Trucking

Eighteen Wheeler

On this page, you will find info on the following ways to improve fuel efficiency and reduce climate-changing emissions from fleet vehicles:

Click a link in the list above to jump to that topic on this page.

More and more vehicles are travelling Canadian roads — many of them picking up and delivering products that keep our economy humming. Trucking is one of the fastest-growing industries in Manitoba. It employs over 33,000 Manitobans and is the fourth largest source of export earnings in the province (1).

Although trucking generates a lot of benefits, it also generates climate-changing greenhouse gases (GHG). More than 27% of all GHG emissions in Canada are produced by the road transportation sector.

Diesel trucks are the workhorses of Manitoba’s thriving transportation industry. However, for every litre of diesel fuel a vehicle consumes, 2.7 kilograms of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere (2). Exhaust emissions are also a major cause of urban smog, acid rain and other air pollution problems. It goes without saying that improving fuel efficiency can have a huge impact on air quality and climate change.

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Vehicle specification

The engine, tires and other vehicle components you choose in your vehicle can have a large impact on fuel efficiency.

  • Pick an engine that will give you enough power for your operation (excess horsepower in an engine contributes to unwanted fuel consumption).
  • Choose tires that will optimize traction and fuel efficiency.
  • Pick lightweight components for your vehicle (lighter vehicles are more fuel efficient).

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Idle-time reduction

Idling is a very wasteful and unsustainable activity and the majority of idle time is unnecessary. The Office of Energy Efficiency has estimated that the average long-haul truck idles away up to $1,790 in profits a year.

Here are some ways to reduce idle time:

  • Reduce the amount of warm-up time and cool-down time. Modern trucks need less than 10 minutes to warm up and cool down. After the warm-up time, run the vehicle ‘gently’ until it gets up to normal operating temperature.
  • Install auxiliary cab heaters in your truck. Auxiliary heaters use a fraction of the fuel that a vehicle will and they provide adequate warmth.
  • Turn your vehicle off when you are going for lunch, going into a customer’s office, etc. Ten and fifteen minutes here and there can add up over a year’s time.

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Speed management

The speed you run at has a huge impact on your fuel economy. Fuel economy decreases 2.2% for every mile (1.6 km) per hour you drive over 55 mph (85 km/hr).

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Progressive shifting

Modern engines are meant to be shifted at lower RPMs. Revving an engine to maximum RPMs will reduce your fuel efficiency.

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