Annual Fleet Efficiency Study Helps NACFE Benchmark Fuel-Saving Trends

Seventeen fleets operating more than 62,000 tractors and 217,000 trailers saw a 3% increase in fuel economy in 2015, saving an accumulative $501 million on fuel when compared to the 2015 national average fuel spend of 1.7 million over-the-road Class 8 trucks.

They achieved these gains by purchasing a variety of fuel efficiency technologies, according to the Annual Fleet Fuel Study released by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency.

Fleet-wide mpg increased from 6.87 to 7.06 in 2015, the largest margin of improvement in eight years of consecutive improvements. The trade cycle for these fleets is a little over five years, meaning that the new trucks are about 16% more efficient than the 2010 model year trucks they replaced. 
The adoption rate of new efficiency technologies such as electronically controlled transmissions, low-viscosity engine oil, and tire pressure inflation on trailers continued to increase even though diesel fuel prices averaged $2.71 in 2015.

“Investing in efficiency technologies is the new normal,” said Mike Roeth, operation lead for CWR's Trucking Efficiency and executive director of NACFE. “And these fleets are continuing to make investments because they do not want to be caught short when fuel prices go up again.”

The primary finding of this report is that the 17 fleets studied are increasing their rate of adoption of these technologies, and that they are enjoying improved fuel economy as a result. The overall adoption rate for the technologies studied in this report has grown from 18% in 2003 to 43% last year.

The average fleet-wide fuel economy of the trucks in this study averaged 7.06 mpg in 2015, a 3% increase over the same fleet in 2014. The fleets in this study on average sell their trucks in 5.25 years. This suggests that the new trucks put into service in 2015 (2016 MY) by these fleets ...Read the rest of this story

HDT Seeking Nominations for Top 50 Green Fleets

Heavy Duty Trucking is looking for fleets that have made a commitment to sustainability, alternative fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions for its 2016 Top 50 Green Fleets.

HDT's editors are asking fleets to fill out a short survey online with basic information about their fleet, alternative fuel use and SmartWay participation, plus room to offer additional comments on "green" projects.

Top 50 Green Fleets will have made a commitment to sustainability, reducing emissions, increasing fuel economy or adapting new fuels. The designation goes beyond the truck and trailer and extends to facilities that are greener or companies with green policies. Fleets of all sizes and types are encouraged to enter. Special attention will be paid to initiatives from the past year.

The top green fleets will be featured in the November issue of HDT and on Truckinginfo.com. View last year's winners here.

Fill out the survey here.

Related: HDT's 2015 Top 50 Green Fleets

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Shippers Challenge Liability Changes in Uniform Bill of Lading

Some shippers are unhappy about changes to the standard bill of lading used by less-than-truckload carriers.

As the Journal of Commerce reports, the Transportation and Logistics Council and NASSTRAC say changes to the National Motor Freight Traffic Association uniform bill of lading, which went into effect August 13, are unfair to smaller shippers that rely on the BOL as their contract.

The NMFTA, which represents more than 600 less-than-truckload trucking companies, says the changes simply update and clarify provisions of the bill of lading, which was last revised in 1997.

The shippers' biggest problem with the revised agreement is language related to proving carrier negligence.

Section 1(b) states that “the burden to prove carrier negligence is on the shipper.” The previous UBOL stated “the burden to prove freedom from negligence is on the carrier.”

The shipper groups contend that this is in violation of the Carmack Amendment, the 1906 law that established uniform cargo liability standards.

NMFTA lawyers, however, told JOC that they're not changing the law. “The shipper has the burden of proof to show (a shipment) was tendered in good condition, delivered in damaged condition, and then the burden shifts to the carrier, to prove it was not negligent.”

The Surface Transportation Board has denied a petition by the supper groups asking it to suspend the controversial UBOL provisions and questioned whether it even had the authority to investigate.

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Economic Watch: Manufacturing Declines, GDP Expectations Lowered

A preliminary look at the nation's manufacturing sector shows it continues to expand following a recent downturn. Separate reports show expectations of long-term economic growth have been moved lower and the housing market is suffering from low inventory levels.

U.S. goods producers saw a further upturn in overall business conditions during August, though the rate of improvement was softer than seen in July, according to a first reading for the month from the Flash U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) provided by the financial information services provider IHS Markit.

It registered 52.1 in August, down from July's nine-month high of 52.9. The August reading pointed to a moderate rate of improvement that was weaker the post-Great Recession average. While output continued to rise markedly, total new work rose at a slower pace and employment expanded at the weakest rate in four months.

U.S. manufacturers signaled increased output for the third month running in August. The rate of expansion remained solid overall, having edged up slightly from July to a nine-month high. Anecdotal evidence suggested that new product launches, stronger underlying demand and new marketing strategies supported production growth in August.

“Taking the July and August readings together suggests that manufacturing is enjoying its best growth so far this year."

“The August drop in the PMI is a disappointment but less worrying when looked at in the context of July's better-than-expected reading,” says Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit. “Taking the July and August readings together suggests that manufacturing is enjoying its best growth so far this year in the third quarter, and should help drive stronger gross domestic product (GDP) growth.”

With August seeing the largest rise in exports for almost two years, Williamson said, the improved trade performance should also help drive faster economic growth.

“However, a slowdown in overall order book growth is ...Read the rest of this story

Bendix Wingman available for Peterbilt 579, 567 models

Bendix's driver assistance system, Bendix Wingman Fusion, can now be ordered as a factory-installed option on Peterbilt Motors Company Models 579 and 567 highway tractors and vocational trucks.

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems made Wingman Fusion available in 2015. According to the company, the system integrates a suite of Bendix safety technologies – radar, camera, the vehicle's brake system – into a driver assistance system.

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CVSA to hold 2016 Brake Safety Week Sept. 11-17

During the week of Sept. 11-17, 2016, law enforcement agencies across North America will conduct inspections on large trucks and buses to identify out-of-adjustment brakes, and brake-system and anti-lock braking system (ABS) violations as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) Brake Safety Week, an annual outreach and enforcement campaign designed to improve commercial motor vehicle (CMV) brake safety throughout North America.

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Dept. of Labor blog adds insult to injury

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