Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/99720
COVER STORY Green: the New Gold DRIVER'S DIGEST 6 F or some fleet owners and owner-operators, "being green" has remained a bit of a mystery. Not the idea itself, of course. Most share a concern for the environment, just as they agree that there are steps we all can take to protect our precious natural resources. Still, many in the industry question the price tag for green technologies or practices, seeing only the expense and not the benefit to their bottom line. But that resistance is fading; a green revolution is underway in the trucking industry as successful fleets and drivers are now discovering that green solutions are helping them drive environment change and dollars to their bottom line. "There's no question that trucking plays a critical role in the transportation of goods in North America," says Wade Long, director of product marketing for Volvo Trucks. "Fleets are challenged every day to be more efficient and more profitable. They are now learning how to do both with technologies that help them reduce the amount of energy it takes to delivery their loads. Every drop of fuel a fleet saves is money in the bank. But it also represents reduced greenhouse gases and a lower carbon footprint, which contributes to a healthier environment. So how green can you be? How green should you be? The answer, it seems, is as varied as there are ways to save fuel. AERODYNAMICS For years, aerodynamic devices have proven their worth in reducing turbulence and drag. After all, half the energy required DDQ312.indd 6 to move a truck down the road at 55 mph is consumed just to overcome air resistance. Increase that speed to 65 mph and now the truck is consuming two-thirds of its energy just to slice through the air. But the more you put aerodynamics to work the less you'll be fighting the wind, and the less fuel you'll be burning. A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy bears this out; implementing a wide range of aerodynamic improvements on a commercial vehicle can reduce drag as much as 23 percent, delivering up to an 11 percent increase in fuel economy. "The rule of thumb is that a 2 percent reduction in aerodynamic drag will generally deliver a 1 percent improvement in fuel economy," says Long. "But not every aerodynamic device is ideal for everyone. It's important for each fleet to select aerodynamic components that are practical for their application, that deliver the best return on their investment." One way to identify an aerodynamically superior truck is to look for the SmartWay Certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This certification is awarded to vehicles that have been built with components that can lower fuel consumption, including cab roof fairings, gap reducers, chassis fairings, aerodynamic bumpers and mirrors, low-rolling resistance tires on aluminum wheels, as well as other options that reduce or eliminate engine idling. "The purpose of aerodynamics is to get airflow moving smoothly around the truck and quickly attach to the trailer," says Frank Bio, product marketing manager – trucks at Volvo Trucks. "If a roof fairing falls even a few inches short of the top of your trailer, you can be lowering your fuel economy by several percentage points." Volvo Trucks produces a trim tab, Bio notes, that can be adjusted to fill that critical gap. "This is an inexpensive option that can pay for itself many times over adding to the overall fuel efficiency of the vehicle." 12/11/12 1:44 PM