NACFE Announces Variety of Routes, Trucks, Components Set for Run On Less
Run on Less, a first-of-its kind roadshow to demonstrate how trucks use technology to achieve fuel efficiency, is set to begin.
The cross-country trip will feature seven commercial trucks — six from large carriers and one from an owner-operator — using components to increase fuel efficiency along diverse routes, organizers North American Council for Freight Efficiency and Carbon War Room announced.
Shell and PepsiCo. are sponsoring the roadshow, which will begin Sept. 6 and culminate in Atlanta during the North American Commercial Vehicle Show on Sept. 24–28.
According to NACFE, axles selected by the fleets include 6x4 axles, 6x2 tags, a liftable 6x2 and a 4x2. Several of the trucks are equipped with 15-liter engines, and others have a 13-liter or an 11-liter engine. All of the trucks will use automated manual transmissions purchased from three different suppliers, while half the trucks will be fitted with wide-base tires and the other half with duals. Fleets have selected different options to assist them with idle reduction, the group said.
“This is going to be a lot of fun, challenging ourselves to achieve the best fuel efficiency with these incredible tractor trailers,” Henry Albert, participating owner-operator of Albert Transport, said in a statement. “All seven of us are proud to take trucking efficiency to the next level and share with the world our experiences.”
The trucks consist of three 2018 Freightliner Cascadia sleepers, a 2016 International ProStar SkyRise sleeper and 2018 International LT sleeper, a 2016 Volvo Trucks North America VNM sleeper and a 2017 VNM day cab.
Freightliner is a unit of Daimler Trucks North America, International is a unit of Navistar International, and VTNA is a unit of Volvo Group.
“The wide variety of technologies being deployed by these seven fleets validates the findings from our confidence reports that there are many technologies on the market today that allow fleets to get more miles from a gallon of fuel,” NACFE Executive Director Mike Roeth said. “There is no one-size-fits-all but a suite of different solutions for different needs.”
Some of the routes have been confirmed, according to the organizers. One fleet with team drivers will deliver auto parts from El Paso, Texas, to Ellisville, Mo. Another fleet will handle dedicated store delivery in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky. A fleet will run a semi-dedicated route from Laredo, Texas, to the Carolinas, and another will do a daily round trip from Perry, Ga., to Charleston, S.C.
The carriers involved are Albert Transport, PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay Division, Hirschbach, Mesilla Valley Transportation Nussbaum Transportation, Ploger Transportation and U.S. Xpress Enterprises.
PepsiCo ranks No. 1 on the Transport Topics list of the largest private carriers in North America, and U.S. Xpress and Mesilla Valley are on the for-hire TT100 list at Nos. 21 and 72, respectively.
