Energy-Efficient Tips for Fleet Owners and Truck Drivers
In light of April being "Earth Month," we at Truck Service of Virginia wanted to discuss energy-efficient steps that drivers and fleet owners can take to help reduce their carbon emissions.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calculated that between 1990 and 2020, the transportation sector accounted for roughly 27% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). That is the largest contribution to GHG emissions in the country. The good news is there are measures that both drivers and fleet owners can take to lower the GHG emissions in the trucking industry.
Let's look at a few!
- Annual Maintenance: Regular tune-ups can help your truck's fuel efficiency, shrinking its carbon footprint and reducing the cost of fuel. It can also reduce problems inside the truck and engine, saving you from costly repairs down the road. (No pun intended!)
- Alternative Fuel: Advances in environmental science have made new eco-friendly fuel options available. For example, biodiesel fuel is created from organic materials such as used cooking oils, rendered animal fats, and vegetable oils.
- Efficient Driving Tactics: Drivers should learn to drive defensively and not aggressively. Drivers who accelerate and brake rapidly use between 15% and 30% more fuel on the highway than defensive drivers, it's also more dangerous!
- Updating Your Fleet: Old and outdated trucks will perform with significantly less fuel efficiency than a newer model. Increasing a vehicle's miles per gallon from 10mpg to 15mpg will result in a 33% reduction in CO2 emissions annually.
Let's practice energy-efficient truck driving so we can make every day Earth Day! If you are interested in upgrading to a new custom-built service truck or want to schedule an engine tune-up, call us at 800-550-0132.
