. Whose fuel use could be cut by 50% for savings of $84,600 per truck over 10 years...


* U.S. issues fuel efficiency standards calling for 10 mpg increase by 2016 - New mileage rules may boost prices of vehicles

New York City,NY,USA -MSNBC.msn.com - April 1, 2010: -- Drivers will have to pay more for cars and trucks but will save more on fuel. $434 extra/vehicle in 2012 and $926/vehicle 2016... CAFE set at 35.5 mpg within 6 years, up nearly 10 mpg from now... Saving fuel will cut emissions. Also hasten next generation of fuel-stingy hybrids and electric cars... Estimated $3000 fuel savings over life of vehicles thru better gas mileage. Changes will cost auto industry about $52B, save consumers $240B... Environmentalists pleased by change in policy...

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 3:35 PM  0 comments

Oct 24, 2008

Fuel Savings * USA - Scientists quantify one

USA -eTrucker, by Max Kvidera -24 Oct 2008: -- By using off the shelf technology, owners of long range tractor trailers could reduce fuel consumption per unit up to 12 percent annually, or 2,000 gallons, reduce emissions and realize a profit of as much as $30,000 per truck over the first eight years of ownership, says a study released today by the Union of Concerned Scientists... Retrofitting used tractors and trailers as old as 12 years with a full package of fuel-saving technologies could still produce unidentified net savings for individual owners, the report said... For fleet owners with an average of 2.5 trailers per tractor, a full technology package could yield savings for equipment up to 6 years old... The report used an average fuel price of $3.24 over the past two years and estimated that tractor-trailers ran about 130,000 miles annually and achieved fuel economy of 6 to 6.5 mpg... A full fuel-efficient technology package could include aerodynamic trucks with a sloped hood and full roof fairing, wide-single tires, trailer side skirts or side panels that cover gaps between wheels and rear-trailer fairings, the report said...

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 10:56 AM  0 comments

Aug 15, 2008

Saving Fuel * USA - Requires Drivers' Active Participation

Fuel-efficient vehicles part of conserving fuel. Also requires drivers changing the way they drive

USA -Fleet Owner/Automotive Digest -14 Aug 2008: -- ... Drivers getting best fuel-efficiency also statistically safest... Drivers need to take common sense actions to achieve maximum fuel efficiency. Includes monitoring truck's tire pressure, do routine maintenance. Also avoid unnecessary starts and stops, reduce idling and braking and shift efficiently... Turn off engine retarders except in mountains to improve mpg up to 12% ... Driver training is essential to institute behavior change...

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 3:34 AM  0 comments

Aug 8, 2008

Saving Diesel * USA - Owners of trucking fleets back off speed to

If you think you have it bad paying almost $4 a gallon for gasoline, then consider your local truck drivers

Louisville,KY,USA -The Business First of Louisville, by Kevin Eigelbach -August 7, 2008: -- ... According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average U.S. price for diesel fuel on Monday was $4.60 a gallon, which is $1.71 cents more than diesel cost a year ago... “It’s ridiculous. I don’t know where it will all end,” said Jerry Franconia, owner of Dixie Haulers Inc. in Louisville, a fleet of 11 dump trucks. Fuel costs, previously a negligible part of expenses, now account for about 40 percent of them... He tells his drivers not to rev their engines as high before shifting and asks them not to let them idle... “Some listen, and some don’t,” he said. “When they lose their jobs, they’ll care, I guess”...

* Conserving by slowing: The price for diesel has trucking company managers every­where finding ways to keep their fleets from burning so much fuel, including cutting back on speed...

* Conserving by stopping: Another way to save fuel is not to leave the rig running at night, which truckers who sleep in their cabs do so they can run their air conditioners...

* Conserving with technology: The company also is testing hydrogen boosters from Novi, Mich.-based Hydrogen Fuel Systems Inc., which inject hydrogen gas into a truck engine to promote a more complete burn... (Photo by John Simpson/Business First - M&M Cartage mechanic Clyde Brittingham uses a laptop computer to access a truck’s electronic control modules and adjust settings such as the computer’s speed controllers)

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 4:57 PM  0 comments

Aug 5, 2008

Fuel-saving * UK - Driving styles will save a fortune

London,UK -The Road Transport, by David Harris -4 August 2008: -- Telematics specialist Isotrak says that its latest tests suggest hauliers could save 19% in fuel bills if drivers practised fuel-saving driving styles. This includes gentle acceleration and braking, optimal use of cruise control and avoiding too much idling... The 19% saving was made over four days monitoring a Scania 6x2 rigid. Initially the driver achieved 7.09mpg but increased this to 8.68mpg by using efficient driving techniques... Craig Sears-Black, Isotrak's sales and marketing director, says: "With fuel typically costing between £35,000 and £45,000 per year per HGV, representing 30%-35% of running costs, transport operators are under unprecedented pressure to minimise their fuel consumption. The good news is that better driving can save over £8,000 of fuel per annum"...

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 8:07 AM  0 comments

Jul 22, 2008

SAVE MONEY * USA - Trucks slow down to

With semitrucks making 5-8 miles per gallon, even a small savings adds up

Rapid City,S.D.,USA -The Associated Press/The Trucker -21 July 2008: -- Commercial truckers are slowing down to get the most miles out of every gallon of diesel fuel in their tanks, according to a South Dakota trucking industry official... Higher fuel costs — around $4.60 a gallon for diesel — have a deep and direct financial impact on truckers, said Myron Rau, president of the South Dakota Trucking Association... Anders has had his trucks programmed for a 70 mph limit for about a year. Now, he's moving down closer to 65 mph. But he also has a lighter foot in other vehicles as well... Efforts by commercial truckers to save fuel by slowing down can run head-on into the deadline realities truckers also face, Rau said. And with individual drivers limited to 11 road hours a day, slower speeds can further complicate delivery schedules, he said... The direct impact of the fuel cost hits hardest among those who buy the fuel. But it spreads quickly through society, because the trucking industry is the dominant carrier nationally, Rau said... (Photo: With semitrucks making 5-8 miles per gallon, even a small savings adds up)

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 10:51 AM  0 comments

Jun 28, 2008

FUEL SAVING * USA - Mud flaps drawing attention

USA -Fleet Owner -Jun 26, 2008: -- If you think you’ve done everything possible to improve fuel efficiency, there may still be one more opportunity left — fuel-efficient mud flaps. Andersen Flaps, Inc. has been providing its patented Eco-flaps to fleets since 2000 to reduce splash and spray, but it turns out the see-through mud flaps may help fleets see an improvement in fuel economy, too... Transportation Research Center, Inc. (TRC) performed SAE Test J1321 Type II on the Andersen flaps in July of 2006, and the results are posted on the Eco-flaps website. The baseline fuel economy for the two test trucks was 6.37 mpg and 6.54 mpg. With the flaps installed, the mpg increased to 6.71 mpg and 6.77 mpg respectively, according to the report...

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 7:57 AM  0 comments

Jun 14, 2008

FUEL SAVING * USA - Wal-Mart reaching fuel goals for truck fleet

Washington,DC,USA -Reuters, by Karey Wutkowski & Gary Hill -Jun 14, 2008: -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc is on track to reach its goal of increasing the fuel efficiency of its truck fleet by 25 percent this year and has already reached a 20 percent improvement, an executive said on Friday... The world's largest retailer also plans to introduce hybrid trucks into its fleet of more than 7,000 trucks later this year, said Matt Kistler, senior vice president of sustainability for Wal-Mart... Kistler said to reach the goal of increasing fuel efficiency, Wal-Mart has reduced the size of its diesel tanks to lighten the truck load and has outfitted the trucks with more fuel-efficient tires... Wal-Mart has worked on more high-tech initiatives such as a system that allows a driver to turn off the engine but keep the refrigeration component running... The fleet improvements come as fuel costs hit record highs, crimping retailers' profits...


* Italy - Trucking using less fuel



Rome,Italy -Reuters VIDEO, by Joanna Partridge -May 30, 2008: -- Mercedes Benz put their new trucks through their paces in an attempt to reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions... Two Actros heavy trucks were driven 10,000 kilometres, one on a test circuit in southern Italy and one in normal traffic on Italian roads... The aim was to monitor the impact of the trucks on the environment under ideal conditions and also on the roads to see how traffic, weather and driver behaviour influence fuel consumption... The truck driven on the test circuit proportionally consumed one litre of fuel per 100 kilometres, and emitted around 20 grams of CO2 per ton-kilometre...

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 5:04 AM  0 comments

May 2, 2008

No left turn * USA - Companies try to save fuel as prices rise

McLean,VA,USA -USA TODAY, by Julie Schmit -1 May 2008: -- ... Along with altering shipping routes, companies have slowed trucks to boost gas mileage, stepped up tire-pressure checks for the same reason, combined deliveries and deployed technology to improve routes — to the point of avoiding left turns because waiting for lights or for traffic to pass can consume more fuel than driving alternate routes... Every efficiency is a brake on rapidly rising fuel costs, up 22% for gasoline since last year and up 46% for diesel... Every efficiency is also a possible edge over rivals... "When costs increase for everybody, you get a huge competitive advantage if you do something just a little bit differently," says Z. John Zhang, professor of marketing at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania... Like many, Waste Connections CEO Ronald Mittelstaedt, doesn't expect fuel prices to drop, given strong demand from huge, rapidly growing countries such as China and India. But he expects conservation efforts to pay off even more if they ever do... "There can be a silver lining in time," he says... (Photo by Timothy W. Dunn for USA TODAY - Truckee-Tahoe Lumber Vice President Steve Stevenson, right, talks with driver Rob Scott, middle, and Chris Toreson at the yard in Truckee, Calif)

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 6:10 AM  0 comments

Oct 14, 2007

Lower Fuel Costs * Europe - Volvo Trucks: Fuels and environmental responsibility in focus

Drive fuel-efficiently and you can save both money and the environment

Amsterdam,Holland -Easier (Chester,UK) -12 October 2007: -- ... This is Volvo’s most important message at this year’s European Road Transport Show that takes place at the RAI in Amsterdam from October 26th to November 3rd. In focus is “Fuelwatch” – a holistic concept that, correctly utilised, gives customers considerably lower fuel costs as well as the opportunity to take active responsibility for the environment... Keeping pace with increasingly stringent environmental demands and tougher competition on the market, a clean environment and good fuel economy are becoming increasingly important to Volvo’s customers. Consequently, Volvo is focusing firmly on these issues at this year’s show. In the spotlight is “Fuelwatch”, a concept that uses a blend of both hardware and software to take a holistic grasp of the customer’s fuel consumption...

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 12:48 PM  0 comments

May 23, 2007

Fuel Economy * USA - Lawmakers demand more for big trucks

By 2011, manufacturers of heavy trucks could be required to increase fuel mileage by 4 percent each year for the following 20 years.

Washington,DC,USA -Land Line Magazine (Grain Valley,MO), by David Tanner -May 22, 2007: -- A U.S. Senate bill introduced by Sen. Harry Reid, D-NV, aims to do just that. It includes emissions and fuel economy as part of a larger package relating to energy and the environment... Reid’s bill – S1419 – includes a provision to amend the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards – known as the CAFE standards – for cars, light trucks, medium-duty trucks and heavy trucks... The bill gives the Secretary of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency authorization to set the fuel economy standards...

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 5:00 PM  0 comments

May 14, 2007

Reducing Fuel Costs * UK - ALDI doit, by £300/Vehicle per Month

Aldi is installing the GSPK Dual Fuel System to its vehicles following a detailed trial which demonstrated a fuel cost saving of £300/month for every vehicle

UK -TNN -14 May 2007: --
The trial compared three converted Scania P-series 380s with three identical vehicles over a three month period. The vehicles continued to cover normal routes with normal loads, and the average cost per mile was compared with the average from three identical unconverted vehicles... Diesel Dynamics of Avonmouth installed the dual fuel systems and worked closely with Aldi on the design and execution of the trial. Following its success they have now received an order to fit the system to the next batch of vehicles. Diesel Dynamics selected the GSPK Dual Fuel System for Aldi because of its proven cost saving performance on real vehicles over the past three years...

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 1:27 PM  0 comments

May 12, 2007

Fuel Economy * USA - Back in the Saddle

... The bill also mandates a 4% annual increase in mileage for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and would mark the first time that a fuel standard had been set for trucks larger than 10,000 pounds

New York,NY,USA -The Wall Street Journal, by NICK TIMIRAOS -May 12, 2007: -- ... Congress moved closer to requiring improved mileage from car makers for the first time in two decades this past week despite heavy opposition from Detroit... Already this year, Congress has five different proposals to regulate industry with a carbon cap-and-trade regulation. And in January, California passed the first law requiring low carbon fuels from fuel providers... What alternatives could be considered? Some studies say that fuel-economy improvements alone won't curb fuel consumption because consumers will drive more miles if their cars go more miles on every gallon of fuel. So some economists favor raising the gas tax, which would give consumers an economic incentive to buy more-efficient vehicles and to drive them less... But a gas tax remains politically unpopular. Polls show that Americans overwhelmingly favor requirements for tighter fuel standards while opposing increases in the gas tax... (Photo: Gasoline in the U.S. climbed above $3 a gallon at the pump for the third straight year)

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 11:12 AM  0 comments

May 11, 2007

Save Money on Gas * USA - 5 Major Ways to

As we have often heard, "If you keep doing what you've been doing, you will keep getting what you have been getting." We have been getting more pollution and higher gas prices. Isn't it time to make some sort of change?...

USA -Hybrid Cars Alternative Fuels and More, by Donovan Baldwin -May 10, 2007: -- I know you just want to get to the meat of how to save money on gas, but let me just lecture for a moment... Therefore, these tips not only tell you some ways you can simply save money on gas, but also nudge you a little bit along the path of change... While you can do all sorts of things, including walking, in order to save money on gas, here's my top five picks...

1. Trade in the gas guzzler...
2. Keep your tires inflated properly...
3. Slow down...
4. Pay attention...
5. Keep your car properly maintained...

Of course, these are not the only ways that you can save money on gas. You can carpool, find less congested routes to and from work and shopping, shop online instead of in a traffic jam, take turns driving kids to school, set it up with friends and neighbors to take turns running errands, combine errands into a single trip, or even learn to walk or bike short distances rather than driving. Hey, you might save money on healthcare with that last one, as walking or cycling around the neighborhood can help you with fitness, health, and weight loss, and that generally translates into fewer trips to the doctor, and fewer medications or medical procedures...

As they say in Germany, "Live well!"...

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 4:40 PM  0 comments

Mar 13, 2007

Fuel savings * USA - The green way to keep on trucking

London,England,UK -Financial Times (Subscr.), by Sarah Murray -March 12 2007: -- Last summer, a family in Oregon recently embarked on an unusual experiment. Using the package-flow technology developed by UPS, the global transportation company, the family saved $3.69 a day on fuel – almost $1,000 over the course of the year... When such savings are translated to UPS’s fleet of almost 94,500 cars, vans, tractors and motorcycles, the results satisfy not only finance executives but also those trying to cut the company’s carbon footprint...

Labels:

posted by Unknown @ 3:57 PM  0 comments