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The impetus for change in the trucking sector has never been greater.  Today’s high fuel prices, greater regulatory pressure and increased attention to climate change are creating a strong strategic and business rationale for increased efficiency of truck transportation.

Heavy trucks use over 18 percent of of all U.S. oil -- or 3.8 million of barrels a day!  The average long-haul truck gets only 6 miles per gallon. Yet, tractors and trailers have not changed significantly in the past 20 years.

Creating a more efficient truck and freight industry is key in MOVE’s strategy to remove our dependence on oil.  (See Winning the Oil Endgame)

The MOVE team works actively within the trucking sector in research and consulting to help clients find efficiency solutions. Partners include:

• Truck Fleet Operators
• Truck Manufacturers
• Trailer Manufacturers
• Truck and Trailer Efficiency Device Manufacturers
• Government agencies
• NGOs working to promote efficiency in Heavy Duty Vehicles

Previous projects include work with Wal-Mart, Logistics Management Incorporated and the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

The Future of Trucking

MOVE's vision for the trucking sector's next decade of development focuses on a radical shift to more cargo being moved with less fuel.

To do this will require:

• Increasing the aerodynamics of new trucks and trailers. Improving their design can easily and effectively reduce fuel consumption. Older trucks can be improved through retrofits
• Increasing the use of tires with low rolling resistance to reduce fuel consumption
• Decreasing the weight of new trucks and trailers to increase the miles traveled per unit of fuel
• Associating efficiency and productivity gains with monetary value, thus prompting uniform industry incentives for driver training, load and route optimization, and so on.
• Increasing freight hauled per trip by mandating aggressive and internationally competitive fuel economy, length, and weight standards
• Accelerating the adoption of efficient technologies by developing supportive policies and funding mechanisms

By combining these critical steps with improved engines and synergistic technologies, trucks that deliver freight at half or even one-third the environmental impact will not only be possible, they will be profitable.

For further information regarding consulting and research opportunities, please Contact Us.