Letters: Environment, Source to Rely on, Appreciating Black Drivers

Fuel Benefits Help The Environment

The Environmental Protection Agency, in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, recently issued its Phase 2 regulations tightening emissions standards for medium and large trucks. The new regulations are more ambitious and strict than those in Phase 1 and potentially more impactful over the long term.

According to EPA, “[T]he final standards are expected to lower CO2 emissions by approximately 1.1 billion metric tons, save vehicle owners fuel costs of about $170 billion and reduce oil consumption by up to two billion barrels over the lifetime of the vehicles sold under the program.”

Many trucking fleets have voluntarily taken steps to reduce emissions by implementing fleet-management software and Electronic Logging Devices, or ELDs, that track unsafe or wasteful driving behavior, to improve safety and efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. But because only one in three fleets has implemented the technology, there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Both trucking fleets and EPA are motivated by the green factor. But in my experience, for the fleets, “green” means saving money on fuel, and to EPA, “green” means reducing emissions. Fortunately, the end goal is the same, since saving fuel also helps reduce emissions.

Research firm TechNavio forecasts that the market for fleet-management solutions in the Americas will grow at a compound annual rate of 16.71% by volume over the 2014-2019 period. According to Berg Insights, current market penetration of these solutions in North America is less than 30%. The largest fleets — those targeted with the new EPA regulations — are already the most likely to have implemented fleet-management solutions because their fuel costs are the highest on an absolute basis.

According to American Trucking Associations, fuel is still one of the top two operating expenses for most trucking companies (the other being wages). While fleet managers may not like the new EPA regs, the fact is that fuel savings should be a goal whether it’s mandated or not. Even if you don’t buy into the environmental benefits, you surely can see the economic ones.

Skip Kinford

CEO of the Americas

MiX Telematics

Boca Raton, Florida

A Source We Can Rely On

Transport Topics has always been the one source we can rely on in the logistics/transportation business in the United States.

As president of BestTransport, a top 10 Transportation management systems provider in the United States, we find it important to monitor and study all the reports provided so that we are aware of innovative management services.

Our company is kept up to date on everything through our review of TT. In a way, Transport Topics has formed a model of advancement in the transportation business for all companies. It helps to confirm, review, understand and have knowledge of our business and allows those that follow it to be on the vanguard of change and also understanding.

Just today (Sept. 20), the story on electronic logs (“McLeod CEO Sees Opportunities in ‘Uncertain Times,’ ” ttnews.com, 9/20) reminds us to be prepared, understand how to proceed and what the benefits and threats are to our industry. The way they use readers for articles gives us all various perspectives on issues.

I have told people for years about the extreme effort you all have put forth for the benefit of the industry. Great Job TT.

Seriously, your media involvement has led me in new directions from the knowledge that was allowed to be seen by each of us, your readers.

Thanks to you and to your continued success.

Reo Hatfield

President

BestTransport

Columbus, Ohio

Appreciating Black Drivers

The Afro-American Truckers Association proudly salutes the Wilson and McAlpine families perennial all-pro trucking pioneers.

They have gradually risen into the higher echelon of the apprenticeship in skill and pay as professional drivers for top-ranked fleets throughout the United States.

AATA saluted Nathan Wilson of Chicago and John L. Wilson III, Marco Wilson and Napoleon McAlpine of Demopolis, Alabama, for their years of productive service and sacrifice during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. They answer the call to service and go beyond the call of duty in performance and execution of their responsibilities. They transport American manufactured products throughout the 48 contiguous states, Canada and Mexico with pride and distinction in a timely and professional manner.

We are more impressed with the work they perform on a daily basis to feed and educate their families, support their communities and help keep America rolling.

We and the trucking industry must take full advantage of this special opportunity to advance the collective interest of African- American truckers and their families by recruiting more of them for the industry and providing help to trucker support systems in communities where they are needed most. This could inspire our children to eventually seek employment in the trucking industry, which would help transform their families into a potent force for progress in the freight-transportation sector and beyond.

Shakir Muhammad

Afro-American Truckers Association

Alexandria, Virginia