Carbon War Room and the North American Council for Freight Efficiency recently announced the seven drivers participating in Run on Less, a fuel-economy roadshow that kicks off on Sept. 6.
The seasoned drivers, working for Albert Transport, PepsiCo's Frito-Lay Division, Hirschbach, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Nussbaum Transportation, Ploger Transportation, and US Xpress, have been selected to drive trucks equipped with a variety of technologies that improve fuel efficiency. Run on Less is sponsored by Shell and PepsiCo, and hosted by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) and Carbon War Room (CWR).
Drivers and equipment include:
- Henry Albert: 30+ years driving, Albert Transport Inc., 2018 Freightliner Cascadia Evolution Aero Xi Sleeper
- Bradley Long: 12+ years driving, Hirschbach, 2016 International ProStar SkyRise sleeper
- Joel Morrow: 30 years driving, Ploger Transportation, 2016 Volvo VNM62T630 Sleeper
- Clark Reed: 12+ years driving, Nussbaum Transportation, 2018 Freightliner Cascadia Sleeper
- Tommy Revell: 32 years driving, PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay Division, 2017 Volvo VNM Day Cab
- Mark Risien: 30+ years driving, US Xpress, 2018 Freightliner Cascadia Sleeper
- Robert Sandoval: 26 years driving, Mesilla Valley Transportation, 2018 International LT Sleeper
“These drivers are showing great leadership. All of them have demonstrated a commitment to driving practices that lead to better MPG,” according to Mike Roeth, executive director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency, and Operation Lead of Trucking Efficiency.
No two trucks will be the same, as each fleet selects its own combination of technologies to achieve its fuel-efficiency goals. 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 and an 11-liter engine. All of the trucks will use automated manual transmissions purchased from three different suppliers. Half the trucks will be fitted with wide-base tires and the other half with duals. In addition, fleets have selected different options to assist them with idle reduction.
“This is going to be a lot of fun, challenging ourselves to achieve the best fuel efficiency with these incredible tractor trailers,” shared Henry Albert, an owner-operator for his business, Albert Transport. “All seven of us are proud to take trucking efficiency to the next level and share with the world our experiences.”
“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,” Roeth said. “There is no one size fits all, but a suite of different solutions for different needs.”
During three weeks in September, the drivers will haul freight from different locations across the U.S. and Canada and will demonstrate how Class 8 trucks can use different technologies to achieve the best fuel economy possible. Some of the routes have been confirmed. One fleet with team drivers will deliver auto parts from El Paso, Texas, to Ellisville, Missouri. Another fleet will be doing dedicated store delivery in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky. There is also a fleet that will run a semidedicated route from Laredo, Texas, to the Carolinas. Another fleet will do a daily round-trip from Perry, Georgia, to Charleston, South Carolina.
The run kicks off on Sept. 6 and culminates in Atlanta during the North American Commercial Vehicle show Sept. 24–28.
