“Hartt Transportation has always been fuel conscious,” says Todd Cotier, maintenance director. “When I joined the company in 1982, concern about fuel efficiency was already apparent. For example, we were spec’ing lower RPM engines and gear-fast/run-slow drivetrains. Today, fuel economy is still a very important factor for us.”

With 500 tractors and 1,100 trailers in its operation, Cotier notes that Bangor, Maine-based Hartt is now looking at ways to simultaneously lower vehicle weight and save fuel. And perhaps the most successful practice it has put in place to achieve that goal is the specification of wide-base single tires and aluminum wheels on all tractors and trailers purchased since 2005.

“The combined weight savings is 1,000 lbs., which translates into running lighter or additional payload capacity,” Cotier explains. “Across the board, we are also realizing a four percent improvement in fuel efficiency with these tires and wheels. With blended fuel in winter our fleet averages 6.4 MPG, and it’s even higher in the summer. The bottom line is that our fuel costs are four percent lower with this one change in specifications.”

Hartt’s tire and wheel specifications call for Accuride aluminum wheels and Michelin X-One wide-base single tires on all new tractors and trailers. The fleet also uses X-One retreads supplied by TCI, a Michelin Retreading Technologies facility in Auburn, Mass.

“We’re also continually testing tires for manufacturers to measure fuel efficiency,” Cotier says, “including currently available and prototype Michelin and Bridgestone wide-base singles as well as standard size duals. If an opportunity exists to improve MPG further we don;t want to miss it.”

Valuable partnership

Other ways that Hartt continues to address fuel economy include becoming a part of the U.S. Environmental Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership. As a partner in the program, Hartt commits to measuring and improving the efficiency of its operations, in part by adopting systems and components that can significantly lower emissions and fuel consumption.

While wide-base single tires are one example, Cotier also points out that the 55 new tractors being added to the fleet in 2008 will have Thermo King TriPac APUs. In addition to saving fuel by providing shore power and heating and air conditioning to cabs, the units are programmed with a four-minute engine shutdown to reduce unnecessary idling.

Hartt also devotes time to training its drivers in fuel efficient shifting techniques and specs engines limited to low operating RPM. In addition, it specifies engines for each of the tractor makes in the fleet.

“We were standardized for many years but when engine partnerships came about we spread things out,” Cotier relates. “In 2003 we started buying some Mercedes Benz engines in Freightliner tractors and this year we’re trying a mix of Detroit Diesel Series 60 and DD15 engines, Caterpillar C13 models as well as Cummins ISX powerplants in our International power units. We like to evaluate all of the products that might work in our operation on a regular basis.”

Key relationships

With that in mind, Cotier says that Hartt values its supplier relationships as a key part of the success of its operation and its equipment and maintenance programs. On a daily basis, he notes, the company works closely with vendors and suppliers, including Atlantic Great Dane in South Portland, Maine; Daigle & Houghton, an International Trucks dealer in Fort Kent, Maine, and Freightliner of Maine in Bangor.

Regarding purchase plans for the Hartt fleet, Cotier says that the company is now in a unique situation. “We haven’t traded tractors in four years because our growth means we’re keeping them longer,” he reports. “In fact, in 2008 we’re adding 55 tractors, including International ProStars and Freightliner Columbia and Cascadia models.”

Due in part to its ongoing expansion, Hartt also replaces very few trailers annually. “While we have a ten-year life cycle planned for trailers,” Cotier states, “some of those we have been retiring are about 15 years old. In each of the past five years, in fact, we’ve added at least 100 new trailers to meet our growth needs.”

Currently in the Hartt fleet are a large number of Great Dane 53-ft. P-Series Dry Freight Vans equipped with air ride suspensions and some older Classic models as well. “These trailers hold up very well because they are designed, tested and built properly in the first place,” Cotier states, “and with Great Dane we can specify them to meet a mix of customer needs. That’s one reason we’ve purchased Great Dane trailers exclusively for over 20 years.”

Dedicated staff

Along with choosing the right equipment and specifying it effectively, Cotier is quick to say that, “Hartt is successful due to dedication of the entire maintenance staff. We benefit from having factory-trained technicians at facilities in Bangor and Auburn, Maine who have been schooled in engine, drivetrain, braking and other systems.”

Cotier goes on to point out several members of the Hartt maintenance management team who are instrumental in its success. Included are Alex Shaw, the shop foreman who oversees the Bangor and Auburn locations and handles all warranty claims for the fleet; Randy Begin, shop manager in Auburn; Rick Jordan, corporate parts coordinator and service writer who also handles almost all road calls, and Joey Pinette and Robert Hatch, the company’s lead technicians who each have been with Hartt for more than 15 years.

Long-time employees are fairly common at Hartt, which has been serving the needs of customers for 60 years. Its founder, Delmont Hartt, retired after 59 years of service, leaving the company in capable hands of his son, Billy, who has been president since 1996. Delmont’s daughters, Judy and Debbie, work for the company in operations and rating.

As for Todd Cotier, he brings 26 years of experience at Hartt to bear on behalf of the company. In 1982, he started his career at Hartt as a night shift trailer technician before moving on to daytime positions working on trucks and rebuilding major components. He first assumed his current management role 18 years ago.

In that time, Cotier concludes, many things have changed at Hartt. One thing that has stayed constant, though, is the dedication to finding ways to operate as efficiently as possible.