A Trucker's Role

At the core of the trucking industry are the drivers themselves. What is important to truck drivers? What do they value? What is their experience on the road?

For the group of experts assembled at this week's Transformational Trucking Charrette in Denver, setting the tone of the event—which aims to achieve doubled efficiency in heavy duty trucks—involved tapping into the mind of the trucker. More specifically, what role does efficiency play in a trucker's everyday life, and what implications does this have for a group of policy-makers, technical experts, and OEMs (original equipment manufacturers)?

The truck driver is essential to all of our lives because they transfer the goods that we need—what we eat, wear, cook, and play with on a daily basis. With this at the core of the discussion, participants sought to frame each issue around the role drivers play in the collaborative charge toward radical fuel efficiency.

An industry that already operates on low profit margins (1–2 percent), heavy-duty trucking is particularly in danger in light of the current economic crisis (more than 2,000 have gone out of business in the past year). Product manufacturers, fleet owners, and truck drivers alike face an enormous amount of uncertainty. Compounding these concerns are policies and regulations that enforce strict emissions standards on tight time-frames. “These guys are worried about staying in business,” mentioned one participant. "There is confusion about government action and new standards, and a concern about maintenance of livelihood."

Right now, people think they can’t afford to worry about efficiency. Truck drivers don't see themselves as responsible for global climate change. However, within the current system, drivers are the ones who will be paying the price (in terms of both climate and cost). Finding a way to make truck drivers champions of efficiency could be the biggest challenge, and biggest opportunity over the next 10–15 years.

As RMI’s Transformational Trucking Charrette continues, each level of the supply chain will be explored, including how we can better move our goods with dramatically reduced energy use—all the while maintaining the health and profitability of an irreplaceable industry.

Kelly Sweitzer, RMI