Fuel Efficiency on Tap at Mid-America

Light & Medium Truck, May 2008 by Reiskin, Jonathan S

Talk of fuel efficiency and reduced engine emissions largely displaced glitz and chrome at center stage at the nation's largest truck equipment show.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.

With $4-a-gallon diesel prices ravaging trucking companies and shippers pressing carriers for greener supply chains, equipment manufacturers at the Mid-America Trucking Show here in March said they have - and are eager to sell - products that will improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Major original equipment manufacturers and smaller equipment and service vendors kept returning to the twin themes of higher fuel mileage and lower carbon output at a series of press briefings March 26 before the official start of MATS, the largest trucking show in the United States. MATS officials later said the show attracted 1,174 vendors and more than 76,500 truck buyers and enthusiasts before the March 29 closing.

"The two major issues we see are fuel prices and emissions reductions," said Joe Plomin, vice president for truck products at ArvinMeritor Inc. He told the story of a customer managing a 400-truck fleet who said he would save $350,000 a year if he could just boost his average miles per gallon to 6.6 from 6.5.

Engine maker Cummins Inc. said it is adding auxiliary power units to its product lineup so drivers will not have to idle the heavy-duty engines the company makes merely for the generation of heating, air conditioning and in-cab electricity.

From Paccar Inc., the general managers of Kenworth Trucks and Peterbilt Motors reminded those assembled at MATS that APUs introduced at last year's truck show have added value this year, in that they comply with anti-idling regulations set by the California Air Resources Board.

Environmental regulators in that state have been eager to stanch the emissions from idling trucks, particularly at ports.

Kenworth executives spoke of their use of liquefied natural gas engines, while Peterbilt managers touted their work with hybrids.

Joe McAleese, chief executive officer of Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, said his company - perhaps best known for its brakes - has mainly been interested in truck safety issues, but with the current extraordinary levels for energy prices, it is impossible not to notice the desire by fleet managers to get some help in managing those costs.

Using the company's expertise on braking, McAleese said, Bendix might have a lot to offer on hybrid engines that use surplus energy from braking for propulsion. He also said the company has been working on compressor electrification for smaller engines.

Other vendors also showed they have been listening to their customers' anguish.

Grote Industries, a manufacturer of lighting for tractors and trailers, was quick to sell on the point that light-emitting diodes, better known as LEDs, are efficient at providing illumination with low levels of energy consumption.

Webasto Product North America said it has launched a Web site - www.makealeap.org - that compiles state anti-idling regulations.

The company also unveiled four products to help lessen the need for idling: two in-cab heaters, an air conditioner and an engine coolant pre-heater.

Webasto ceded part of its time to the Environmental Protection Agency, which is providing a clearinghouse for loan applications. Paul Bubbosh, a manager with EPA's Smart Way program, said small fleets and owner-operators can apply for bank loans to finance purchases of energy-efficient or low-emission equipment.

With a single document filed through EPA, a company or person can apply to multiple lenders. Interested lenders reply directly to the applicant, Bubbosh said.

MATS was set this year between two major events orchestrated by EPA. In January 2007, the agency tightened the emission standards on diesel engines and will do so again in January 2010.

Advanced Transit Dynamics announced a deal with Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co., whereby Utility would offer ATD's "TrailerTail" as an option.

"Diesel prices are at record highs, and concern over global warming will lead to even stricter emissions standards," said Andrew Smith, ATD's CEO.

The TrailerTail is a collapsible shell that attaches to the rear of the trailer and, when deployed, molds the shape of the wind rushing off the trailer as the truck rolls down the highway. The company claimed that on longhaul applications, the device can shave off 5% of fuel costs.

Smith said his product, which adds about 4 feet to the length of a trailer, has an exemption from the Department of Transportation's 53-foot length limit, so carriers using it will not violate size-and-weight rules.

-Frederick Keil contributed to this report.