Articles and Reports
Click on one of the topics listed to get tips and strategies from industry experts. This page aims to serve as a resource for various stakeholders with interest in the trucking industry, with the following content types provided by our staff.
- Tips and strategies from industry experts
- Examples of successful companies implementing strategies
- Studies and research
Staff will continue updating this page with additional content periodically.
Topics
- Aerodynamics
- Diesel Exhaust/Emissions
- Electrification
- Fuel Efficiency
- Idling
- Last Mile
- Supply Chain
- Telematics
Aerodynamics
Title |
Summary |
Date |
| Increase Fuel Efficiency Through Aerodynamics | An aerodynamics product improved fuel efficiency and was tested by a trucking company to highlight both the test results and customer satisfaction. | 1/2/2024 |
| Fuel Efficiency Is the Main Goal in Trailer Aerodynamics | The installation of aerodynamic devices on trailers can produce substantial results for fuel efficiency. | 9/15/2023 |
| Roeth: No More Skirting the Trailer Skirt Issue | A 2022 NACFE study highlights the operational cost savings resulting from installing skirts on trailers. | 8/16/2023 |
| How Aerodynamics Can Extend Class 8 EV Range | In addition to such factors as battery size, vehicle weight and the efficiency of the powertrain, aerodynamics plays a tremendous role in the range of how far an EV truck can travel on a single charge. | 7/6/2023 |
Diesel Exhaust/Emissions
Title |
Summary |
Date |
| Hazard Alert-Diesel Exhaust/Diesel Particulate Matter | Diesel Particulate Matter is a major component of Diesel Exhaust containing hazardous soot particles. Short-term and prolonged exposure places nearby individuals at great risk of health effects. | 1/1/2013 |
| Study of Alternatives to reduce driver exposure to Diesel Exhaust | A study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration investigated the effectiveness of idle reduction technologies in reducing driver exposure to diesel exhaust -- and to study the cost effectiveness of such technologies. The study findings indicated that the use of these technologies significantly produced reductions in PM2.5 emission levels in the truck cabin. | 6/29/2018 |
| Bolt-On SPIER System Improves Fuel Economy, Reduces Emissions and Maintenance | A new bolt-on device produces increased fuel efficiency and slashes NOx, along with other pollutants. Following a one-day installation, the device routes exhaust from the tailpipe of a diesel truck -- back to the engine, introducing the exhaust into the combustion chamber. | 4/21/2021 |
| Achates' Engine Brings Power, Lower Emissions | Achates Power has produced a two-stroke diesel engine designed with two crankshafts linking to two pistons facing each other. This type of engine more efficiently retains heat and reduces NOx as much as 90%. | 4/23/2021 |
| Bill to Reduce Carbon Emissions Targets Trucking Industry | A bill passed by the California Legislature and signed by the Governor aims to phase out diesel trucks and requires diesel emission reductions of 40 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050. The bill also requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to formulate a market-based strategy by January 1, 2021 to bring the trucking industry into compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards. | 3/1/2021 |
| Tracking Transportation-Related Emissions Just Got Easier | Various transportation and logistics companies are implementing devices which track and measure benchmarks relating to emissions outputs and other metrics. These mechanisms are part of efforts to improve upon environmental sustainability practices. | 4/8/2021 |
| How Fleets Are Reducing Emissions in 2021 | Companies have made tremendous strides in reducing emissions from their vehicles in the past year. A couple strategies leveraged toward doing so include clean transportation initiatives and utilizing innovative programs to acquire newer and more efficient heavy-duty trucks. | 4/15/2021 |
| Salesforce Tool Expedites Direct and Indirect Emissions Accounting | Carbon counting can now be done in less required time. A software platform, Salesforce Sustainability Cloud, focuses on the energy and carbon impacts of commercial buildings, data centers, business travel and fleet vehicles. The process saves time and allows any company to use the software platform to track the energy use and emission output of their vehicles. | 4/20/2021 |
| EPA Provides Updates on Emissions Standards, SmartWay Activities | EPA looks at several ways of lowering emission standards. One of those includes updates to the EPA's Smartway program that looks at alternative fuels, trailer refrigeration units and modeling with computational fluid dynamics. EPA also wants to add new technologies for Smartway that include electric vehicles. | 4/19/2021 |
| Loadsmart Uses Optimization Tool to Reduce Customers' Carbon Footprint | Loadsmart is a digital freight technology tool that allows customers to choose from different transportation modes for their shipment in order to reduce their carbon footprint. Additionally, the tool provides cost effective ways for sustainable shipment modes. | 4/22/2021 |
| FreightWaves Carbon Intelligence: New Tools to Monitor Carbon Footprint | FreightWaves, a provider for data and analytics to freight and logistcs, announces their new plaform called FreightWaves Carbon Intellegence (FCI). The platform will give the user the ability to track their carbon footprint. The FCI platform tool can be very important to companies that need to adere to ESG requirements. | 4/22/2021 |
| Cummins, Tula Test Achieves Reduced Emissions | Cummins Inc. and Tula technology Inc. announced that Tula's technology, diesel Dynamic Skip Fire (dDSF) software is effective in reducing emmisions such as NO and CO2. Compared to other engine technologies, dDSF saved 20% in fuel proving that it 's more fuel efficient while reducing emissions. | 4/26/2021 |
Electrification
Title |
Summary |
Date |
| Infrastructure Still Top Issue for Electric Truck Deployment | With many components in the mix to electrify a trucking fleet, it is pertinent to build and leverage relationships with various sector types to plan for an implement the electrification process. | 6/28/2024 |
| Roeth: Battery-Electric Terminal Tractors Have Proved They Can Do the Job | Battery-electric terminal tractors serve as an effective building block for fleets to transition to heavy-duty electric vehicles. | 12/20/2023 |
| How Fleets Can Get Started Today Transitioning to Lower Emissions or EVs | The process of electrification or modifying a fleet to produce lower emissions is a gradual one. Fleets can start with small steps to lead to a greater reduction in emissions output in various levels of transport use. | 10/12/2023 |
| NACFE's 10 Tips to Roll Out Electric Truck Chargers | From designating a project lead to selecting electric vehicles -- to commissioning charging hardware, there are numerous aspects of the process which require a great attention to detail and involvement of various stakeholder types. | 6/8/2023 |
Fuel Efficiency
Title |
Summary |
Date |
| The Changing Definition of Efficiency | Developments in fuel efficiency have reshaped standards, the growing presence of lost opportunities and an evolving outlook on what can and should occur regarding future alternative fuel source deployment for heavy-duty vehicles. | 4/12/2024 |
| What Causes Fuel Inefficiencies and How to Combat Them | Making great use of technology-based mechanisms and communication practices among fleet-involved staff members can work to offset areas in which fuel efficiency metrics can be improved. | 2/15/2024 |
| Study: MPG Improves As Fleets Adopt Diesel-Saving Technologies | According to a 2022 NACFE study, with a technology adoption rate increasing by more than 1/3, fuel economy among 15 fleets climbed substantially following pandemic years. | 12/14/2022 |
| How to Use Telematics to Reduce Fuel Consumption | The utilization of telematics applications carries money and fuel savings benefits with such operational categories as idling and routing efficiencies. | 9/11/2022 |
| 12 Tips for Truck Drivers to Improve MPG | The Nortm American Council on Freight Efficiency features 12 different methods for improving fuel efficiency for trucks. | 6/9/2022 |
Idling
Title |
Summary |
Date |
| Uncovering the Hidden Costs of Truck Idling That Eat Away at Your Bottom Line | The practice of truck idling can lead to such prepercussions as excessive fuel consumption, wear on the engine and local fines. It is imperative for fleet managers and other stakeholders to choose solutions that will greatly curtail this harmful practice. | 5/30/2024 |
| Tips to Reduce Your Fleet's Idle Time | This article provides statistics on the impact of commercial vehicle idling, in addition to how the use of modern day tech can optimize efficiency in transport through curtailing idling activity from commercial vehicles. | 10/23/2023 |
| How to Keep Drivers Cool This Summer Without Idling | With fleets and independent drivers focused on reducing idling activity, there are various products and mechanisms available for purchase and implementation that reduce -- if not eliminate the need for idling -- so that truckers can be comfortable when in between trips. | 6/7/2023 |
| Truck Idling Is Burning Up Profits. Here Are Four Solutions | This article provides four approaches to reducing and/or eliminating truck idling activity -- some of which include adding a start-stop mechanism and replacing existing trucks with ZEV trucks. | 5/8/2022 |
Last Mile
Title |
Summary |
Date |
| How AI Is Driving Sustainability in Last-Mile Delivery | AI has great potential to enhance sustainability aspects of last-mile delivery in such ways as route optimization, load optimization and predictive analytics. | 5/10/2024 |
| Tips for Sustainable Last-Mile Deliveries | There is a number of steps that merchants can take to improve infrastructure and route planning to significantly lower last-mile emissions for the benefit of others affected by transport activity. | 1/3/2023 |
| Last-Mile Focuses on Sustainable Shipping | As last mile transport has improved in the speed of delivery to local destinations, various metrics of sustainability practices have been enhanced in various forms. | 12/8/2022 |
Supply Chain
Title |
Summary |
Date |
| Sustainable Logistics: Navigating the Path of a Green Supply Chain | Technological advancements and increasing regulations have prompted a dynamic shift in supply chain sustainability operations. Between fleets deploying more electric vehicles and a more frequent demand for the employment of sustainable practices in various aspects, the supply chain sector has demonstrated significant progress in sustainable transport. | 12/8/2023 |
| Supply Chain Sustainability Pressures Persist | A greater sense of urgency has led to companies with interest in product delivery ramping up their efforts to reduce their emissions volume, in addition to increased collaboration efforts between companies to improve the overall landscape for supply chain sustainability. | 11/16/2023 |
| Understanding Supply Chain Emissions Is Key to Meeting Carbon Reduction Targets | In order to effectively reduce a company's carbon footprint in the short- and long-term, stakeholders must become familiar with all defining factors related to emissions producting components throughout its supply chain apparatus. | 5/18/2023 |
| Strenthening Sustainable Supply Chains to Lower Emissions | Data is an essential component to identify and reduce emissions output generated from supply chain operations. | 4/25/2023 |
Telematics
Title |
Summary |
Date |
| Truck-Specific Navigation Software Offers Safety, Efficiency | The use of real time data offers a wide array of mechanisms to curtail unnecessary miles, improve route optimization and enhance other aspects that work for a better fuel economy and emissions reduction outlook. | 6/3/2024 |
| EV Diagnostics: A Critical Part of Electric Vehicle Management | Telematics mechanisms leveraged from a remote perspective can keep fleet managers up-to-date on the status of various truck components in need of repair and maintenance service. | 2/21/2024 |
| Three Ways to Integrate Sustainability Into Your Fleet Management | Partnering with a third-party logistics provider to reduce fuel consumption, improve route optimization and enhance vehicle maintenance can contribute to a more effective fleet sustainability operation. | 9/23/2023 |
| Telematics Beyond ELD Systems: Promise, Redundancy and Real Expense/Uptime Benefits | The implementation of telematics devices on trucks can result in substantial cost savings, more efficient maintenance and diagnostics, in addition to other financial and operational benefits. | 7/7/2023 |