Con-way Sticking With '08 Fuel-Efficiency Measures
February 05 2009 - 1:29PM
Dow Jones News
A relatively simple fuel-efficiency measure - drive slower - was
adopted by many truckers in 2008. But that doesn't mean they're
putting the pedal to the metal now that fuel prices have
fallen.
Con-way Inc. (CNW), a top trucking company, has been sticking
with reduced maximum speed limits that it instigated last year as a
means of combating spiraling fuel costs.
In a high-profile move, Con-way lowered the top highway speed of
its less-than-truckload fleet to 62 miles per hour from 65 last
February. In May, it lowered the maximum speed of its long-haul
fleet to 65 miles per hour from 70.
Combined, the two measures were projected to save roughly 5.8
million gallons of fuel annually. Trucking companies have
electronic engine controls to regulate the top speed of their
trucks.
Fuel prices have fallen significantly since, but "we've just
left (the speed limits) were they are because fuel eventually is
going to increase" again and remains a major expense, Con-way
spokesman Gary Frantz said.
The company is maintaining other fuel-efficiency measures put in
place last year as well, including stepped up efforts to ensure
proper tire pressure and to reduce engine idling times.
Frantz said the actions have resulted in safety and emissions
benefits, in addition to improved fuel efficiency, and have had
little downsides.
For instance, the slower speeds have tacked 20 to 30 minutes to
the longest runs by Con-way's less-than-truckload fleet. But Frantz
said the figure has been easily manageable, noting that 2008
on-time performance of 97.1% actually increased slightly from
2007.
Representatives of fellow trucking companies J.B. Hunt Transport
Services Inc. (JBHT) and YRC Worldwide Inc. (YRCW) weren't
available for comment. But other freight haulers appear to be
sticking by stepped up fuel-efficiency measures as well.
Patrick Hiatte, a spokesman for Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Corp. (BNI), noted that fuel efficiency has always been a top
priority for the railroad, but he acknowledged the issue had a
higher profile in 2008 amid the soaring diesel prices.
Burlington Northern's efforts include training engineers to
accelerate and break steadily, Hiatte said, because "the quicker
you start and the quicker you stop, the less fuel efficient you
are."
The company also has worked to reduce locomotive idling times
and to optimize train lengths and loads, he said. Longer-term
efforts include testing alternative fuels, as well as migrating to
more fuel-efficient locomotives.
While the issue of fuel-efficiency clearly took on "heightened
awareness" last year, Hiatte said, it was a priority before then
and continues to be so.
"It becomes a part of employees' work habits," he said. "Once
you learn how to operate a train fuel efficiently, that becomes how
you operate it."
-By Bob Sechler, Dow Jones Newswires; 512-394-0285;
bob.sechler@dowjones.com